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Speech and Language Therapy Service Early Language Signing

woman and child signing to each other

Introducing Sign 

Signs are often used to begin with, to support young children’s understanding and use of language development. Signs (gestures) are modelled alongside speech to help people communicate. We also use facial expression, eye contact and body language to give as much information as possible. 

Use of sign will not replace your child’s spoken words, provided that you model the word and the sign at the same time. Most children will naturally stop using the signs as their spoken language improves

Sign can help reduce your child’s frustration when they are having difficulties communicating and can also be a stepping stone towards your child using spoken language

Benefits of using Sign 

  • It supports understanding of language 
  • It supports the development of use of language 
  • It will enable your child to express needs and desires 
  • It helps your child participate in songs and story time e.g. wheels on the bus 

How to get started 

  • Start by choosing up to 5 words that are useful and important to your child. They may be words that they are already trying to say but are unclear. 
  • Focus on these 5 words for a week, a month or as long as is necessary for your child to learn the signs. 
  • Use signs as much and as often as you can e.g. during everyday routines, singing with your child, or telling stories. 

Top Tips 

  • ALWAYS SAY THE WORD WITH THE SIGN 
  • Use facial expressions alongside sign 
  • Ensure you are face to face with your child when signing with them 
  • Wait… allow your child to attempt to copy the sign or use their own attempted sign 
  • If your child needs support to copy the sign, you can use hand over hand to help them form it 
  • Offer lots of encouragement and praise for any attempts at communication 
  • Make sure that all involved with your child are aware of all signs you are working on, so that they can encourage them as well 
  • Continue to add new signs to your child’s vocabulary once they are confident with using the first few you had started with 
  • Once your child is confident using signs at single word level you can encourage them to expand on this by extending their words into short phrases e.g. ball big ball, red ball, ball bouncing etc. 

Don't give up! It may take a while, but it will be worth it in the end 

 
www.makaton.org

Account needed, some initial resources are free. Also look on YouTube, Twitter and Instagram for ‘Sign of the day’ videos. 

www.singinghands.co.uk

There is a fee for many of these resources. Also look on YouTube, Twitter and Instagram for nursery rhymes, songs & stories with Makaton signing. 

www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/watch/playlist-something-special-really-useful-makaton-signs#playlist

More sign videos with Mr Tumble. 

www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/joinin/something-special-getting-started-with-makaton

Tips on getting started with early signing skills. 

Croeso i Arwydd (arwydd-sign.co.uk)

Online resource for Makaton users in the medium of Welsh. 

girl and boy dancing
Action Words
zebra, lion and koala
Animals
many colours around a head
Colours
heads with scribbles, letters and clouds in them
Concepts
faces with different emotions
Emotions
bowl of salad
Food and Drink
mouth speaking
Other Words
crowd of people
People
man and child cycling
Places
cat jumping into a box
Prepositions
speech bubbles with question marks
Questions
multiple vehicles
Transport
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