Welcome to Village Connect

When Amanda Walker, fi rst attended ‘Sing & Sign’ classes in Hitchin with her seven-month-old daughter Amy, little did she realize that it would lead to a new career! Amanda was so impressed with the course that when she subsequently moved she became a Sing & Sign franchisee in the East Northants area. That was six years ago and she is now teaching the siblings of some of the original babies she taught.

Sing and Sign has recently been shortlisted again for the Best National Baby and Toddler Development Activity 2012 and Amanda has personally been shortlisted for The Best Local Pre-School Class award by Netmums.

What Is ‘Sing & Sign’?

Developed with the help of speech and language experts in 2001, ‘Sing & Sign’ courses are weekly music groups for hearing babies, in which parents and carers learn an exciting way to enhance their babies’ communication before they are able to speak. Sing and Sign has taught thousands of parents across the UK to sign with their babies in a relaxed, fun environment and to encourage amazingly early communication.

So What Is Baby Signing?

Babies naturally use a combination of gestures and sounds to help their parents understand them, as a part of typical development before speech is well established. They may point, shake their heads, clap their hands and wave “bye bye”. This is a good time to introduce some extra gestures to help your baby communicate and therefore reduce their frustration. It is easy to do and your baby will really enjoy it! Baby signing is wonderfully rewarding and fantastic fun. You will be amazed by what your baby is capable of telling you before being able to talk.

How Are Babies Taught?

Everyone knows that nursery rhymes and action songs are great fun and that musical activities help stimulate language development. Sing and Sign combines the benefi ts of both music and baby signing. Your baby enjoys the music while you learn the signs. What makes Sing and Sign special is that the songs have been especially written or adapted to target the important words in your baby’s world. Mealtime, bath time, hiding games and bedtime; you name it, there is a song about it and the babies just love to hear them!  As well as familiar and original songs, puppets, props and pictures are used to inspire your baby’s interest and illustrate the signs. Learning the Sing and Sign way is gradual, effortless and great fun for all involved!

Stage 1 courses are suitable for babies six/ seven months plus. Once you and your baby are confi dently using the signs, you can join the Stage 2 (improvers) class, for babies 15/16 months plus, enjoying movement, colours, basic counting and phonics.

For further details and to reserve your space for courses commencing in September, please call Amanda on 07939 092134, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., visit www.singandsign.com or on Facebook, search for Sing and Sign East Northants.

Classes are very popular so early booking is advised.