What is Makaton?

Makaton is the UK's leading programme for adults and children with learning or communication difficulties.

Makaton has been found helpful in supporting children and adults with special needs or communication and language difficulties. Still, Early Years practitioners and parents have also successfully used it to support their babies and toddlers' communication and language development.

Communicating eases frustration and gives babies and toddlers confidence and independence while they develop communication and language skills.

• Makaton combines signs, symbols and speech to give different options for people to communicate.

• Using signs can help people who do not use speech. Likewise, symbols can help people who have limited speech or cannot or prefer not to sign.

Makaton transforms the lives of people with communication difficulties by giving them away to express themselves independently.

There are many benefits to using Makaton with our young children:

1. Building communication before speech.

Babies and toddlers cannot yet communicate their needs and feelings. As a result, it must be highly frustrating as simple tasks can become very difficult, leaving them feeling frustrated and isolated. Using Makaton with your baby or toddler can help them get their needs across effectively and help them interact with the world around them.

2. Supporting emotional development.

Children who can use Makaton to communicate their thoughts and feelings will often have fewer tantrums or aggressive behaviour. This is because they can use Makaton signs to be understood by others reducing feelings of frustration.

3. Building upon attention and listening skills.

Having good attention and listening skills can be difficult for young children, especially babies. They may find it challenging to pay attention for a period of time or focus on an individual when they are talking. Signing can support this development, giving our young children a visual focus whilst also using their listening skills.

4. Makaton enhances language development.

Makaton is not a replacement for speech; it must be used alongside speech for Makaton to work. Although some children may begin to drop the signs once their language has developed, many will continue to use the signs. It is suggested that children will have a deeper understanding of the words they are learning by using the signs to accompany speech.

The Makaton Charity.

The Makaton Charity exists to ensure that everyone living with learning or communication difficulties has the tools and resources they need to communicate.

• Provides training to parents, carers, and professionals, via our nationwide network of licensed tutors and trainers.

• Develops and produces printed and electronic resources - from nursery rhyme DVDs to vocabulary books and electronic collections of signs and symbols for computer use.

• Works with others to make their information accessible - e.g. translating materials using Makaton symbols.

• Provides advice and support to families and professionals - e.g. the charity has a free family advisory service.

• Works in partnership to influence society and empower people. The charity has worked with organisations such as The National Portrait Gallery and the BBC to promote communication and use Makaton so that more children can take part, CBeebies, Mr Tumble, etc.