My passion is baby massage, because it is such a wonderfully simple activity that has so many benefits. But, when coming to decide on what to study for the Psychological Reseach Methods MSc, I knew I wanted to do something different. The physiological benefits have been evaluated, as have the benefits for babies with postnatally depressed mothers, so where could I go? What about language development? Most baby massage classes include some nursery rhymes to enliven the massage and draw a baby's attention back to mum (or dad) when the baby (and parent) are too busy listening and looking at the baby massage teacher, because she is the one talking! But I know for a fact that Touch-Learn teachers use a lot of rhymes and songs, so a parent's opportunity to really get 'chatty' with their baby is supported and encouraged.

So, why not look at whether this encouragement actually has a positive influence on parents who generally lack confidence to talk to their baby, so that it becomes more natural to chat away, or at least sing the nursery rhymes they have learnt.

Of course there is the 'should it be qualitative or quantitative research methods'??? Well, not much option to begin with - the introduction to reseach methods wants me to do a proposal for a quantative research topic. So that is were I am at the moment. Piloting the study in an area that is deemed to have a number of children starting school with limited language development (so we can surmise - at least we are surmising - that there is a distinct possibility that the language input in infancy and early childhood is limited.)

Nope, I am not evaluating children's language development after they have been on a Touch-Learn baby massage course. (A bit difficult to assess with quantative methods to hand.) Instead I am evaluating whether parents do communicate more verbally after they have attended the classes. After all, it has to go in first, before it can come out.

Well, the study commenced a couple of weeks ago, so watch this space!!!! : )