Our new CD Songs for Movers, Coming Soon!

Our Sign2Music Vol.1 CD was released a number of years ago after parents asked me for a CD to use at home with songs from our classes. I had written a lot of songs for various topics for Sign2Music classes and was surprised at how everyone loved songs like Daisy Doggy and Little One it's Time for Bed. I was lucky to be friends with an amazing musician who wrote backing tracks for all the songs I needed. She even wrote the backing tracks for 'Little Daisy Doggy' after I sang it into her answering machine!

I just can't believe how popular the CD has become and the fab reviews I received from Vivien Sabel (Baby Communication Expert and Author)  and Elizabeth James (Founder of Jellybeans Music and Music Bags). We have even had agreement to sell it in a NI retail outlet soon!

It is a great accompaniment to our classes, particularly for those attending wrigglers classes as we sing every single one of the 26 songs during the term.

I will never forget the day I recorded it....Traipsing up to the recording studio armed with tissues, as I had a stinking cold. Then being escorted to the recording suite, feeling like I was a 'proper musician'. I felt a bit stupid though when I got the big headphones on and stood in front of the mike with the techno guy outside mixing and doing his stuff, particularly when I started belting out 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'. I bet I was the talk of that studio for a long time. I will never forget the techno guy's face when I started singing 'Little baby isn't happy, 'cos he has a dirty nappy'!.... He looked like he expected someone to jump out and say 'ha! ha! Gotcha....at any stage!

We do also have another programme, Movers Classes, for older toddlers. For this programme I wrote many new songs, including themed songs like 'I Like Playing with My Toys', 'What's the Weather Like Today' and a few new parachute songs, because of course Daisy Doggy not only loves to hear the music, she loves to play with the parachute too!

For a couple of years now I have been promising to produce a second CD and this Thurs I am taking the first step to keeping that promise! I am going to be on a tight schedule with 3 hrs to record 26 tracks, with.....a cold again!!! I have been told that I sounded like one of the Smurfs on the first CD, so I think it is fitting that I have a cold again to keep with the Smurfy theme, lol!

I am very excited about this CD as I know the content is good, even if I do say so myself!

• It will include themed songs from the classes for topics like Animals, Opposites, Transport, Playtime, Manners and Behaviour.
• There will also be some well known favourites including Little Peter Rabbit, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, Row your Boat and 5 Little Ducks.
• This CD will include a big favourite from our classes 'My Hands Can Clap Like This', recorded with permission from Dawn Errington (Signing Tots).
• A new song will also debut on the CD that even the Sign2Music teachers haven't heard yet - Clap Your Hands, Just Like Signing Sandy. This is an adaptation of one of the songs recorded by Rowena (Rhythm Express) who does our backing tracks!

Roll on Thursday.........

Nominated for Top 25 Moms with Inspiring Families - 2012 list on Circle of Moms!

I am quite new to the world of blogging and have been a bit naughty recently, not posting as often as I should!

Therefore I was surprised but delighted to receive an e-mail today saying:
"Hi Deirdre, Your blog Baby Signing with Sign2Music has been nominated to the Top 25 Moms with Inspiring Families - 2012 list on Circle of Moms!"

Time to up my game, blogwise, I think! Time to start updating this blog and newsletter more regulalry!

In the meantime I you want to give the Sign2Music blog your vote do so by clicking this link.

Vote for this Blog in Top25 Moms with Inspiring Families.

You can vote for this blog once a day until March 7, 2012.

Thanks all. See you again soon!

Deirdre :)

Do you have what it takes to join the Sign2Music crew?

Interest in baby signing is steadily increasing throughout Northern Ireland. As Northern Ireland's own baby signing company, Sign2Music is at the forefront of this interest!

The word is spreading too about the quality of our classes, parties, workshops and sessions in nurseries, schools and preschools. We have had a lot of press coverage (local Newspapers as well as the Irish News and Sunday Life) recently and featured on the SevenThirty Show in 2011. We also got through to the FINAL in a the National What's On 4 Little Ones Junior Awards 2011, making us one of the top 4 local activities for under 5s in the UK, a fanatastic achievement for a small NI company!

As you can see it is very exciting times for Sign2Music and a good time to consider joining us!

I would love to work alongside enthusiastic and committed people to ensure Sign2Music is available in as many areas as possible. I can confidently say that our existing teachers are second to none. Here we are at our 2011 conference:

I would love to increase the number of teachers so we can reach more people, but strongly believe in quality above quantity. This is why we have a selection process to become a Sign2Music teacher to ensure not only that you are right for Sign2 Music, but that Sign2Music is right for you!

Ask yourself these questions:

·         Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children and have lots of fun doing so?

·         Do you want to earn an income while working around your family?

·         Do you enjoy spending time with children?

·         Have you seen our classes and thought you would really enjoy being that teacher?

·         Do you want to start your own business but would like to be handed the ideas, customer base and know how, so you can get started right away?

If you answered YES then Sign2Music is the business for you. You CAN have it all! 

