1:20pm Friday 8th January 2010
By Alex Willmott
HELMSHORE toddler Alex Wilson is not often lost for words.
The talkative youngster has more than 200 words in his vocabulary after taking part in a pioneering language scheme for children in Rossendale.
While other children his age can speak around 50 words, Alex began communicating in sign language with his mum when he was just seven months old, and is now quickly picking up new words.
His mum, Margo, a Rossendale singing teacher, said: “At seven months he was signing for milk and he was talking very early.
“When it came to his two-year check, I was asked to write down the words he knew.
“They asked if he knew 15 words, or more, and I had written down 200.
“He knew all the words we used at baby signing classes.
“He could sign for the toilet and so was potty trained at 18 months and dry overnight at 22 months.
“Baby signing classes were a big bonus for us.”
Julie Ryder, who is behind the TalkFirst scheme, said Alex, who is now two-and-a-half, and his family were among the first to sign up and were now reaping the benefits.
The Bacup entrepreneur, who is profoundly deaf, said the scheme uses baby signing and a colourful jester character, called Dexter, to speed up the language learning process.
She said the initiative was rapidly gaining national recognition and she was hoping for another successful year after being named regional winner of the Sound Barrier Star Awards 2009.
Julie, who has two children Alfie, 11, and Annie, nine, runs her business HearFirst and TalkFirst with her husband Matt, 39, from their home in Bacup.
She said: “Since TalkFirst was launched in February 2006, we have had thousands of children and childcare professionals who have benefited from our unique training programme.
“It reduces frustration, brings on speech, encourages bonding, and improves the quality of communication between parent and child because the child hears the word and also learns the sign and identifies it with the object.”
To find out more call 01706 872816, or email info@talkfirst.net
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