Rowan Lowe, a mother from Bearwood, Birmingham, has become a trusted figure for parents seeking to communicate effectively with their babies through signing.
She manages Sing and Sign Birmingham, where she leads ten baby signing classes each week, serving families across the West Midlands.
After her daughter Lowry was born in 2022, Rowan-who had spent 20 years in fundraising and marketing-decided to pursue a more flexible career. Having witnessed the positive impact of baby signing firsthand, she chose to return to her hometown to establish her own Sing and Sign franchise.
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Since beginning her business in September 2024, Rowan has seen remarkable growth. Her dedication earned her the 12th place in Club Hub UK’s Top 100 Children’s Activity Providers in May 2026.
“Signing helps babies feel understood, builds strong relationships, and significantly supports language development,” Rowan explained. “I observed these benefits with my daughter and friends’ children, which inspired me to share this passion with others.”
In the summer of 2024, Rowan introduced free taster sessions to familiarise local families with her Sing and Sign classes. Starting with 25 families across five groups, many of these original participants continue to attend class six terms later. Currently, around 100 families join her classes each term, reflecting a thriving community.
The classes feature 45 minutes of engaging songs, rhymes, and activities designed to teach over 100 baby signs. Additionally, unstructured time allows adults to connect and build friendships.
Baby signing enables parents to understand their child’s thoughts, needs, and ideas from an early age, fostering trust, reducing frustration, and strengthening bonds. It also promotes early vocabulary, speech development, confidence, and self-esteem.
Rowan shared heartfelt testimonials from parents: “One mum said signing made her a better parent by improving communication with her little boy. Another was initially sceptical but now reports her nearly one-year-old can sign numerous words such as ‘milk’, ‘finished’, ‘loud’, and ‘twinkle.'”
Supporting families in nurturing these connections remains a rewarding privilege for Rowan. One parent highlighted improvements in their child’s attentional skills, turn-taking, choice-making, and confidence after attending classes.
This recognition as the 12th best children’s activity provider across the UK is a great honour for Rowan and underscores her commitment and passion. She is proud to be the highest-ranked baby signing teacher in the Midlands.
Returning to Bearwood after nearly two decades away, Rowan appreciates the close-knit, community spirit where familiar faces-old neighbours and school friends-join her classes alongside new families.
To learn more or register for classes, visit the Sing and Sign website.
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