How to Continue To Practise Your New Makaton Skills After Training
So, you've completed your Makaton training—congratulations! Learning Makaton is a fantastic way to support communication and inclusion, but like any new skill, regular practice is key to retaining and improving your ability. Here are some practical ways to keep your Makaton skills fresh and integrate them into your daily life.
1. Use Makaton Daily
Make Makaton a part of your everyday communication. Whether you're at home, work, or in a social setting, incorporating signs and symbols into conversations will help reinforce your learning. Try signing key words when talking to family members, colleagues, or students to develop fluency.
2. Watch and Join Makaton Videos
There are many Makaton resources online, including signed stories, songs, and vocabulary videos. Watching and copying these regularly can help reinforce signs and ensure you're using them correctly. Following Makaton tutors or official Makaton social media pages can also provide fresh content and ideas.
I recommend signing up to The Makaton Charity 'Sign of the Week' and Singing Hands on Youtube.
3. Share your Knowledge with Someone Else
One of the best ways to solidify your knowledge is by showing others what you have learned. Show family, friends, or colleagues how to use key Makaton signs. If you work with children or individuals who benefit from Makaton, encourage them to join in. Sharing your knowledge helps embed signs into your memory while also spreading awareness and inclusion. Please remember however you are not able to 'teach' Makaton unless you are a Licensed Makaton Tutor. You can find out more about becoming a tutor here www.makaton.org
4. Label Your Environment with Symbols
If you're using Makaton symbols, try adding them to common objects and places in your environment. Labelling doors, cupboards, and daily-use items with corresponding symbols can help reinforce your understanding and encourage consistent use.
5. Sing and Sign
Songs are a great way to practise Makaton, as repetition and rhythm help reinforce signs. Try singing along with Makaton-signed nursery rhymes, pop songs, or even creating your own signed songs to make practice fun. I recommend looking up Singing Hands on Youtube, they are fabulous!!
6. Join a Makaton Signing Group
Practising with others can be motivating and enjoyable. Look for local or online Makaton signing groups where you can meet fellow learners, exchange tips, and sign together. The Makaton Charity hold regular practise sessions online, you can sign up for a FREE membership here www.makaton.org
7. Revisit Your Training Materials
Don't let your training manuals, flashcards, or notes gather dust. Regularly revisiting them will help reinforce what you’ve learned and refresh any signs you might have forgotten.
8. Use Makaton in Storytelling
Reading books and signing key words as you tell a story is an excellent way to practise. Whether you’re reading to children, adults, or even just to yourself, storytelling with Makaton adds an interactive and engaging element to learning.
9. Challenge Yourself with New Signs
Keep expanding your vocabulary by learning new signs regularly. Set a goal to learn a few new signs each week and incorporate them into your conversations. The more you challenge yourself, the more confident you’ll become. If you've completed Level 1, why not expand your skills by signing up to a Level 2! Watching Mr Tumble is a great start.
10. Have Fun with It!
The more enjoyable you make practising Makaton, the more likely you are to stick with it. Play signing games, get creative with arts and crafts using Makaton symbols, or even set Makaton challenges with friends and colleagues.
By consistently using and practising Makaton in different ways, you’ll not only improve your skills but also help make communication more inclusive for those who rely on it. Keep signing, keep learning, and most importantly—have fun on your Makaton journey!
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