Teaching 3y8m old signing

[WigWamBam]

My dd has been watching Something Special on CBeebies, and has been picking up the signing really well. She's not deaf but this has really interested her, and she's now really keen to learn how to sign some more. I would like to learn with her, but don't know where to start. Does anyone know of any videos etc aimed at children which I could use with her? I've tried the RNID but they don't have anything suitable. She's 3y8m.

does blues clues use some signing?

my dd's love something special as well. dd1 picked up some sign language at nursery as one of the little girls there has speech and language delay so used to sign.

Blue's Clues uses some signing (can't get it any more as Telewest have very kindly pulled the plug on Nick Jnr, grrrrr). My dd sometimes sees a girl a little older who is deaf, she can only sign a little herself because she has other special needs, but my dd would love to be able to talk to her.

think mien would enjpy l;eartning it as wlel. i dont know if any of the kdis at dd's new school use signing at all.

wouldnt it be fab if it was taught at schools as a 2nd language.

You could always try asking your local authority if they do makaton courses (Justin uses Makaton in Something Special). Then you could practice what you learn by teaching your wee ones. I'm pretty sure that you can get material from the website as well. hth

I think it would be wonderful. The school we're hoping to get dd into does have some signing classes but they're optional, and she doesn't start until September - and you know what kids are like, she wants to start learning now!

Thanks Mars, I didn't realise it was Makaton that they use. I'll go and have a google!

Something Special is FAB isn't it? We should all email the BBC to say so I think. My ds loves it - the idea of signing really captures his imagination. He happily invents ones for things he doesn't know. I love Cbeebies.

I've just checked out the makaton site and they have stacks of information, and there are videos and things available. Thanks again for the info, marslady.

i'll have a look later as wlel.

you're welcome!!

The makaton website is here , misdee.

I think Something Special is fabulous too, aloha!

There have been a few posts about this recently.
My 3 yr old dd has Down Syndrome, and we use sign as our main form of communication. We have been signing since she was about 6 months old and she is amazing-knows more than me now, about 150 words.

Yes I think it would be absolutely fab if more children knew sign, for rather selfish reasons-sorry! It is a great, fun way to help express yourself alongside speech.

I emailed Makaton about with my feedback about Something Special, which is the sort of program I wish was available 3 yrs ago. One thing they did ask was that I also send any positive feedback to the BBC. Hopefully they will make and air more programs like this. I taped them back in Autumn and DD know them all off by heart now.

Please help support this too.

Dingle, I shall certainly email the BBC about this, it's about time programming was more inclusive and positive about special needs as a whole.

Cool, let's bump this thread and encourage others to mail the bbc and give lots of positive feedback about something special.

leave positive feedback here

Done! I went to the link at the bottom of the "contact us" page, and there's a bit there for sending comments - nothing else seemed to quite fit.

Blatant bump!

Thank you. Every little helps.

Sometimes a feel having a child with SN is a bit like organising a wedding. It seems companies hear the "magic words" and think ...aha....Special needs", we can charge whatever we want and some silly mug of a mum will pay through the nose....sorry, getting on my soapbox again So much "specialised" material costs a fortune.That makes me appreciate have a programme like Something Special on TV for free for ALL to see.
Hopefully our childrens generation will be growing up with more knowlegde and understanding of disabilities that what I did!
Sorry, turned a lovely, light hearted, cheery thread in to a political fight!!!

Get up on your soapbox and rant all you like, Dingle, it's OK by me . This is important.

If you go to the BBC site and find the Something Special homepage, not only is there more stuff on the show including games to play etc, you can leave feedback directly to the production team.