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Melanie gets hands on with baby talk
MELANIE Macauley teaches babies to communicate months before they speak their first words.
She heads a programme teaching sign language to babies and has won a national award recognising her skills.
Sing and Sign was awarded Best Toddler Development Activity in the national What's On 4 Little Ones Awards.
Babies can be encouraged to use sign language to communicate before they learn to speak.
Sign language can help to ease babies' frustration.
Melanie, 34, said: "I'm absolutely delighted that the Sing and Sign programme has won an award for the third year running. It's amazing and it works."
Mother of two, Melanie said: "The baby is taught to sign words such as eat, milk, drink, more and all gone.
"They are taught everything that relates to a baby's world."
One of the first signs a baby is taught is "where".
Melanie, of Bramhope, said: "There is a cat called Jessie who hides in a box and we sing the Where song. The kids really love it and it's really useful."
"All the children are running around and they are all interacting with each other and signing.
"Most babies are signing by 12 months. My boys' speech is well advanced and I am sure it is because of Sing and Sign."
Melanie used to work as a personal assistant for a law firm but gave up her job when she became pregnant with her first child.
She said: "I did Sing and Sign with my two boys, Tom and Sam. Then I was asked if I wanted to teach a class one morning a week. I accepted the offer and I now do 16 classes a week. I bought the franchise in January."
Melanie, who runs classes across Leeds and in Otley and Ilkley, starts new classes in Roundhay and Horsforth in September.
For more information visit www.singandsign.co.uk.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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