Archie and Ollie

Have just spent a lovely morning visiting my dear friend Marilyn with my grandson Archie. Marilyn looks after her grandsons Ollie (2) and Charlie (6 months) on Fridays.
Ollie
and
Archie both have down syndrome and a mutual friend introduced me to Marilyn because he could see we shared the same degree of passion for our beautiful boys. Now Ollie and Archie have had two play dates and will hopefully become firm friends. Ollie is a brilliant communicator - he is very adept at Makaton signing and 'chats' away to Archie. But Archie at this stage is too excited by all Ollie's toys to sign back. Marilyn taught us all "Sing a Rainbow" in Makaton which I found very enlightening. Archie's little brother Harry has learnt makaton too and signs when he reads his books (especially his animal books). I'm currently learning the Makaton alphabet.