What began as a learning process for a Weston-super-Mare mother and daughter has turned into a YouTube channel with more than 11,000 subscribers and inspired a book dedication by author Dame Jacqueline Wilson.
Nikki Holt’s daughter Lucinda was born with Down syndrome, which meant she had difficulty communicating with her mum during her early years.
This prompted Nikki to learn Makaton, a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs, and speech to enable people to communicate. It supports the development of essential communication skills such as attention and listening, comprehension, memory, recall and organisation of language and expression.
The connection it enabled her to build with Lucinda – now aged nine and thriving at Uphill Village Academy in Weston – inspired her to grow her skills, and she now teaches Makaton across schools in the area.
Nikki went on to launch YouTube channel Makaton With Lucinda, where the mother and daughter duo began by filming a word and sign of the day. Initially it was for fun – but its popularity quickly grew. The channel has now exceeded all expectations, with in excess of 11,000 subscribers.
Among them is renowned author Dame Jacqueline Wilson, who used the channel to research Makaton for her latest book The Best Sleepover In The World. Not only did Jacqueline draw inspiration from Nikki and Lucinda, but she also dedicated the book to them.
Nikki clearly recalls her early efforts to communicate with Lucinda, and the joy of the initial breakthrough using Makaton signs.
She said: “Communication with Lucinda was hard. I knew as soon as Lucinda was born that communication was something that she was going to find difficult and something that she was going to need extra support with. I was determined from the start that I would help her as much as I could, I didn’t want her to struggle.
“Lucinda is a visual learner; it is one of her strengths. So, with signs and symbols being visual – and using them alongside speech – it was the perfect combination for her natural learning style.
“The joy when Makaton opened the door! I had been signing with Lucinda for a long time before she actually signed back. The first time she did, I nearly burst with excitement! She was in the kitchen with me, sat in her little chair watching me cook dinner. I gave her a slice of cheese to keep her going while I was cooking – and she looked up at me with her beautiful big blue eyes and signed ‘more’!
“First of all, I wasn’t sure if she had – her early signs were quite subtle and easy to miss. I asked her for clarification, and she did it again! I gave her another slice of cheese, and there it was again! More! And again! And again! I think she probably ate close to a block of cheese that evening, and I was absolutely ecstatic!
“As soon as she realised that by doing these little signs with her hands, she was being understood, it was like a little light switch. All those signs I had been doing with her she had been taking in like a little sponge. Her communication exploded from that day on. Her speech gradually came along too and now is fantastic – and this is thanks to Makaton.
“Lucinda and I have always been really in tune with each other, and our bond is really something very special – and even more so since seeing her going through heart surgery – however, I do feel that Makaton has really given us some lovely bonding moments together, sat snuggled up on the sofa watching Singing Hands DVDs, signing songs and stories together. These are all really precious moments to share together for us.”
The joy of those early signing exchanges led Nikki and Lucinda to grow their use of Makaton, before opting to share their experiences – and tips for others – via a new YouTube channel.
Nikki continued: “We started our channel when Lucinda was about four. Having seen firsthand the difference Makaton can make, I was really keen to do something to raise awareness and spread the word. So we began recording ourselves doing a sign and putting them on our social media pages and YouTube.
“She has always loved doing them and I love watching some of our earlier vids and seeing how much her signing, her speech and her confidence has blossomed.
“Her little personality just shines through the clips, and she loves watching them back too. I have received some lovely messages over the years – things like parents saying their child signed for the very first time while watching Lucinda, to schoolteachers getting in touch saying they put our signing videos up on a screen in class or assembly and everyone signs along with us.
“When I started doing these videos I thought a few people may watch them on their mobile phones and have a go – I didn’t ever think we would be on a big screen in a school assembly. I am now a Makaton tutor teaching in schools, preschools, charities, organisations, and it is all inspired by my girl.”
And the surprises did not end there. Children’s novelist Dame Jacqueline Wilson – renowned for creating characters like Cookie and Tracy Beaker – reached out to Nikki with some unexpected news.
Nikki said: “My first contact was an email out of the blue from someone called Lizz who said she works with Jacqueline Wilson on the PR for her children’s books. This email explained that Jacqueline Wilson had a new book out called The Best Sleepover In The World and that she had dedicated it to Lucinda and I – OMG!
“The email explained the book had a character in it who was non-verbal and was a Makaton-user. She said that Jacqueline Wilson had wanted to do some research into Makaton for developing this character and had used our channel to do this.
“This email totally blew me away – a book dedicated to my girl! I am so, so proud of Lucinda; she is literally changing the world. To have a dedication in a book like this is beyond anything I could imagine, and to have Makaton out there in a mainstream book is just amazing.
“I later that day found a Netmums podcast where Jacqueline was being interviewed, and she actually named me and Lucinda. She actually said that she was ‘besotted with Lucinda’.
“The most beautiful thing is Lucinda has no idea how amazing she is, or what she has achieved and inspired. She just carries on sparkling and shining like the amazing little thing she is, and literally has no idea. I hope when she is older, she will understand what she has achieved and feel super proud. I know without a single doubt in this world that I am proud of her – I could pop! She inspires everything I do, and I have found my dream job because of her.”
Author Dame Jacqueline Wilson says Nikki and Lucinda’s videos were a big inspiration for a character in her new book.
Dame Jacqueline Wilson said: “I’ve recently written a book called The Best Sleepover In the World about two sisters, Daisy and Lily, who are determined to make their sleepover the best ever. Lily is non-verbal and uses a wheelchair, but now she’s learned Makaton at her new school she can communicate brilliantly, make jokes, and help her sister get the better of a nasty girl who’s plaguing her.
“I obviously had to learn a little Makaton myself and discovered the brilliant ‘Makaton with Lucinda’ videos on YouTube.
“I adore Lucinda and her lovely mum Nikki. They’ve taught me so much – and every single time I watch a quick clip I cheer myself up. All power to them – and the fantastic Uphill Village Academy and the Cabot Learning Federation.”
