Rhyme, Rhythm and Sign

We know children LOVE to copy us, and as influential figures in their early years, we do our best to ensure this learning technique is used for better. I have always found joy as a musician in watching children find pleasure in listening to live music, including hearing and seeing different instruments.

The softer sounds help create calmer listening, and the drums and shakers encourage movement. Their focus shifts as the energy of the music changes. I recognised that music and rhythm provided an exciting way for children to learn vital listening and copying skills, as well as learning to express themselves.

When my son was born with Autism and Microtia (little ear), with permanent hearing loss in both ears, I wanted to provide for him, and other children with hearing or communication loss an opportunity to be included. I was motivated to incorporate Auslan (Australian sign language) into singing nursery rhymes and songs. Children feel confident in learning a new language in a fun, expressive way, and as Auslan uses a lot of facial expressions this in turn encourages a lot of copying. By using songs involving the alphabet, colours, counting and animals, we cover core themes for early learning and children are met with repetition, causing familiarity.

Acting out, moving, dancing and singing along to familiar tunes encourages children to move, sing and sign all at the same time, engaging both the left and right sides of their brains. This is an exciting way for them to learn useful signs on top of basic signs such as ‘yes’, ‘no’, ‘more’, ‘finished’, ‘drink’, ‘toilet’, ‘hat’, etc that they can use in their everyday life. Incorporating as many opportunities as possible to learn and use signs can really benefit children in communicating with their educators and peers, especially where communication is non-verbal.

Games and activities will foster children’s thinking abilities when utilising their learned skills. I like to use ‘voices off’ games, which pushes children to use only sign to complete the game. Such games are inclusive of all children and encourages communication, confidence, and group work, including taking turns.

By using available resources, or consulting directly with members of the deaf community, CODAs (Child of Deaf Adult), or those who hold a qualification, you can ensure you are keeping up to date with correct signs and current changes in the deaf community.

My passion led me to creating the Rhyme Rhythm and Sign program in 2020, which has given me, and our team of professional musicians, early childhood educators and music teachers the opportunity to visit early learning services and provide private NDIS classes to children and their families who are deaf, hard of hearing or have communication delays. We love what we do, and our goal is to get children excited about another language and think about inclusion. You can find us on Facebook: Rhyme Rhythm and Sign Brisbane.