LITTLE did Chris Strode realise that the singing group she started in her dining room with her friends and their babies in Emsworth in 1988 would still be going strong today.

Chris, a qualified teacher, started the same singalong group for mums and babies in Petersfield in 1995 and it became ‘Mumbaba’.

The group focusses on promoting language skills in babies and toddlers through traditional nursery rhymes, which research has found are an essential tool when learning to read and write.

Mumbaba sessions also encourage children to have the confidence to join in.

Chris said: “Mumbaba is a jolly singalong session for babies and toddlers and their parents and carers. We sing traditional English nursery rhymes together. Babies from six weeks love it and forget to cry, toddlers love to copy the songs and actions and forget to run away.

“Parents love Mumbaba because it trains their children to sit still and listen while having fun. Everyone loves Mumbaba because we always have time for socialising over coffee and chat and a play afterward.”

Mumbaba will celebrate its 20th birthday on November 10 with a party in The Avenue Pavilion in Petersfield at 11am.

Mandi Randell will be leading the singalong session and Chris will be there to help.

Chris continued: “We’ll have an enormous cake, homemade by me, and balloons and a jolly good sing song. Everyone who wants to sing is welcome.”

For more details, call 07941 197033, e-mail [email protected], or visit mumbaba.co.uk.