Makaton is a fun and easy way to learn to sign with your child. Signing while speaking has been shown to encourage the development of communication and language skills. It can help reduce frustrations and help you to understand your child’s needs and wants.

We have been using Makaton in the Nursery for over ten years and all of our staff are Makaton trained. Some staff members have also completed the British Sign Language course.

Babies can begin to use Makaton from about six to eight months. They start by learning ‘more’, ‘milk’ and ‘eat’ and gradually learn more words as they get older. Signs are easier to learn than spoken words which is why babies use gestures before they can speak. They will point to something they want or hold out their arms to be lifted up. Makaton can help if a child has difficulties with understanding and speaking and is especially beneficial for children who are late to begin talking. Through Makaton, children are able to develop important communication skills.

Makaton is used when singing songs with the children such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Baa Baa Black Sheep. The children also use signs to ask for simple things such as ‘drink’ and ‘toilet’. Makaton is part of every child’s daily routine and children from six months to ten years enjoy signing. They learn ‘hello’, ‘goodbye’ and enjoy signing ‘good morning’ and ‘good afternoon’ during registration times. As the children get older, they learn to sign their own names during circle time.

Children are first encouraged to communicate using signs, then gradually, as a link is made between the word and the sign, the signs are dropped and speech takes over. Research shows that signing positively encourages speech development.

Please see www.makaton.org for further information.