Baby Makaton. HELP.

[dizzycatmojo]

Hi, I have a mindee starting on Monday whose mother has just informed me has been learning Baby Makaton at nursery, and she uses quite a few of the signs! I wondered if anyone knows where I can get some free or not to expensive resources from. I would love to learn this as I think it is a fantastic way to communicate with children who don't talk yet but I can't afford to go on a course or pay tons for DVDs yet as I am just starting.
Thanks, Lisa.

[Blaze]

Mr Tumble on CBeebies uses makaton (baby signing is another term for makaton)...when you have the cash contact Chell - she's our resident expert on makaton & British Sign language & has fab resources:thumbsup:

There is also lots of info & some free resources here:

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

HTH:)

[TammyN]

yeah i agree have a look on Chell's website it has lots of great resources, i wish i could buy loads :blush:
my daughter really enjoys signing and ive just loaned books from the library to help us both learn them. we have also learnt 2 signing songs so far whilst at our local children's centre song group, check there also for advice :)

[AnnieM]

Does anyone run any of the sing and sign/tiny talk classes in your area and would mum be prepared to pay for you to take baby along?

I used to attend sing and sign classes with one of my mindees, who also went one day a week with his mum, she loved him going that much she paid for me to take him to a 2nd session. I have a tiny talk signing pack with dvd, think it cost about £13., there are also some free resources on the internet if you google the above companies or baby signing.

I must admit that if I ever get another little one I will be taking it to the sing and sign classes regardless of whether mum pays as I really enjoyed it and felt the children's confidence grow. :thumbsup:

[singlewiththree]

Isn't tiny talk BSL? I had this discussion with a tiny talk lady at the childminding conference who said they use BSL version and not makaton, she dismissed Makaton and said it was just a marketing tool :rolleyes:

I personally love Makaton I have bought quite a few books, went on the course provided by surestart, have Mr Tumble DVD's and also some sing and sign dvd's which are great! :thumbsup:

[gigglinggoblin]

I would call nursery and ask them if they can show you what they have been doing or lend you / photocopy you stuff. If you get the wrong stuff mindee will find it really frustrating and confusing! We are supposed to work in partnership after all

[Mookins]

I would call nursery and ask them if they can show you what they have been doing or lend you / photocopy you stuff. If you get the wrong stuff mindee will find it really frustrating and confusing! We are supposed to work in partnership after all

was going to suggest this too...makes it a lot easier singing from the same song sheet...always liked that expression :blush:

[AnnieM]

I did the tiny talk practitioners course and have since done sing and sign classes and they are both based on BSL, there are a couple of signs that have been changed to make them easier for babies in sing and sign, our tutor did say that the only real difference between baby signing and makaton is the use of the sign cards in makaton.

[Sarah41]

I did makaton sign with my son who had muscluar problems in his mouth which caused quite severe speech delay. I had help from speech therapists and also a specialist nursery, but in all fairness I got most of my information from 'Something Special' on Cbeebies. Its a very basic sign language and therefore easy for kids to pick up on. I've got to do some refreshing as I have an autistic boy starting in a couple of months. Good luck.

[Blaze]

BSL is a language, it has grammar, tenses, puntuation etc...makaton is simplified for example you would do the the sign for look & the sign for a tree...in BSL you would do the signing for look it's a tree IYSWIM? BSL is great to learn & know, but generally for this Job & for general communication with babies/children with Autism etc Makaton / Baby signing is the way to go.
HTH:)