Frequently Asked Questions

Makaton uses signs from British Sign Language (BSL) which is the language of the deaf community. When you use BSL you do not have to speak and you often structure your signed sentences in a different order to spoken English. The difference with using Makaton is that you always use speech and simply match the signs to support what you are saying.

Another difference is that there is often an accent/dialect when using BSL. Signs will vary in different parts of the country just like words vary in spoken English - this is how language develop, Makaton signs are standardised so that families who rely on Makaton for their communication can move from one part of the country to another without confusing their language. Makaton has chosen the signs from BSL that are the easiest to sign and look the most like the item that they represent.

Baby signing is a fun way to make your language visual! Baby signing is about using hand-shapes (signs) and meaningful gestures as a pre-verbal tool to help communicate with your child. At Little Talkers we use signs from the Makaton Language Program because we are licensed tutors.

The key to baby signing is starting early, making it part of your everyday talking and being patient. 

We all use gestures to communicate; pointing, clapping and waving etc. 

From about 8 months old your baby can use their hands and communicate through gestures and signs, which is a lovely start to language development before their first words are said at approximately 12 months. Using baby signing allows you to create a bridge between these two stages and gives you a wonderful opportunity to share things, ease frustration, stop tantrums and have fun together.

No. Research shows that signing helps to support language development. By using baby signing and focusing on what your child is interested in, you are giving them the time and skills to explore further. You can also ‘chat’ about what they are interested in which is great conversation and introduces turn taking and language skills.

Your child will babble and vocalise as they play around and explore new sounds, so using signs can help to express themselves, give clear communication, support their interests and most importantly ease frustrations and tantrums. When you use signs you also say the words and this will help your child to link the word and the sign/visual clue. Once your child is talking you may find they drop the signing, but that’s ok, you have given them the most amazing boost in their early years. If you continue signing with your child as they go through school then they will be able to communicate with children who rely on Makaton as their method of communication

Nope. Research shows that signing helps to support language development. By using baby signing and focusing on what your child is interested in, you are giving them the time and skills to explore further. You can also ‘chat’ about what they are interested in which is great conversation and introduces turn taking and language skills.