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If you have made the decision to sign with your little one then you may be wondering which signing system to use, here is some information about the various methods available.
BSL
Over 70,000 profoundly Deaf people in the UK as their first language or preferred language use British Sign Language. A further 150,000 use Sign Language to communicate alongside English or another language. Since 2003 BSL has been recognised as a language in the UK.
LET’S SIGN
The LET’S SIGN Series uses British Sign Language. Their publications are designed to support people learning BSL with good quality and up-to-date materials for all ages and abilities - in the field of deafness, special needs and for signing with hearing babies and children.
Sign with your Baby (Sign2me)
Sign with your Baby is the programme that Joseph Garcia developed following his research. Initially Sign with your Baby materials were published using American Sign Language (ASL) but there is now a British Sign Language reference book, which can be, used along side his other products.
Baby Signers
When baby signing first started in the UK Emma Finlay-Smith was a Sign2me presenter. However she thought it was very important to produce a book specifically for the British market using BSL signs. That was the inspiration for the book that she wrote with Dr Garcia and indeed the textbook that Baby Signers built their classes around.
TinyTalk
Tinytalk UK uses British Sign Language. The founder and teacher-trainer, Katie Mayne is BSL-accredited - enabling everyone to not only communicate with their hearing baby, but also start communication with the Deaf Community. The Tinytalk programme uses over 100 BSL signs with the exception of the sign for milk. For milk they use the American sign, as it is easier for babies and young children to produce it. Some signs are slightly modified, again to make it easier for babies and toddlers.
Sing and Sign
The Sing and Sign programme was developed with the help of speech and language therapists to inspire your baby’s blossoming communication skills and encourage the development of speech. Sing and Sign teaches simple gestures derived from sign language to help your baby communicate while speech develops. Nursery rhymes and action songs have been written or adapted so that some basic signs can be used along side them. Sing and Sign is largely compatible with Signalong, Makaton and other sign supporting systems designed to be used with speech and based on British Sign Language.
Makaton
The signs used with the Makaton programme in the UK are from British Sign Language (BSL). As with spoken languages, where there are regional variations of dialect and accent, there are also regional variations in the signs that are used throughout. The signs from BSL matched to Makaton have been standardised to those used in the South-East/ London region. This standardisation is to avoid confusion for Makaton users if they move around the UK.
Makaton signs and symbols are used extensively throughout the UK, and have been adapted for use in over 40 countries. If your child is a fan of the BBC programme, Something Special then you will have seen Makaton being used by Justin Fletcher, AKA Mr Tumble
Signs for Success (WOW)
Kathy Robinson, hearing Mum of two deaf children, developed the Wow range. When her two daughters were little, there was nothing for them to play with that would provide a positive image of deafness nor of Sign Language and, in turn, a positive image of themselves as deaf children. So their stories were ‘hearing’ stories, their games ‘hearing’ games and they kissed ‘hearing’ cuddly toys. Deafness was invisible - in shops, in libraries, in schools, in homes.
Kathy desperately wanted to create an appealing signing character for books, games and toys to fill the void, one that would appeal to every child. And eventually, with a design by childrens illustrator Sam Williams, the concept was realised in the form of WOW.
Kathy’s experience in setting up educational programmes for young hearing children has shown that exposure to Sign Language significantly advances their language and literacy skills. Signing is good for them - and if it is good for them, it is good for deaf children, most of who are in mainstream schools with hearing children and most of who have hearing families.
There are many groups now offering sign language classes for babies and many new products coming on the market. Its important that you choose the method of signing that works for you and your child. Whatever you decide, make sure its fun for you and your little ones.
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