Communication & Language Sessions
Creating Confident Communicators
Mission Statement
Children are starting school without the essential communication, language and literacy skills to thrive. Talk to the Hands nurtures considerate and confident children, improving their ability to focus, actively listen, turn-take and diversify their communication mode through teaching Sign Supported English (SSE).
Our weekly sessions or one-off workshops support schools and nurseries to enhance core communication and language competencies in young children using fun-themed interactive activities.
With solid communication skills comes renewed self-confidence, self-esteem and mental well-being; these skills will enable them to fulfil meaningful lives.
Communicative Sensitivity
Communicative sensitivity is an everyday part of life. We encourage children to interactively explore their understanding of COMMUNICATION through games and activities with a focus on core skills needed to REALLY include everyone in a CONVERSATION.
There is SO much more to communication than a SPOKEN word and these workshops allow children to actively ENGAGE in BETTER communications through the use of SIGN Supported English (SSE). They also learn to RESPECT the TURN-TAKING element in conversation.
Our workshops encourage DIVERSITY, breed TOLERANCE, inspire SIGN language and give all generations the opportunity of enjoying POSITIVE communications.
Social Development
Our sessions will guide the children to:
* Work TOGETHER as a GROUP in games, activities, puzzles and role-play.
* Learn the skills needed for positive TURN-TAKING.
* ACTIVE LISTENING to build on the contribution of others.
* RESPECT peers; respect opinions and ideas of everyone.
* Build CONFIDENCE through PARTICIPATION and self-esteem.
* Explore LANGUAGE in all its forms.
* Learn UNDERSTANDING through Sign Supported English (SSE) using British SIGN Language (BSL).
* Creatively REFLECT through arts and CRAFTS.
All sessions are delivered using spoken, pictorial and gestural modes of communication to facilitate full understanding and participation.
Effective Communication:
* Breeds self- confidence and self-esteem.
* Promotes mental well-being.
* Supports positive social interactions and helps children to build positive relationships with peers and adults.
* Facilitates understanding.
* Reduces frustration and bad-feeling.
* Upholds BRITISH VALUES: democracy, respect, tolerance and individual liberty.
No one should be left on the 'outside.'
Children need communication, language and literacy skills to fully participate and thrive in their day-to-day life, engage positively with others and feel good about their place in society.
About Me
My name is Martine and I am the creator of Talk to the Hands. My inspiration for the programme comes from a genuine love of all languages (spoken and sign) together with my drive to get everyone communicating in a more positive way. That is to recognise the diversity in language, the basic elements of a great conversation and the need to really work at including everyone, which extends beyond the spoken word.
Whilst my degree and work experience cemented my passion for modern languages, after the birth of my children, I discovered a new language which I have grown to love and respect a great deal. I have owned the Sing and Sign baby signing franchise locally, for 13 years and have worked to support many young families with the best possible early communications through gesture and music.
I am level 3 certified in British Sign Language and have just completed my Masters in Childhood and Youth Studies during which I was able to carry out my own research relating to young children and their communication. Clearly I love to learn, however I am equally excited by the prospect of sharing my ideas and knowledge. I love the creativity that I can bring to these sessions.
Talk to the Hands is designed to empower children with confidence in communication, creatively integrated into themed games and activities to nurture active listening, turn-taking, understanding and communicative diversity.
