Learning BSL as a Family
You don't need to be fluent overnight. Starting small, staying consistent, and treating it as a shared adventure can take your family further than you'd expect.
When families first consider learning British Sign Language, the most common reaction is something along the lines of "Where on earth do we start?" BSL is a full language with its own grammar, idioms, and cultural context. The thought of mastering it while juggling everything else can feel paralysing.
But here's the thing: you don't have to master it all at once. Language learning is a marathon, not a sprint, and the early steps are simpler than most people expect. Children are remarkably forgiving communicators. A handful of signs used consistently will get you further than a hundred signs used once.
Getting Started
Before you enrol in a formal course (though we'd recommend one eventually), begin with the signs you need most. Think about your daily routine and the words you use most frequently with your child:
- Milk, eat, drink, more, finished
- Mummy, daddy, baby, names of siblings
- Yes, no, help, please, thank you
- Bath, bed, nappy, shoes, coat
- Happy, sad, hurt, tired
Learn these signs first and use them every single time you say the word. Sign as you speak. Your child will start to associate the sign with the meaning, and before long they'll be signing back.
Where to Learn
Formal Courses
BSL has a nationally recognised qualification structure, from Level 1 (introductory) through to Level 6 (interpreter level). Most parents start with a Level 1 course, which typically runs for 20-30 weeks of evening classes. Look for courses accredited by Signature or iBSL, and taught by a deaf tutor — learning from a deaf person is important for acquiring natural signing style and understanding Deaf culture.
Local adult education centres, colleges, and deaf organisations in south London and Surrey offer BSL courses. Costs vary, but some local authorities subsidise courses for parents of deaf children. Ask your teacher of the deaf if funding is available in Croydon.
Online Resources
Several websites and apps offer BSL vocabulary and tutorials:
- BSL SignBank — a free online dictionary with video clips of individual signs.
- Commanding Hands — BSL resources designed for families with deaf children.
- YouTube channels — search for "BSL for beginners" or "BSL for parents" to find free video content. Look for channels run by deaf presenters.
Online resources are good for building vocabulary, but they can't replace the interactive, conversational practice you get in a class with a deaf tutor.
Our BSL Taster Sessions
We run occasional BSL taster sessions at our community events. These are family-friendly introductions — not full courses, but a relaxed way to learn a few signs and get a feel for whether a formal course is something you'd like to pursue.
Making BSL Part of Daily Life
The families who progress fastest with BSL are those who weave it into their everyday routine rather than treating it as something they practise separately. A few ways to do this:
Sign While You Talk
You don't have to be silent to sign. Many families use "sign supported English" in the early stages — speaking normally while adding signs for the key words. It isn't grammatically correct BSL, but it builds vocabulary and keeps your deaf child visually connected to what you're saying.
Label Things
When you pass the cat, sign "cat". When you pour milk, sign "milk". When you go outside, sign "outside". This kind of incidental signing is how children absorb language naturally. It doesn't require a lesson plan — just the habit of signing what you see.
Sign with Siblings
Hearing siblings often pick up signs faster than their parents, partly because children are natural mimics and partly because they're less self-conscious. Encourage brothers and sisters to learn alongside you. It strengthens the bond between siblings and means the deaf child isn't relying solely on the adults to communicate.
Use Books and Songs
Signing along to nursery rhymes and stories is a lovely way to learn as a family. There are BSL story-time videos online, and some libraries and bookshops stock books with sign illustrations. The NDCS publishes resources for reading with deaf children.
Common Worries
"Won't signing stop my child from learning to speak?"
This is a persistent concern, but research consistently shows that using sign language does not hinder spoken language development. Many deaf children use both, and the visual access that BSL provides can actually support spoken language by reinforcing vocabulary and concepts. Our communication options guide discusses this in more detail.
"I'll never be fluent enough"
You probably won't achieve interpreter-level fluency, and that's absolutely fine. What your child needs is consistent, meaningful communication — not perfection. Even basic signing gives your child language access that they wouldn't have otherwise. As your skills grow, so does the richness of your communication.
"My partner isn't interested in learning"
This is more common than people admit, and it can cause tension. Sometimes one parent embraces BSL while the other resists. Be patient. Some people take longer to accept the diagnosis and the changes it brings. Gentle encouragement, showing progress, and involving them in fun family signing activities can help. If it's a source of real conflict, our parent support groups are a safe place to talk about it.
Involving Grandparents and Extended Family
Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and close family friends benefit from learning at least basic signs. A "cheat sheet" of your child's most-used signs, laminated and stuck on the fridge at grandma's house, can make visits much smoother. Some families create short video clips of themselves demonstrating key signs and share them via WhatsApp.
The Long View
Learning BSL is a journey, not a destination. There will be weeks when you feel you're making great progress and weeks when you forget half of what you learned. That's normal. The important thing is to keep going, keep signing, and keep communicating with your child in every way you can.
For more information on how families approach communication, see our communication options resource. And if you'd like to connect with other families who are learning BSL, come along to one of our events or parent groups.