Baby signing for toddlers?

[OysterandPearl]

My DS2 is 21 months and hasn't really taken much interest in speaking. I've been chatting to the HV and to his nursery key worker about it, and the nursery SENCO has referred him to a speech therapist. The waiting list is long, however, and his key worker suggested we start using some simple signs with him in order that he can communicate better and (hopefully) be a little less frustrated.

Is there an easy and quick way to learn baby signing? Obviously we'd need to become familiar with it so any kind of fast track course would be ace, preferably computer based.

Am I right in thinking there's a UK-specific sign language? I've been searching around for a chart online but seem to find lots of variation in the signs. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks.

I think you might be over thinking this :)

Just keep it simple, use signs you & he are comfy with, most will come natural to you anyway - but theres a lot of the basic ones in this link

Just stick to the action type one to begin with, things he'll need to communicate he's hungry, thirsty or dirty etc, these will help him feel less frustrated & be able to let you know what he needs & add more if he's comfortable with it

We did this with DD when she was tiny & it saved a lot of tantrums - she doesn't remember any of it now, but does remember the proper signs shes been taught in School :)

LINK HERE

whoops - forgot link

Have you tried watching Something Special on Cbeebies with him? Loads of simple signing on that. DS picked lots of signs from it, and it really helped him to commicate with us before he could speak properly.

This isn't a direct reply to your question but things I've found useful. My ds was reluctant to speak bearly said anything at that age. Now 2.5 and speech is coming on leaps and bounds so don't panic. His issue was hearing after earinfections which has cleared up now.
There are baby signing DVDs which are also on the net. They have songs with key words in them to use such as more, hungry etc and could be a good place to start. Might sound daft but my son loves mr tumble cbeebies especially the old ones which look very basic but he regularly uses the signs from there but thats not as useful as the words aren't always relivent. It does help with his speech though as I know from the sign the word he's trying to say so I repeat it back. This is getting him more confident trying to say words. My sisters son does see a therapist who told her to speak in very basic sentences so he can pick up key words eg name play ball?

Hope you find the course you're looking for but in the meantime hope these things help get him interested.

Thanks all, these are useful suggestions. I've booked a gp appointment to check his hearing is ok, so hopefully we can rule that out.

His attention span is very short - he is one of those children who just won't sit and watch more than a couple of minutes of telly unfortunately so I will try Something Special but don't hold out a lot of hope. See also sitting and reading books.

His favourite things are animals, cooking, water play, sand pits etc. I think he's quite outdoorsy really (doesn't get that from me, I'm more of a bookish type) so perhaps I need to think up some physical games and relate these back to words/signs in some way.

Finding it quite upsetting at the moment as I see all his peers speaking in sentences while he struggles with single words. Hopefully it'll all come on in the next few months.

Really empathise but try not to worry. My LO was exactly the same with his speach. Even words he could say he just wouldnt use them. Hes also always on the go. The way I used to think about it was I didn't worry when he could crawl etc before the others so I shouldn't worry the other way round just encourage him when I could. Still not as eloquent as peers but defo sentences. The main thing is I know he understands so he'll get there just when he's ready. Sure you son will too.

Sorry that should be speech

You want to look for Makaton signs - that will be what the nursery use as well as it is the standard sign language for working with children with communication difficulties (basically simplified British Sign Language) and is what Mr. Tumble uses.

This series of books might be nice for both of you - www.amazon.co.uk/My-First-Signs-Baby-Signing/dp/1904550045/ref=pd_sim_b_2

There are baby signing classes out there that run Toddler specific classes that your DS might enjoy - many focus on signing as well as other language development activities to help speech progression. I have a franchise with TinyTalk (www.tinytalk.co.uk/free) and have started Toddler classes in my area, but I know other companies like Sing and Sign also do classes for older children as well. We're currently offering free trial classes so you could come along and see how you get on. Obviously I'm passionate about signing and happy to answer any questions you might have.

Very few 21 month olds are speaking in sentences - my ds only says some single words as do most of his same-age friends. The ones using sentences are definitely in the minority.

I took DS to a class (Tiny Talk) for about a year from 8m and his communication is really good - I think partly due to this. We have never had massive tantrums because he was more able to make himself understood. This counted at nursery too as one of the assistants knew some signs - the other children copied DS because they could see him getting what he wanted.

I don't think you would have to follow a particular system as long as the two of you use the same signs.

That said, I second Something Special as useful viewing (if you can get DC to watch it!) - some of the signs were different in our class but we both picked up a lot of extra stuff on there.
One other thing I would say is that you need to persevere - DH was v sceptical and didnt join in until he could recognise DS's signs and also it can take time for things to sink in. Mind you, your DC's age might mean he will pick things up faster.

I have been finding that lots of baby and toddler group activites seem to do signing now. Look for a sensory group or sing and sign. It would be useful for him to be able to communicate with you but you must remember to keep using the words too not just the sign. We have been learning using songs and it is surprising how many words you pick up that then help you sign to a different song.

Don't follow the link - it is american - totally different to BSL / Makaton.

A friend had a similar problem and started with just two signs, one was drink - make a drinking motion, the same as if you were in the pub and asking someone accross the room if they want another.

I can't remember what the other was, but basically if he wanted a drink he had to ask for it. After about two weeks he decided it was easier to talk than sign. Assuming you and dc are both hearing you are going to use this as a communication system, not a language so say the word at the same time as signing.

It really is useful - a friend who is a BSL interpreter taught her kids BSL before English. Very useful for me when I went round and could hear her vacuuming but she couldn't hear me knocking, I could just sign through the window at her 4 year old "go get mum".

A lot of signs that a young child will use are ikonic - ie they look like the object, so drink - your hand is like it is holding a glass and moving to your lips.

Hello - you just wave 'hello' - hand goes from left to right in an ark

Hungry - put your hand flat on your tummy with the thumb upwards, leave yoour little finger across your tum and move your hand down so your thumb is the furthest away - sort ofthe opposit of opening a lid.

food / eat - put all your fingers of one hand on the thumb of that hand and move it to your mouth

some not so ikonic but useful

mum - put your hand into the girl guide / scout saloute - middle three fingers up, thumb holding little finger then tap your head just above your temple

dad - both hands in similar position but with ring finger tucked in as well and tap the fingers on one hand onto the fingrs of the other hand making the fingers into a cross.

toilet - there are numerous signs for toilet and one only used by small children - put your hands together with the fingers intertwined - do you know the "here's a church, here's a steeple"? put your hands in the church position. In small children this is often accompanied by hopping from one foot to another - it obviously also means 'my nappy is wet'

good luck

That's great, a real help - thank you sashh. We're already making a start with some really simple ones and I think DS is getting the hang of it.

Are those BSL signs you have described sashh? Makaton is a little different.

Yes, our sign for mummy is 3 fingers tapped onto palm of other hand.

Ds (22 months) has developmental delays and has no speech at all, we have been using makaton for the last year, just sticking to a few signs which we use regularly and always with the words too. He has signed a couple of times, but doesn't use it often. We have picked up a lot from Something Special, which he watches with his sisters (they are learning too) - the comic and website are good too. I would also recommend the Dave Benson Phillips dvds of nursery rhymes, which you can get on Amazon - ds loves them.