Now mums and dads can communicate with their babies before they can even talk - Christine Matthews shows you how...

A PARENTING craze imported from the States has become a soaring success in Hampshire.

Christine Matthews, of Blackfield, is teaching mums and dads how to communicate with their babies before they can even talk.

The system is based on simple signs and gestures derived from British Sign Language for the deaf taught through song.

There is so much demand that six "Sing and Sign" classes are now running every week in the local area to show parents and their little ones what to do.

"From six to seven months babies start to gesture but they can't tell you what they want so they get frustrated and so do the parents," explained Christine, a mum of three.

"Sing and Sign teaches them signs to tell you things like if they want a drink or if they have hurt themselves. It gives them the confidence to communicate so it brings on their speech."

As the children grow older they learn more, such as signs for colours, weather and animals.

Christine, 43, started last May with just two classes a week in Hythe and Lymington but now has about 60 babies on her books and is in the process of training two new people to help.

"Once it started it took off quite quickly," she said.

"I had two classes in the first term and four classes in the second term. We would have had at least eight classes by now but a teacher left us."

Christine currently runs beginners and improvers classes for babies aged six to 24 months in Totton on Monday mornings, Hythe on Thursday mornings and Eastleigh on Friday mornings.

She is hoping to expand further into the New Forest, possibly Brockenhurst or Lymington, as soon as she can find suitable locations.

Mum Joanne Watson, has been taking her 21-month-old son Thomas to sing and sign classes at Hythe Community Centre for the past year.

She travels all the way from Whiteley with a friend and her son to attend the classes.

"As soon as I knew somewhere that did it I came like a shot," she said. "After the first term Thomas was communicating milk, juice and "ouch" which are the important things. I am hoping it will reduce tantrums during the terrible twos and so far so good. It's also a lot of fun for him to be with other kids."

The new term starts after Easter, call Christine on 023 8089 4132 to enrol.