Several years ago, a mom in one of my Baby Fingers classes told me about the most incredible benefit of participating in our program – the special bond formed between her and her baby.
Her daughter spoke at a very young age – 15 months – and every word had first been signed. So the primary goal of developing early communication through this class was achieved over the course of two 12-week sessions. What she didn’t anticipate was the relationship that solidified as an apparent result of so much eye contact, presence, listening and validation.
As a music therapist, these are techniques I implement with my clients and teach to my college students training in the field. I’m glad to know that I’ve trained the Baby Fingers teaching staff to share that as well, and that our families are reaping the rewards.
I know that the relationships with my own children benefited from our ability to communicate with one another, their capacity to make their needs known through sign and my acceptance of their attempts. We were also benefited by the fact that I needed to pause, look right at them, and reply in kind rather than talking without such connection while still cleaning or texting. We shared close-up and intimate moments that incorporated a word or sentiment that they could repeat right back to me.
We talk about that special bond on our website, in our promotional materials, and while we teach our classes. I’ve experienced it first hand. But to have a Baby Fingers family tell me about their special bond as a direct result of their “take-away” from class (AND their baby was signing!), that’s a gift.