I feel lucky to have Shira Fogel, who started Tiny Talkers baby signing workshops, and Carissa Martos, who is trained at the Signing Time Academy, both involved with our co-op. Having good resources for our children and our families is what the “Know your Neighbor” weekly emails are all about.
Whether you are way past the young baby/toddler phase of parenting or still in the midst of helping a pre-verbal or just barely verbal child make their way in the world, between what Shira and Carissa are offering Swap Shop families, I think you will find something helpful and meaningful to add to your family’s life.
First and foremost, Shira and Carissa are moms passionate about raising their own children well and helping others to do the same. As you read on you can find out how they can support you, you can support them and getting us all connected to each other can help financially support our new Roost program for middle schoolers. . .
Shira Fogel specializes in working with parents to help you work with your preverbal and barely verbal child. Her one-day, two-hour workshops for parents and caregivers are taught either in your home or at several wonderful spots around Portland listed on her web site: Tiny Talkers Portland . A one-time workshop with Shira can really jump start your ability to connect and communicate. Babies are welcome in her sessions but she finds parents get even more out of the workshop if you come without your child so you can really concentrate on everything being said.
Once your child is old enough to “play along” with signing songs and games, Carissa Martos’s ongoing classes through local Portland Parks and Rec Centers and a private art studio are great for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Even though they are often listed as infant signing classes, her classes are especially great for special needs kids who are struggling to learn to talk and also if you have older kids that could learn through songs and games right along with you and your youngest child.
I am especially excited about the arrangement we have made with Tiny Talkers that allows Shira to support our Roost program without over taxing the limited funds of her stay-at-home-mom budding business. Participation in one of Shira’s workshops costs $40 (a real bargain in exchange for the temper tantrums and melt downs that a few well learned signs can avoid). This is almost the cost of one student attending The Roost one day a week after school.
Shira will be keeping track of families that register for her workshops from our Swap Shop community and will be donating fees from one family in the month of April to the Charitable Partnership Fund to help fund The Roost. We’d love to keep this arrangement going month after month if we find there are enough of our member families and friends to keep her busy helping us learn to sign. Shira has six workshop dates in April – weekdays and weekends to fit everyone’s schedules – starting with Saturday, April 3 12:30 – 2:15pm at Alma Midwifery Service at 16th and Ankeny.
A one day workshop most of us can make time for. Not everyone has the time/transportation (and patience) to get to a series of parks and rec classes on time, fresh and ready to go. Carissa is coming in on scheduled Saturdays to our Swap Shop stage to share Signing Time classes with all ages of kids so you can add some signing to your life at any age. It’s also a great way to see how your kids respond so you know if signing up for a series of signing classes makes sense for you. She will be at our first spring open house, also on Saturday, April 3rd from 10-noon ready to gather guest and member kids into song and signing.
I don’t have to make a very big case for how sign language with your baby and toddler lessens frustration, crying, and tantrums. It’s great to know it’s scientifically proven to build more brain function, raise your child’s IQ and increases your child’s ability to pay attention and listen by teaching them to stop, look, and listen to what is being said or shown.
Both Shira and Carissa teach true American Sign Language signs (some programs do not) upping your chances that others will understand and respond to your child and giving all of you an opportunity to pursue signing even farther if any one in your family chooses. Even as adults we have more to say than we can seem to get out in words. Childhood is a hands on time and what a great way to get our hands more involved in connecting us together.
Our “know your neighbors” Roost sponsors are connecting us with a whole variety of great family resources. You can see a full list of our local business sponsors and reread a post that you remember or one that you missed at our web site sponsors page
