About Sing and Sign Basel / Switzerland
(for babies from birth until about 24 months old)
Sing and Sign is Britain's most loved and award winning baby signing programme and has been going strong for over 20 years in the UK. Sing and Sign teaches all the key signs you need in your day to day life with your baby through songs and music, and the weekly sessions are a great way for parents/guardians to enjoy some social time with their babies while learning something very valuable at the same time.
I feel very privileged to get the chance to share my passion for the amazing world of baby signing with other parents and can only say: Welcome and Enjoy!
Location
All classes are at ICMS
International Community Music School (ICMS)
Fürstensteinerstrasse 85, 4053 Basel
Time Table
Stage 1 (from 6 months and older)
Wednesdays 9:30am, starts 10th April
Booking is open: Book Now
Babes (from birth to 6 months)
Wednesdays 10:30am, starts 10th April
Booking is open: Book Now
Free Tasters Classes
Wednesday 27th March at 10am - for babies 6months and older
Wednesday 3rd April at 10am - for babies under 6months
Booking is open: Book Now
JOIN ANYTIME from birth to 2 years. No experience needed, you will be well supported by me and online resources. It's easy and lots of fun!
More Info
What classes are available?
There has been much research in recent years revealing just how much is going on in your baby's brain these early months. Sing and Sign classes have been designed with the help of speech and language experts and come in three age appropriate levels. At the moment Babes and Stage 1 are offered in Basel/Switzerland, with a view of offering Stage 2 later in 2024.
“Babes”
for babies from birth to around 6 months.
“Babes” is a lovely gentle class for the youngest age group and is all about parents (and other caregivers) interacting with your baby and getting them familiar with a few keys signs. You will learn many simple songs while we explore on the essentials such as good eye contact, repetition and anticipation. The class is relaxed, gives you lots of time face to face with your little one, plenty of cuddly time and is the perfect place to begin your baby signing journey.
Membership in our online offering, The Jessie Cat Club, is included. Mini video classes (for you not your baby!), theme reminders, and expert tips, helping you build the foundations for good communication and connection with your baby! While on the course you also will be able to stream our lovely Beginner Babes music to enjoy away from class.
Each session lasts around 30 minutes, which is ideal for this age group + optional social time afterwards.
Stage 1
sitters and crawlers – for babies from around 6 months onwards.
Covering many different themes relating to your baby's world, we use songs, rhymes, instruments, toys and props in a fun, relaxed class. Babies love the fun and the music, while adults effortlessly learn all the signs they need for day-to-day life with their baby.
Babies naturally wave, clap and point at around 8/9 months. Sing and Sign gives you lots of extra useful gestures to add to your vocabulary of signs like milk, more, change nappy, eat and so many more. This encourages communication, builds confidence, helps language development (the building blocks of everything) and reduces tantrums.
All in-person class bookings come with Class@Home (see this video), at no extra cost. So if you are on holiday or ill for one week, you won't miss out. In fact, you can watch every day if you like. It's easy to do and your baby will really enjoy it!
Each session lasts around 40-50 minutes. This includes the singing / signing session + time for chats, questions etc.
Which Stage should I do?
There are exceptions to age guides suggested, so if you are not sure, feel free to contact me to discuss what might be right for your baby. Give me a call with any questions (in English or in German) – Cindy 079 785 9872.
When and where?
Each course lasts 10 weeks with new classes usually beginning in January, March/April, August and October.
Classes currently run on Wednesdays at the International Community Music School (ICMS), Fürstensteinerstrasse 85, 4053 Basel
I’ve missed the start date, when is your next class?
Sing and Sign classes are consecutive, and there is a cumulative learning aspect, but provided there is space, you can join partway through the course and only pay for the remaining sessions. Book your free trial session (schnuppern) or sign up for the entire course already now.
How much?
Each 10-week term costs CHF280 per family for Stage 1 and CHF260 per family for Babes. This includes access to our online platform "The Jessie Cat Club". You'll be able to follow up on our classes at home with lesson theme reminders, tips and clips of babies using the signs to support your class experience. In Stage 1 this also includes access to our @Home classes.
If finance is an issue, contact me and we'll work something out.
What should I expect?
Sing and Sign classes cover all the basic signs you need in your day-to-day life with your baby. The signs are taught through songs, rhymes and music, but also toys, props and pictures are used to inspire your baby's interest and illustrate the signs. Classes are relaxed and meant to be good fun for everyone. I keep the classes small (maximum 10 babies) so that both you and your baby can feel safe and enjoy the social aspect. Each session follows the same format and structure, and babies enjoy the routine and soon become familiar with the different parts of the session.
We learn all the signs through our easy to learn action-songs which include some you will already know and the babies love them. Don't worry if you can't sing particularly well... you don't have to!
We know babies don't like to stay still so we don't expect them to. They are welcome to roam around the room if they want to – they will still be learning (you'd be surprised how much they can pick up whilst wandering – and they will enjoy the music even if they are under the table or making friends with each other.
Great for multilingual families!
Baby signing is a very helpful tool for multilingual families! The sign stays the same regardless of which language you speak with your baby, and in this way the signs act as a "bridge" between the two (or more) languages. They are a clear, visual way of showing your baby that two different words can have the same meaning, and in this gentle way you help your baby understand the languages more quickly.
More questions?
There's a wealth of information about baby signing in general and Sing and Sign in particular on the Sing and Sign UK website.
Also check out the FAQ.About Cindy Armbruster
I initially came to Sing and Sign in London in early 2020, just before the pandemic lockdowns, when I was looking for something to 'tie together' the 3ish languages spoken in our household for our first born. And it worked wonderfully. Both me and the children loved the classes (both in person and during lockdowns @Home), the music and the songs – but most of all – we all loved being able to have meaningful 'conversations' with each other from a very early age. And even though both kids now speak nonstop (or so it seems), we still use the occasional sign in the house – and we use loads of the songs still. Now that the children are older, I’m excited to be able to bring Sing and Sign from London to Basel/Switzerland.
Contact
If you have any questions just drop me an email, a WhatsApp or give me a call.
079 785 9872