Registering your interest in becoming a Sign 2 Music teacher is the first step to the best and most fun job in the entire world! Our licensed teacher programme requires a relatively low investment, much lower than most similar opportunities. You receive all the materials and resources needed to start immediately and the flexibility to add your own personal touch, by adjusting the content to suit your personality and skills. Training is tailored to your individual requirements. You also receive mentoring and support once training is completed. As an evolving business we are constantly adding to the services we offer. What we do is underpinned by strong values and a desire to bring this wonderful communication, bonding and development tool to as many people as possible!

If you feel you have what it takes please contact me via email (deirdre@sign2music.co.uk) or phone 07874742704 for your free information pack.

Look forward to meeting you soon.

Deirdre McLaughlin

Owner

Sign2Music

deirdre@sign2music.co.uk

07874742704

Confessions of a Procrastinator

I'm nearly afraid to say it out loud but the tax return is done AT LAST!! It only took me several weeks of searching handbags for scraps of paper, hunting through bank accounts, bank statements, invoices and finding envelopes of receipts in different places. Any accountant reading this will be disgusted at my lack of organisational skills, financial know how and lack of planning!


This is typical behaviour for 'Deirdre Procrastinator Extraordinaire'! I was always the one sitting up to 2 and 3am the night before exams cramming or writing the assignment the night before it was due at school and university.


People often do not realise the amount of preparation and planning that goes into every Sign2Music class, especially in the first term. Knowing this never encouraged me to have the bag packed a week before like other sensible people would do! No no, I always 'faff about' and leave most things to do the night before once the children are in bed, often staying up 'til 2am or later!


The tax return has been hanging over my head for months. I knew how much preparation was going to be involved in getting everything ready to submit it. It is such a small thing in my busy life, not something I want to prioritise or focus too much attention on. However, it really has become a huge mountain that I have had to climb to allow me to focus on the 'big things' I have planned for Sign2Music.


Running a small business is a very fulfilling role and has been one of the most amazing learning experiences for me. It is also a time and life consuming role, especially, like me if you have a job and a family too! A small business owner has to be an expert on so many things, not only the field in which they are operating: computer skills, social media, book keeping, PR, marketing, organising, planning, networking, communicating, to name only a few! We do not have a personnel department, communications department, finance department and a collection of policies and procedures to refer to!


I have never employed an accountant or any other business or personal support services as I always say I can't afford to and can easily do everything myself. I have now realised I can't afford not to! The amount of time, effort and stress preparing for today would not have been necessary had I approached it like an organised business woman would! Had I completed this months ago there are so many things I could have been doing instead!


Promise to myself! This year...new me! I have already started recording as I go along, clearing out my purse and filing and recording receipts regularly. I have accepted the support offered by my husband and 15 year old IT whizz son! My books will be sent to my accountant in April /May and I can say goodbye to another small thing and put it into the hands of an expert!


I would say I am now going to sit back and relax, but there is the small matter of my house! Anyone fancy cleaning it for me!? ;-)


Deirdre :)

One for the Dads

We are very lucky to have lots of dads attend our Sign2Music classes. Too often preschool classes are predominated by mums. Not ours! It helps that many of our classes are at weekends so are accessible to more family members - mums, dads, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and siblings!

Modern research emphasises the importance of the mother - child bond in building the foundations for sound relationships in adult life. However, this does not take away from the important roles fathers can play in the lives of their children.

Unfortunately dads are often overlooked in parenting discussions. One of my colleagues told me that when his son was a baby a health professional visited the house on a regular basis in the early days. While he was present every time, all the discussion and advice was addressed to his partner. He described how disempowering this felt.

With this in mind I was delighted when I came across this wonderful video by the American Actor and rapper Tray Chaney, focusing on fatherhood:

I am not a rap fan but this is a beautiful song with meaningful lyrics and a great video.

I heard about Tray from my friend and author of ' the Blossom Method', Vivien Sabel. I was very touched and moved to receive a tweet on Twitter from 'the man' himself!

I wish Tray every success with this song. I really hope the popularity of this song increases even further and continues to promote the roles of fathers everywhere!

Deirdre :)

My Promise to You

As you all know Sign2Music is not a job to me, it is my passion, my chance to live my dream by helping everyone share the huge benefits and massive joy that can be gained by the use of signing.

As a business Sign2Music has a Vision Statement. My vision for the future is this:
1. For signing with babies and children to be mainstream in families, nurseries and school and to be accessible to everyone.
2. For Sign2Music to be a popular and respected name, providing high quality programmes and products throughout Northern Ireland and beyond.

Our Mission Statement, ie, how we achieve these aims is:
1. We provide high quality programmes throughout Northern Ireland.
2. We work to raise awareness of the benefits of signing with all babies and children and to produce useful, affordable and accessible products.

