MARK'S LOVIN...

To be able to read, write and talk are skills we usually pick up from an early age and we pretty much take them for granted.

However, last year I was introduced to a new way of communicating to help my daughter Arla progress in her early years, with a 2-day Makaton course. Makaton is designed to provide functional communication and encourage and develop language and literacy skills through the combined use of symbols and hand signs with speech - that's how the experts describe it anyway.

When attending the first class I was handed a beginners course manual. Now sometimes I look at things a bit differently, and perhaps unfairly, due to my job as a graphic designer. The first thing I noticed was the Makaton logo on the front cover, which I didn't like very much. It used a retro 70s sports style font, which reminded me of my old Atari Grandstand - you know, the one with Kevin Keegan in the Admiral England kit on the box.

Flicking through the manual to study the symbols and icons, I was met with further disappointment. Some wouldn't have looked
out of place alongside the White Space team's Draw@4 scribbles!

At this point I wasn't so much taking in the lesson as thinking I could do a better job of the graphics!

But putting my aesthetic preferences aside, I soon embraced the course as I realised what a tremendous impact it could have. Looking back I have to say that after completing the 2-day course and using the techniques at home, Makaton is very effective and has made a real difference. It's easy to criticise, but I can certainly live with the retro fonts and funny little symbols if it means Arla can now interact and engage with us meaningfully.

It's really changed our life for the better!