Something Special and Something Great (Something Special)

Member Name: sam_k

Product:	Something Special
Date:	03/11/08 (69 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Helps communication, fun, promotes awareness of disability

Disadvantages: Not so good if you don't like clowns!

Something Special is a programme shown on cbeebies/BBC2 aimed at babies/toddlers/young children with learning and communication difficulties.

The programme features a different aspect of something in your childs life in each episode such as toys, colours, animals, food, school, weather and features Justin Fletcher who uses the language of Makaton signs and symbols alongside narration.

Makaton is based on gestures that are naturally used and helps those who are just learning to use language and those who find communicatio difficult to both be understood and to communicate more easily with them. There are simple symbols that are used alongside signs to represent words. Signs should always be as well as saying the word (where speech is possible) so therefore not impede speech development which is something many people worry about when signing with babies/children.

The programme has a simple set and features Justin going to visit children at school or home and disocering things about that episodes chosen topic. Justin uses signs to communicate with the children, and at certain points we have sign time where he says the word, signs the word and the symbol is also shown on screen then a child is shown signing the word too.

There are also 'Out and About' episodes where Justin meets children at places such as a castle and they explore and look out for specific things together.

Also featured in each episode is Justin again but dressed up as a clown and he becomes Mr Tumble! Now I'm not keen on clowns myself but it seems Mr Tumble is very appealing to children!!

The programme is fun and informative but also very simple therfore easy for children to follow.

I was first introduced to Something Special and Makaton through my job as I spend some of my working day in Schools for Children with Special Needs, where many of the children used makaton to communicate. Once my son was born I started a course of baby signing with him and often watch Something Special with him as signing is familiar to him and he finds the programme very appealing too! He has a small vocabulary currently but uses a number of signs to aid his communication with us.

I would recommend this programme to anyone with babies from 6months and upwards for you to watch together. You can pick up on a few signs to use with your child and learn more and more as you watch the programme, helping you and your child to communicate.

The programme has also been great in promoting awareness of children with special needs.

Summary: Highly recommended programme