Rave
"Sofia and I have had a wonderful experience in our beginning sign language class. During class we enjoyed playing with the other moms and children, watching everybody sign, and singing along to the fun songs. Sofia loves all the new songs we've learned and we sign and sing at home.
We started out without any knowledge or experience with sign language, and Sofia is now signing more, eat, nurse, water, bath and all done. It's so exciting! She lights up whenever we sign to her because she thinks of it as a fun game.
She continues her signing "babble" with her hands whenever she hears words that she recognizes from class spider, light, apple, mother, father, banana, and more, so I know that she will articulate more of her signing vocabulary soon.
Etel is a perfect teacher: kind, fun, energetic, knowledgeable, and a genuine person.
Thank you for everything!”
~ Laurel & Sofia, 13 months
"I enjoyed your class so much. You are an amazing teacher. The way you explain things makes it easy to remember."
~ Devochka L.
"Etel is a wonderfully creative teacher. She brings so many elements into class and makes learning fun."
~ Stephanie K.
"Ava, Maribel and I love your class. It is the first 'mommy and me' class that we have taken and Ava really is learning a great deal. In addition to learning how to sign, Ava is also learning how to interact with other babies. We started at 9 months and she is now starting to recognize the signs as a form of communication, as she looks at my chest when I make the 'milk' sign. Soon, I am sure, she will be able to do some of the signs herself. Thank you for creating such a warm, fun environment to learn!"
~ Andrea and Ava, 9 months
"My 13 month old daughter and I took sign classes and absolutely loved it. The classes were very informative, fun and increased communication with my daughter. Clarissa loved the classes and began signing after a few lessons. Etel is an energetic teacher and is creative in her teaching methods. I would highly recommend this class to any parent!"
~ Kristin Clarissa, 13 months
"There are a lot of classes out there, but what makes all the difference in the world is the teacher!!! If you don't have a good teacher, you won't learn anything and, just as important, it won't be fun. Etel, Signshine's founder and president, really knows how to connect with her students -- both parents and babies alike. She has a ton of energy, creative ideas, and a fabulous way of communicating that really makes you feel like you, too, can do it! She inspires and motivates, and always with a smile. I know it's hard to believe that one person can have all these great traits, but trust me - just take one of Etel's classes and you will see what I am talking about. And, of course, if that's not enough, teaching babies and tots to sign before they can speak is an amazing tool that is both helpful and gratifying to both parents and babies alike! SignShine has great classes/workshops, and Etel is a great teacher!"
~ Lisa K.
"Orrin's vocabulary in sign has absolutely soared! Where he was only signing for milk, up, more, and eat, he is now pointing out birds, dogs, fish and lights (his favorite), telling us what exactly he wants to eat, and actively asking for more signs when he wants to tell me something. The class has been extremely helpful for us in offering support for our choice to utilize sign as well as encouraging us to go beyond just the basics. Etel has proven to be an extremely calm and effective teacher (for the babies as well as the parents)."
~ Errin and Orrin, 13 months
"We started signing with our son at five and a half months and he signed back at ten and a half months. It was a long time in the middle and sometimes I got impatient...but oh my god! I cannot say enough about the joy that signing has brought to our parenting. It is all we talk about. The amount of times that signing has added peace and fun and clarity to our lives are innumerable. Now at 15 months, Jake has 86 signs and is adding them every day. To have missed signing would have been to miss getting to know my child as I have. I just can't imagine what it would be like if the few words he can speak were my only window into his thoughts and feelings."
~ Juliet and Jake, 15 months
"Thank you for continuing a wonderful resource for parents. I am a child care regulation attorney and became interested in baby sign language five years ago when I was pregnant with my first daughter. We started off at 5 months, and by 8 months she knew over 30 signs. By 12 months it was over 60. She had her first epileptic seizures four days after her first birthday.
On the way to the doctors, she woke and signed for ‘more goldfish (crackers).’ I knew then my life would never be the same, but seeing my child sign let me know immediately that the seizure had not affected her intellect. She's grown just fine since then, and taught her baby sister to sign just as well. Thank you for providing a valuable service. (We've been seizure free for two years.)"
