Class Etiquette
SING AND SIGN CAMBRIDGE - CLASS ETIQUETTE
These guidelines are purely to enable you and your baby or toddler to get the most out of classes - they are generally all about common sense. Children take their cues directly from their parents/carers and the adults around them as well as their peers. In order to derive the maximum benefit from your Sing and Sign classes:
- Please participate as much as you are able – so that your baby will want to do the same.
- Please switch off mobile phones or put on vibrate. Of course please take a call if you need to but please do so discreetly.
- Please do not have toys at the class session; but instead keep these for the end of the class during social time. Anything that is potentially attractive to other babies can be quite distracting. Dummies, essential teethers, comfort toys/blankets are of course fine.
- If you or your child are unwell with anything that may be contagious, please stay at home and get well before coming back to class. We always recap so you will catch up. Please be mindful that due to the nature of the class, germs and infections may be easily passed to other babies and potentially pregnant mummies that we aren't even aware of.
- Please do not feed your child snacks during class if you can avoid it. Children always seem to find other children’s soggy crumbs particularly enticing(!) and other children may have allergies so keeping food during classtime to a minimum enables everyone to relax. Milk feeds and other drinks are fine at any time. Small snacks that you supervise are also OK if necessary and if taken off to the side, but it is preferable if you can wait until the class has finished as the floor tends to get quite messy otherwise; if you really need to feed your child a snack, please be considerate: move to the side and clear up any crumbs or spills as soon as they occur so that the floor mats and surrounding floor space is kept as clean as possible for everyone.
- Please do not engage in conversation during the class, except during the natural lulls – i.e. when your teacher is collecting toys in. We wish to encourage a sociable atmosphere but chatter during songs or the teacher talking does make it hard for the teacher to focus and to be heard. The more you participate, the more the children will follow your lead. Everyone should be able to get the most out of the songs, activities and what your teacher is explaining – please feel free to ask questions at any time. There is then always time for a good social chat before or after the class content.
- Please change your babies’ nappy at any time in the changing facility (quick wet changes are OK off to the side of the class, but please take number twos into the changing facility and potty sitting into the foyer or toilet).
- Please help yourself to warm bottles in the kitchen (but please use heating equipment at yours and your baby’s own risk) – no need to ask just go ahead.
- Please allow babies to roam about as they please, this is fine, but not to run about in a disruptive or very noisy way. Babies will behave in a natural way, and classes will help them learn about sharing, putting toys away etc. However, any disruptive behaviour will need to be addressed and aggressive behaviour, e.g. biting, hitting is rare but needs to be managed for everyone’s safety and comfort. You as the parent or carer will know best how to deal with any issues, and your teacher will only intervene by asking you to take charge if necessary.
- Babies cry to communicate and this is totally acceptable. However if your baby's crying is persistent, please take a few calm moments in the foyer if you can before rejoining the group. Also, please take any tantrums that last longer than a minute or so into the foyer to diffuse away from distractions before rejoining the group.
Please treat the group as a baby group - no need to ask permission for milk feeds, standing / walking with your child or leaving the room to change nappies. These guidelines are purely intended to help you to all relax and enjoy the classes!
