Pella Regional Health Center is offering a Baby Sign Language Class for those who have or work with children six months to two years old.
The class will be held in Conference Room A & B at Pella Regional today at 7 pm. Speech Therapists Janna Hansen-Nolin and Jackie Lowe will teach the course and share the benefits of using sign communication with children. Both say signing is a research-based way to facilitate the growth of early language skills and build the foundation for later spoken language.
“It’s not necessary to learn all of sign language,” Lowe says. “Even learning two or three keywords such as more or milk can be beneficial.”
“The gestures participants learn in the class will promote bonding as well as communication and decrease frustration with communication breakdowns,” Hansen-Nolin says.
The instructors will demonstrate some basic functional signs and send an instructional packet home with signs to incorporate into daily routines. Day care providers are welcome in the class as well as anyone who works with children of this age group or those interested in learning. Child care will not be provided. Go to www.pellahealth.org/classess to sign up.