~ Kristin S., a mom to 4½ year old
“I have taken 4 classes with Etel and SignShine with my daughter. It was one of the best things I did for our family. When Bela was 7 months we started the classes, and I thought she would never sign back, but consistency is the key and then when she started to sign back at about 13 months, she wouldn't stop. My daughter is now 2 1/2 and knows over 50 words. She speaks now, but it is great to be able to use the signs to talk silently across the room or through a window or just use the beautiful hand movements with songs. Since she is a toddler who likes to have tantrums now and then, we get through them more smoothly using the feelings signs. Now I am teaching her to speak Portuguese, and using the signs have been a great bridge to learning the language as well.
I also have a one year old, Alex, who learned much quicker and is now signing about 6 signs consistently. It is so great to see the look in their eyes when they see that you understand what they want. It is an amazing gift to share with any child and I hope you choose to embark on this special journey with them.”
~ Kathy, Isabel and Alex, 2 ½ years old and 13 months
"Etel is a joy to learn from. Her boundless enthusiasm makes me want to go home every day and do nothing but sign! And her love for signing with kids is backed up with SO much research and clinical information that shows the benefit. What could be better?"
~ Laura and Myah, 14 months
"Etel is an extraordinarily gifted teacher, and Sign Shine is a wonderful curriculum. The unique combination of music, signing, toys, and loving attention helps kids to blossom. Children and adults of all ages learn and have fun in these classes."
~ Debra and Emmett, 19 months
"I took Etel's class when my son was 5 months. By 6 months, he started signing MILK, wow. My son was fascinated by the class, looking at everybody signing at the same time. He really liked Etel. She has such a wonderful energy and is very caring toward little ones. I think that the songs were really the best part of the class, singing and signing at the same time - what a sensory delight for babies!"
~ Magda Azouz and Madani, 5 months
"You are a beautiful person, full of love and life. You love to teach and I love to learn from you. You have the power to put people in a good mood, especially me. Thank you Mrs. Leit!"
~ Jake M., age 10
“Luci is signing up a storm!!! It's wonderful! She's starting to ask for things that she wants, milk, food (her favorite), cheese, crackers, water and fruit. She's up to 25 signs! And what a hit she is at a party! But the best is being able to communicate with my daughter! She's always pointing out all the beautiful things around us that I take for granted and have stopped noticing. Now we're able to enjoy the world around us together. That was probably the best $400 we've spent on her so far.”
~ Natali, Steve and Luci, 18 months
“Etel is a fantastic teacher and very passionate about teaching sign language to babies. We started when my daughter was 7 months old. She is now 13 months old and signs to us all the time. In addition, I really believe the signing helped her learn to speak early. She has over 30 words in her vocabulary now and she also knows or recognizes the sign for most of these words as well. SignShine has allowed us to communicate more than we could have ever imagined with our 1 year old.”
~ Dena and Emily, 12 months
“We are in the midst of a very frustrating time with my 14 month old son, and without a doubt signing has made life a whole lot less frustrating for all of us. My son is now signing to let us know when he wants to "eat," if he wants "water" or "milk," that he wants "more," when he is "all done" and he even signs "please" (which kills me every time!). Etel has a true passion for what she does and it comes through in every class. My only regret is that we did not start signing with Etel and our new friends sooner.”
~ Wendy and Jake, 14 months
“I just wanted to rave about Etel, who owns BabySignShine. I had heard such great things about her class, so I enrolled with my 11 month-old in the current Level 1 session, and I can say that everything I heard is true. She's incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about signing, and we are learning a lot (and having fun). My son is consistently signing useful words (milk, more, eat, dog, all done), and seems to be adding more all the time. I highly recommend her class!”
~ Ally and Dylan, 12 months
“Thank you for being so wonderful and for offering such an amazing service to families and nannies. The nannies last night really enjoyed your class and I really feel that the children in their care are going to benefit from it."
~ Lara Fogelman - Director
Nurture & Nanny, LLC
“My baby and I attended a SignShine workshop when he was around 8-9 months old. I dutifully practiced the signs with him, even though he was so little. Then one day when he was about 11 months old, he signed to me the word for "milk!" Wow, communicating with an infant who is pre-verbal is an extraordinary moment, an authentic connection. Etel is a fabulous teacher, warm, compassionate, and energetic. I HIGHLY recommend her classes and workshops!”
~ Nadya and Mingus, 16 months