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Original poster

Makaton Signing

38 replies

EvesMama · 17/08/2006 20:08

i have another thread on C.M board.
i getting reg to become a childminder but want to extend my capability so i can care for children with S.N.
now im down for courses to deal with behaviour, specialist feeding etc, but i want to learn signing.
initially i though BSL was enough, but im told Makaton is the best.
Now heres where im on the tap..does anyone have any sheets on this signing they could send/email me so i could get started while waiting to do course/buy discs??
id really appreciate any help at all.
am bidding on some on ebay at minute, but i trust mumsnet 100% and i know i wont get a page of twadle fro here.

Thanks All
xx

OP posts:
mogwai · 17/08/2006 21:52

Makaton would be much more useful

BSL is used by profoundly deaf childen

MatNanPlus · 17/08/2006 22:17

Evesmama, have you asked the early years advisor as she might be able to get you a copy?

eidsvold · 17/08/2006 22:45

we bought a couple of books from makaton uk - small bag size books - think together they were about 15 quid. Found them very helpful. I think the makaton group also do classes.

makaton website

tobysmumkent · 17/08/2006 22:58

Message withdrawn

Original poster
EvesMama · 18/08/2006 09:09

CIS have just advised me not do to it as its very specific and i may not need it???????????
i thought it was second only to actually speaking and could help a wide range of people????

OP posts:
Thomcat · 18/08/2006 09:12

Apparently it's called sign-a-long now and is easier to get hold off on lone.
I'll do a search but if not if you let me have your address I have all the makaton signs somewhere.

Thomcat · 18/08/2006 09:14

signalong

Original poster
EvesMama · 18/08/2006 09:17

thanks for that Thomcat, am confused now tho as to wether its a good idea or not?

how are you and the kittens by the way?

OP posts:
Thomcat · 18/08/2006 09:25

I think it's a wonderful idea, and if it hadn't been for kitten no 2 trying to climb onto me and banging her head on the table I wojuld have siad so first time round!
One of the first things I ask people who are caring for lottie in nurseries, summer schools etc is does anyone know makaton?
It doesn't just have to be something that kids with SN's use. You could teac all the kids in your care a few signs and it'll really help with the younger kids and also be fun. It's wonderful wjhen a child who can't yet talk, SN or not, can ask you for a drink or tell you they need a nap etc.

Kittens are a bit poorly at the moment actually. Eve has hacking cough and snotty nose and Charlotte just threw up her milk all over herself, me and lounge floor as she coughed. So........
Thanks for asking though!
How's you and yours?

PandaG · 18/08/2006 09:30

I'm a CM and have done basic Makaton - found it really helpful. Do you have children in Nursery yourself? I ask because I got on a free course as a parent - course was organised by my daughter's nursery. My children love signing, and I found a child who refused to say please and thankyou, although perfectly capable of doing so, would sign them quite happily.

MatNanPlus · 18/08/2006 09:32

Hope the kittens start feeling better soon Thomcat.

There are also the baby signing books available, similar to makaton and available in bookshops.

tobysmumkent · 18/08/2006 09:34

Message withdrawn

Original poster
EvesMama · 18/08/2006 09:42

that would be great TonbyMumKent!even if you could scana nd email them to me
i am watching some on ebay its over 250 sign, but like i said earlier, i want to make sure its the proper stuff so i get it right!
Thomcat..poor LO's and poor you coverd in sick!
dd is fine, just chomping at my leg to paint while i keep saying one more minute, mummys just finding out something for work[

i will ask at dd's school when she go's back, you never know? and ive offered to go in and help out/read to the children whilst im not working, so coould be something i propose for them to do?
very excited about it..i personally think it will be excellent to know and like you said, even dd or other little ones will benefit.

OP posts:
Thomcat · 18/08/2006 11:57

It's fab. Using 1 or 2 with DD2. When she starts to get a bit whiney becasue she wants milk I do the sign at her and she beams so I get her a drink ready. Lottie loves me using it with her and bum shuffles up douing the drink sign about.5 of an inch from Eves face!

I was told by my local NHS hospital thatthey all use signalong now as the resources are easier to tap into etc.

Original poster
EvesMama · 18/08/2006 12:03

sorry tobysmumkent, just realised i totally mis slept your name

well thomcat, just shows how useful it CAN be doesnt it!
im going to order the pack from ebay hopefully will be proper stuff and if anyone can email/send me any sheets on here id be v.happy

OP posts:
tobysmumkent · 18/08/2006 15:30

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nikkie · 18/08/2006 20:18

I think (not positive) that signalong is based (and started ? ) in Kent , it is gradually spreading round the country but is similar to makaton (as in they are both derived from BSL but they are different dialects -hence the different signs) There is a lot more signs in signalong and they do lots of topics.We used some of the science and PSE books with the kid I work with (deaf/sld as he struggled with the BSL when they would finger spell and signalong would have a sign)

eidsvold · 18/08/2006 22:59

As tc says - other children pick it up quite easily. Dd2 is quite a prolific signer - most she has learnt just from watching us sign with dd1. I think we actively taught dd2 three signs - more, eat, drink and she comes out with signs all the time. Makes me laugh as she often does a sign and I wonder where she learnt that.

eidsvold · 18/08/2006 23:01

and makaton is geographical as well in that some signs we taught dd1 when we lived in the Uk are not the same as the signs used here in Aus. Must admit our toilet sign is a lot better than the UK toilet sign.

MatNanPlus · 19/08/2006 11:30

Oh eidsvold do tell about the different toilet sign, must say it was the most used sign when we were out of the house

nikkie · 19/08/2006 13:14

In BSL there is about 20 toilet signs!

Davros · 19/08/2006 21:35

The UK toilet sign has changed and is no longer the "dirty finger" (middle finger like a USA-style rude gesture), I think you use two or three fingers now!
I would recommend going with Makaton simply because it is much more widespread than Signalong. ALthough Signalong is gaining in popularity I have never met a professinal who uses it, never mind Justin Fletcher. I think it is a great thing for a child minder to learn and I hope you can find a course for free, maybe ask Home Start as well as local Charities, CDC etc.

Christie · 19/08/2006 23:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cat64 · 19/08/2006 23:26

This reply has been deleted

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eidsvold · 20/08/2006 00:57

oh davros - I thought that was still the toilet sign - would get you all sorts of looks here in Aus. Our toilet sign is just - 't' which is index finger of dominant hand pointing into palm of oppposite hand to form a t shape.