The Sun has got his hat on!

February 2009 will once again see the UK's largest children's sing-along for charity, when I CAN's Chatterbox Challenge Week returns from 2-8 February. Weather is the brand new theme this year, so come rain or shine, why not join thousands of children across the UK who will be adding their voices to raise money for children's communication charity I CAN.

Little sunshines and rainbows will be learning the words, rhymes and actions to a host of weather themed songs to help highlight the importance of children's communication. Supported by Openreach, a BT group business, Chatterbox Challenge has become a firm favourite in the calendar. Alongside the traditional pre-school activity pack, 2009 also sees a range of new features including;

• Dedicated family activity pack, specifically designed for home based sing-alongs
• Schools pack for primary school-aged children
• Downloadable activities and song sheets

Supporting the Challenge, former weather presenter Andrea McLean says, "As a mother of two young children, I have already seen the benefits of singing and rhyming with my little ones. Learning the words and actions to our favourite songs is such an easy way to develop their communication skills, and it's great fun too. I know I am blessed to have two little chatterboxes, which is why I am supporting I CAN's Chatterbox Challenge 2009. Not only does it encourage children to practice and perform songs and rhymes together, it also raises vital funds for I CAN's work helping children who struggle to communicate."

"I'm really looking forward to Chatterbox Challenge Week 2009, 2-8 February 2009. As a former weather presenter, I'm forecasting lots of little rainbows and sunshines singing their hearts out across the country."

Chief Executive Virginia Beardshaw says: "Communication is fundamental to learning and relationships. Songs and rhymes are a particularly important way to help foster speech and language through repetition and sound patterns. By taking part in I CAN's Chatterbox Challenge all children benefit from the fun and educational activity. Whether taking part at nursery, at school, with a childminder or at home, all the activities and song sheets in the free pack have been specifically designed by teachers and I CAN speech and language therapists with communication development in mind. This year our new packs and online features will enable thousands more children to get involved and sing their hearts out. Last year Chatterbox Challenge raised a record £120,000 for I CAN. With your support we can raise even more for children who struggle to communicate."

Main sponsor, BT Openreach's Dawn James, Communications Director, adds: "Communication sits at the very heart of our business and Openreach is delighted to be involved once again with I CAN's Chatterbox Challenge as part of our ‛First Mile' programme. These events are the ideal opportunity to highlight the issue of communication development and to help improve these skills for the children taking part. By working with I CAN and supporting the Make Chatter Matter campaign, we can help build a nation where every child chatters."

I CAN's Chatterbox Challenge forms part of its Make Chatter Matter awareness-raising campaign to highlight the importance of children's communication as the foundation for learning and development.

Visit www.chatterboxchallenge.co.uk or call 0845 108 5303 for further information and to request your activity pack full of everything you need to organise your sing-along event.