This year, our Phoenix team wanted to teach us all, more about Makaton – so tomorrow, we’re launching our online, Makaton advent calendar: 25 clips and photos, one for every day of advent – teaching you how to sign something related to the festive season: so keep your eyes peeled!
Day One
It is Day 1 of our Makaton Advent Calendar, to kick off our countdown, we thought we’d teach you how to sign EXCITED.
To sign excited, use both hands (one above the other) and as you bring one hand up, take the other down a few times..
It’s Day 2 of our Makaton Advent Calendar, and today’s sign is FAMILY.
To sign family – finger spell the letter F, by pairing your index and middle fingers together, on both hands, placing your right fingers on top of your left fingers, then move your hands clockwise in a circle in front of your body.
Day Two
Day Three
It’s Day 3 of our Makaton Advent Calendar, and today’s sign is SLEIGH
To sign sleigh – make two fists, and pull both arms towards your body then push them back out
It’s Day 4 of our Makaton Advent Calendar, and today’s sign is SLEEP
To sign sleep, bring your hand up to your face, then close your eyes.
Day Four
Day Five
It’s Day 5 of our Makaton Advent Calendar, and today’s sign is HAPPY
To sign happy, make a L shape with your hand, thumb up to the sky. Then using your other hand brush down the finger and up your thumb,
It’s Day 6 of our Makaton Advent Calendar, and today’s sign is FRIENDS
To sign friends, shake hands with yourself
Day Six
Day Seven
It is day 8 of our Makaton Advent Calendar and today, we’re signing STAR.
To sign star, raise both hands and make small fists then release your fingers and make a twinkling
Day Eight
Day Nine
Day 9 of our Makaton Advent Calendar, today’s sign is CHRISTMAS CAKE.
To sign Christmas Cake, it it three different movements
Today in our Makaton Advent Calendar we’re signing FAIRY.
To sign fairy, put both hands out either side of your body, and flap them like wings!
Day Ten
Day Eleven
Today’s sign in our Makaton Advent Calendar is PRESENTS,
To sign present, imagine tying a bow around an imaginary box. On both hands, pinch your index finger and thumb together. Then put both hands together before pulling them apart( east and west), back together again and then apart (North and south).
It is day 12, with just 12 more sleeps we’ve signed CHRISTMAS TREE.
To sign Christmas Tree use both hands to draw triangles in front of you – making the traditional Christmas tree shape.
Day Twelve
Day Thirteen
On Day 13 of our Makaton advent calendar, we’re signing SNOW MAN
To sign Snow Man, make the sign for snow by shaking both hands down from your chest to your stomach , then sign man by making a V shape with your thumb and index finger, putting them to your chin and pulling them down towards your chest!
It is Day 14 and only 10 more days until Christmas Eve. Today’s word is REINDEER. .
To sign reindeer spread you fingers out, then bring both hands up to your head, touch your thumbs on your temples then stretch out your arms.
Day Fourteen
Day Fifteen
Today’s sign in Angel
To sign angle make a cross with both hands, then flap each hand like a pair of wings.
It is Day 16 of our Makaton Advent Calendar, today we’re teaching you to sign TURKEY. To sign turkey, use one hand. On the hand put down / bend down your little and ring finger, leaving your middle finger, index finger and thumb up. Turn your hand upside down so your fingers are pointing to the floor. Bring this hand up to the chin, wiggle your thumb and fingers – that makes a sign similar to a Turkey’s wobbly neck..
Day Sixteen
Day Seventeen
It is day 17 and today our Makaton sign is Stable, Stable is in two parts, to sign it you need to use both hands – on one hand pair your index and middle finger together, folding the rest down – turn this hand on its side. Using the other hand make a V shape with your index and middle finger – then sit these fingers on top of your other hand. That is the sign for Horse. Then to sign the rest of stable – use both hands to make a roof by meeting the hands together at the finger tips.
