sign language

Joblue_2

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help me to find out where i can print off some of the makaton sign lanuguage. I have a 3 year old son who hardly talks and we are both learning makaton signs but we have only got the basics.

starlorna22

I would contact your local college, even if they don't run a course themselves, they should be able to point you in the direction of someone who does.

Jay-Jay_4

I've found it really difficult to find any decent free sign language on the web, I've used this site before to buy BSL books. There is a book on there called

MAKATON POCKET BOOK OF SIGNS - CORE VOCABULARY STAGES 1-4

£8.75

(I wonder if it would be cheaper on Amazon or Ebay :think:)

The only other thing is that learning signs from paper is really hard so if you could get some lessons at a local college you might find it more beneficial and you'll learn it much quicker.

Is your son deaf?... because if he has impaired hearing you may be better considering BSL or SSL as this would likely be what he would be using as he gets older.

Counting_Pennies_2

Try these websites, they might help a little
http://www.signingbaby.com/
http://www.handspeak.com/tour/index.php

I have this book and it is good to start with
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Joseph-Garcia-Sign-with-your-baby-sign-language-book_W0QQitemZ8386283373QQcategoryZ11113QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This other one looks good too
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7004202137&ssPageName=MERC_VI_ReBay_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT

Jay-Jay_4

Counting_Pennies wrote:

Try these websites, they might help a little
http://www.signingbaby.com/
http://www.handspeak.com/tour/index.php

Just a word of caution, these sites are ASL (American Sign Language) whereas Makaton is loosely based on and is a simplified version of BSL (British Sign Language) which uses completely different signs.

If the child is deaf or hearing impaired SSL (sign Supported English) teaches good vocabulary skills which is essential as part of a reading, writing and comprehension programme.

If the child has learning difficulties, Makaton makes communication much easier but spoken word is still used so SSL is not required.


As an example....

A BSL user would sign 'you.... toilet ?'

SSL user would sign 'do you want the toilet?'

Makaton user would sign 'toilet?'

pavlovs_dog

have you had a look on yahoo to see if there are any support groups to help you find your feet?

wonderfullife_2

Joblue wrote:

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help me to find out where i can print off some of the makaton sign lanuguage. I have a 3 year old son who hardly talks and we are both learning makaton signs but we have only got the basics.

Hi
Don't know if your sons in nursery yet, but if he is have you thought about asking there. Also is he under a speech & language therapist, because these can help too.
My son doesn't talk either but when he was little he went to a special needs nursery, attached to a special needs school and they were really brilliant and we got loads of stuff and more importantly excellent support from them.
I remember looking for the makaton on the internet, but none of it was free, well very little, just basic stuff.
So we got all our stuff from his nursery/school

Hope this helps

Joblue_2

Hi,
Thank you to everyone for all the help, my son isn't deaf and he goes to playschool and is also seeing a speech therapist at playschool but at the moment he seems to be slowing right down with his speech and isn't at all bothered about trying to speak. They have told me to keep on using the makaton signs but i would like to use a lot more of them.

kabie

The slt should certainly be able to give you free sheets with Makaton signs, sp if they've told you to try it.
A couple of weeks ago I saw a book in elc called babysign (or something similar). I had a flick through and it all looked like Makaton to me: (I used Makaton in a previous job). What was good about the book was that it had great photos not just the usual line drawing you get whith the Makaton info sheets so it looked really easy to follow.
BSL isn't the same as Makaton at all, for a start Makaton is always signing with speech: you say and sign at the same time.
Dave Benson Philips has done some great videos for kids : nursery rhymes etc, could be good to watch together as a family and sign along?
Will go and see if I can find a link.

kabie

There's this site but they seem to want to make you pay for everything, although there is a forum which couold be good

http://www.makaton.org/resources/resources.htm

They have the videos I mentioned for sale on there although perhaps you could persuede your local library that they should have some?

This site is good:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/somethingspecial/

they look to have a few fun things you could do together maybe?

wonderfullife_2

Hi
Just an add on, and I don't know if this is any good in your case, but have you heard about PECS (picture exchange symbols) my son uses these now, their just symbols, without or without words underneath. From the very simple to making sentences. He uses these everywhere now and we've found this to be an excellent way to communicate with him.
My son has no speech whatsoever, he is autistic, but he's really come on leaps and bounds since he's been using PEC's, its just an alternative or perhaps it could work in conjunction with the Makaton.



Hope this helps