Sounds a bit lovely dovey, but that's me, heart rules my head! I have been on a 3 day training event recently which has made me realise a lot of things about how I run Sign2Music. Because it is my passion, I have not treated it enough as a business and sometimes find the 'money part' uncomfortable, which I realise is a disservice to Sign2Music and to you! I have often felt like using the word business somehow diminishes the values and beliefs that drive what I do. I have put my everything into trying to reach as many people as possible, spreading myself too thinly. As a result I have not done everything I should have.

Well, here and now I am going to commit to actions in 2012! Here goes....gulp!

1. I will produce the long awaited Sign2Music Vol. 2 CD.
2. I will produce record a Sign2Music DVD
3. I will facilitate an open training event for nursery / childcare professionals
4. I will ensure Sign2Music covers as large an area as possible by recruiting more Sign2Music Licensed Teachers.
5. I will produce materials so that those unable to attend Sign2Music classes can still access our services.

There I've written it down, not just on my computer but for you all to keep as evidence to hold me to account! Hope I don't live to regret this, lol!

I am really really excited about what lies ahead for Sign2Music for 2012. I promise to work hard to for you all and hope that the amazing support for Sign2Music from you all that drives me onwards continues this year. Thank you all!

Deirdre x

My very own 'Twin Study'

As a result of some discussions recently on Twitter I decided to use my last blog of 2011 to talk about some of my experiences of being a twin mummy. Most of you are aware I am the proud mummy of twins, my son Eoghan and my daughter Aine, now aged 15 (16 in April 2012, eek!)

They were born in 1996 when I was in the middle of my postgraduate Social Work training. I had already completed a degree and masters in Psychology so it's fair to say I was interested in how being different sex twins would affect their socialisation and development. The little babies had no idea they were going to be subjects of their mum's experiments even before they were born!

When I was at Queens there was research being undertaken in the Psychology Dept on prenatal responsiveness by Peter Hepper **. I remember being fascinated with the discovery that newborn babies who had been exposed to a specific TV theme tune as foetuses (Neighbours!) responded to this hearing this tune by exhibiting changes in heart rate, number of movements, and behavioural state! During my pregnancy the 'Mozart Effect' was widely debated, i.e., the idea that hearing classical music while in the womb affects developing babies cognitive development. Wanting to give the twins the best start I could I made a tape of classical music and played in on my stereo every night, holding the speakers to my belly to be sure the babies could hear it! It was obvious they did as there was a flurry of activity when the music started!

I have absolutely no idea if the music affected their cognitive development (although they are both very academically capable) but it definitely was remembered by them after they were born. We were in hospital for a week after their birth (that wouldn't happen now!). The first night I got home I put my classical music tape on when they were becoming unsettled. The results truly shocked me! As soon as the music started, both babies stopped crying immediately. It was very clear by their reactions that they recognised the sound. For the next few days I played the music every time they were upset and it comforted them. It only lasted for a short time but it was still fascinating to see that not only can babies hear in the womb but they find those familiar sounds comforting!

I had always been interested in the nature vs nurture debate and the impact of socialisation on children. I believed that nurture had the greatest impact on children's sense of identity. I saw the range of toys available for children and how they were categorised as male or female and was determined not to differentiate. My very traditional father was appalled when Eoghan got dolls to play with as a toddler and Aine got Lego and train set. I expected that how I 'nurtured' the twins, bringing them up in exactly the same environment, giving them the same toys to play with, treating them the same would result in their not adhering to traditional gender roles. How wrong was I?

I was soon very clear that, despite both children having access to all toys, Eoghan favoured the toys that would be seen as 'male' and Aine those seen as 'female'. Not only that, everyone commented on how Eoghan was a 'typical wee boy' and Aine a 'typical wee girl'. Eoghan loved climbing, rough and tumble play, building and making things. Aine on the other hand hated climbing and rough and tumble play and loved playing with dolls, role play and dressing up! My theory of socialisation and nurture having more impact than nature was turned on its head! I have no idea if this is because the children were born with a predisposition to certain characteristics and behaviours or due to other influences I had no control of, such as how they were treated by others, advertising, etc.

Eoghan and Aine continued to grow up as individuals who are as 'different as chalk and cheese' still displaying stereotypical 'male' and 'female' behaviours. As teenagers, Eoghan does not discuss his feelings (or much else for that matter!) and Aine discusses little else! However, they are both gentle, caring, well mannered and beautiful children. Aine will hug me for saying that and Eoghan will grunt!

Being the mother of twins is such a precious gift. The experience of their early years was so different than my subsequent experience of having a single child. They were a comfort blanket for each other on occasions like the first day of school (there were no tears or tantrums). The fact that they are different sexes meant that they were never really labelled as 'the twins' but had their own identities. They looked out for each other (and still do!), played together and fought with each other. They are now very close and I hope they will remain that way forever.

I can't believe my 'babies' are going to be 16 in 2012. My do I feel old!

Happy New Year everyone!

Deirdre xx


**(Hepper, P, G. An examination of foetal learning before and after birth. The Irish Journal of Psychology, Vol 12(2), 1991, 95-107)