We suggest that adults intending to use this website with a child should familiarise themselves with it first. Try to choose good times when you can be on your own, if possible without disruption. This will help you to feel confident about the mechanics when you come to use the programme. You should then support the child until he/she understands the instructions. Each virtual reality character must be allowed to finish signing before the child attempts to answer. Trying to answer too quickly may produce an error message. The appropriate facial expression by the character will match the child’s answer e.g. “Well Done!”, “That’s not quite right?”, “Fantastic!”.

Some degree of aptitude in ‘mouse skills’ is required. One of the aims of this resource is to build on and improve those skills.