Parents and Carers

This section is designed particularly for parents and those who care for deaf children in the home – brothers and sisters, babysitters, other family members. And it should be of enormous help to professional carers – childminders and those working in playschools or nursery schools.

Hearing parents

About 90 per cent of the parents of deaf children in the UK are hearing people with little or no knowledge of deafness or of sign language.

The advice and guidance here is designed particularly to help them find the best approach to making reading and storytelling fun and effective as part of their child’s education.

Deaf parents

Click-on BSL buttons offer sign translations of advice and guidance, though we are aware that many Deaf parents will already have a life-long knowledge of the opportunities offered by parallel sign language and English access.

What you can find here

The section covers the art and benefits of storytelling from a very early age, using books with deaf babies, tips from deaf education experts and charities, tips from other parents and teachers, FAQ’s, and specific advice for the deaf parents of hearing children.

Useful resources and links can be found in the separate Resources section, along with some references to academic research about children and deafness which some parents may find informative.

"The deaf community carry stories in the palm of their hand and write them in the air."

Society for Storytelling