A Spooktacular Free Resource: Makaton's Halloween Download

🎃 The team at The Makaton Charity has a fun and inclusive way for people of all ages and abilities to join in the spooky season — a free download of Makaton symbols and signs themed around Halloween. Please see videos at the bottom of this page!

If you haven’t come across it yet, this resource is a little treasure for families, educators, speech and language therapists, and anyone wanting to make Halloween more accessible through signing and symbols. Here’s everything you need to know (I’ve also included a video with Halloween dominoes that you can create and use the vocabulary pack alongside! Feel free to adapt for your own community!

What’s in the Halloween Download?

The free Halloween pack from Makaton typically includes:

• Symbols and signs for Halloween-related vocabulary

  — Ghost, Pumpkin, Witch, Vampire, Wizard, Magic, etc.

• Line drawings or simple illustrations to pair with each symbol and sign (great for use in visual supports)

• Guidance on how to sign (or sign + symbol) some of the Halloween words

• There’s also related games and activities (e.g. domino-style games with Halloween vocabulary) from The Makaton Charity website too!

  
  

To access it, you go to Makaton’s “Free Resources” (or “Makaton Library”) on their website.

Why This Resource Matters

1. Promotes inclusion

   Halloween is a time when many activities, stories, decorations, and games are shared — so giving people a way to sign key words helps those who use Makaton to join in fully.

   
   

2. Supports communication and confidence

   For children and adults who rely on signs, symbols, or other types of alternative and augmentative communication, having the Halloween vocabulary visually and symbolically available helps them express themselves — “I want pumpkin,” “I see a witch,” “Happy Halloween!” etc.

   
   

3. Easy for schools, families, and groups to use

   The simplicity of the visuals and the free cost means it’s accessible — you can print, display, reuse, and integrate it into activities without needing expensive resources.

   
   

4. Raises awareness

   Resources like this help normalise the idea that communication support can be built into everyday seasonal fun — making others more aware of inclusive practices.

   
   

Tips & Ideas for Using It

• Classroom or home display

  Print and post the symbols + signs on walls or boards. Use them as prompts during Halloween storytelling, crafts, or discussions.

  
  

• Signing songs or rhymes

  Incorporate the vocabulary into a Halloween song (e.g. “Halloween, Halloween…” with signs for ghost, witch, magic etc.).

  
  

• Games

  Use symbol cards (or domino-style cards) in matching or memory games — “match the sign + symbol,” or “find the pumpkin sign.”

  
  

• Costume or trick-or-treat dialogue

  Use with children to sign what they are or what they see — e.g. “witch,” “spider,” “bat.” It gives them vocabulary to interact during trick-or-treat or party situations.

  
  

• Storytelling with props

  Use small props or visuals (e.g. toy spider, drawing of ghost) with the signs from the download to tell a simple Halloween story, pausing at each symbol/sign and inviting learners to sign along.

  
  

• Extension work

  After using the basic vocabulary, encourage learners to suggest related words (e.g. “candy,” “mask,” “haunted”) and you can gradually introduce more Makaton signs/symbols.

  
  

How to Get It (Step by Step)

1. Go to The Makaton Charity website, and navigate to Free Resources / Library makaton.org

2. Log in or create a (free) account if needed, since access to the library is via a login. makaton.org

3. Browse the “Events / Special Days” or “Halloween” section and download the relevant PDF (or file) with the Halloween signs and symbols.

4. Once downloaded, print or use digitally as needed. See video for example.

   
   

Final Thoughts

The Makaton Halloween download is a small but powerful way to bring more voices into the fun of the season. It shows how the simple act of providing visual supports can help everyone — regardless of ability — to share in celebrations, songs, stories, and social moments.

References and Further Reading:

• The Makaton Charity (2024). Free Halloween Signs and Symbols Pack. Available at: makaton.org

• The Makaton Charity (2024). What is Makaton? Available at: makaton.org

• Sense (2024). Inclusive Communication for All. Available at: sense.org.uk

**Disclaimer**

The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and thoughts and information expressed in these blogs are from my own personal thoughts and real life experiences, they do not contain advisory content. While always striving to provide accurate and up-to-date content, there are no guarantees about the completeness or reliability of any information. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. 

All information on the site is provided in good faith, however, no representation or warranty is made of any kind, expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any information on the site.

These blogs are created from my own personal experience and are for general information purposes and are not, in any way, advisory. Where needed I have included research and reference links and further reading articles.

At times I have used AI generated content to reword my own thoughts and may include AI research of  information relevant to the blog and to create images relevant to my blogs, however whenever possible I have used my own images with permission from those featured in the images. My blogs are open to fair use.

Any questions or queries please do get in touch - alimakatontutor@gmail.com