11 ASL Signs to Teach Your Kids
11 Signs to Teach Your Kids
Three tiny fingers form into a hand shape that speaks so much to this Mama Bear’s heart. As I drop my boy off for kindergarten, he climbs out of the van, straps on his backpack and when he is out of ear shot he signs “I love you” and then brings his hand to his heart to communicate, “with all of my heart.” Without words, I have the ability to communicate this sweet phrase back, “I love you with all of my heart.”
How else does American Sign Language (ASL) benefit my family? I’m going to share data driven reasons why teaching American Sign Language to children is beneficial. Then, I can tell you how it has helped my family practically.
You may not know sign language fluently though. So what’s a mom to do? Don’t worry. I’ve come up with the top 11 signs to teach your children. These signs have been helpful in infancy, through the toddler years and beyond! And you don’t have to go scouring YouTube videos to learn these signs. To save you time, I’ve created 11 FREE video tutorials. Scroll on down to see them.
The Research Behind ASL Signs
You could read blog articles all day long and only end up with speculations, opinions and someone else’s experiences. I’m not knocking blog articles – seeing as I am a blogger! 😉 I love a good life story and the ability to learn from others. There is something extra helpful though when you know something is founded in research. With that in mind, here are the results from peer reviewed studies on how ASL benefits hearing:
- Children who learn ASL are better able to comprehend and respond to English (Daniels, 2004).
- Children who learned ASL tested higher on reading placement tests (Daniels, 2004).
- Children who known ASL have fewer temper tantrums (Mallory, 2003).
- ASL positively impacts a child’s social, cognitive and academic development (Mallory, 2003).
- Children who learn ASL show an increased vocabulary memory (Daniels, 1994).
These findings are impressive. It helps to know that these social experiments have supported teaching your kids American Sign Language. But that’s all so scholarly – how does it help practically?
How ASL Has Helped My Kids
What are the boots on the ground, every day reasons I taught my kids some basic signs? The real reason is because I knew it would mean fewer tantrums. And what Mama Bear doesn’t want that? Teaching my kids a few signs in ASL helps our whole family. Really, when I break it down, teaching these top 11 signs falls into one of three categories: safety signs, functional signs and emotional signs.
Safety Signs
Safety signs include words and phrases such as
- Be Careful
- Hurt
- Help and
- Hot
When a child comes to you with tears streaming down their face, it’s hard for them to find words to articulate the problem. My mind is wondering if they are frustrated, offended or injured. Before the words make it to their lips, I can see their gesture that they are hurt. Now, I am mentally prepared to offer hugs and assess their boo-boos.
It is also a relief knowing that when I am far away from my kids, they can quickly inform me that they need help or that someone is hurt. And when my oldest child is being a dare-devil in front of his friends, instead of embarrassing him, I sign “be careful” and we have a shared understanding that protects his privacy.
The sign for “hot” gets used more often than you’d think. When you are near an oven, you remind your child that the oven is hot. When you give food fresh off the skillet, you signal “hot” to your toddler to let them know to take caution when eating. When you’re having a fire in the fireplace or a campfire in the backyard, you instruct your child to stay away from the fire because it is hot. This is a great example of when I’d use all three safety signs at the same time. “The fire is hot. Be careful. You will get hurt if you touch the fire.” Even though I’m only signing three phrases, it helps solidify the concept in the child’s memory.
These safety signs come in handy when talking about sickness, injuries or when you need to inform your child of risk or danger. But what signs do I use most frequently? Read on to find out.
Functional Signs
Functional signs are used on the daily – and this has been proven by my one year old. These signs include words and phrases such as,
- Drink
- Eat
- More
- All Done
- Play and
- Help
A quick aside – the word help fits in both the safety category and functional category. In this category, it’s useful in times like when my one year old wants a book that is out of reach of her little hands. Instead of whining she puts her hands together and in a swift motion, I know she’s requesting, “help.”
When my four year old is running around on the playground, its a quick gesture between us that lets her know that it’s time to come get a drink.
Kids learn so much through playing and they love to play. Being able to tell their grown up that they want to play is a powerful tool in their world.
More comes in handy more than you’d think. 😉 Your son thinks it was hilarious when you put his lovey on your head. Laughing, he signs “more, more!” Your daughter just loved loved loved those blueberries and she wants, “more.” All done reading? Your baby doesn’t agree. She wants “more.” This functional sign gets so much use. But at some point, you need to be, “all done.”
“All Done” can be used when my toddler finishes her food, when she’s done playing with a toy or when she wants to get out of the swing. These functional signs are used frequently and I’m ever so grateful for them.
Emotional Signs
Last but not least comes two strong emotions that are all too familiar to a child. These signs are,
- Mad and
- Love
Being mad gets a bad rep but we all feel that strong emotion from time to time. Talking through the anger is helpful as an adult – and children benefit from the same ability to express themselves when they’re angry. Connecting sign language with their emotion gives toddlers the chance to connect their words with what’s happening in their world. It doesn’t take their anger away but it does help them talk about it with their caretaker.
Connecting sign language with their emotion gives toddlers the chance to connect their words with what’s happening in their world. It doesn’t take their anger away but it does help them talk about it with their caretaker.
On the flip side, love is just as powerful as anger but it is the sweeter emotion. Seeing your little one sign that they love you, even if prompted by you, will warm your heart on any day. Not to mention, it teaches your little one how to connect the bond they feel with their parent with words to express that sentiment.
Teaching these signs gives toddlers the chance to have healthy ways to express their emotions and helps you connect more with them.
How to Teach ASL to Babies & Toddlers
Ok great – now you know why teaching ASL to your kids is so helpful, but there’s a missing piece. How do you teach ASL to your babies and toddlers? The quick answer is: Hand over hand teaching.
Hand over hand teaching is when you first model what you expect to see, then you physically help your child complete the task. For instance, when my baby was 6 months old, I signed “all done” by putting both of my hands in the air and turning them back and forth. I showed the sign while saying the words “all done.” Then I put my hands on my infants and raise her hands in the air. I turn her hands back and forth and say “all done.” When I release her hands, I say “Great job! You signed all done!” At that point, I remove her from whatever activity was finished to signal to her the meaning behind signing “all done.” Be sure that as you teach the sign you follow through on the action. For instance, if you sign “eat” be sure that you give food to correlate the sign with the action.
Eventually, you won’t need to physically show your child how to perform the sign because he or she will do it all on their own. Remember that as babies and toddlers learn signs, it may not look perfect. Much like their words aren’t super clear when learning to speak, so also their signs may look modified. That’s ok! In our house, a water bottle is verbally and affectionally called a “baba” and we have embraced that. The sign for cookie has been modified as well to make it simpler for our daughter to communicate. The ultimate goal in any language is to share meaning with someone. If you’re able to do that, you’re communicating.
The ultimate goal in any language is to share meaning with someone. If you’re able to do that, you’re communicating.
Learn these 11 ASL Signs to Teach Your Kids
Now all that’s left to do is to learn these signs! Check out the videos to learn these top 11 ASL signs to teach your kids!
#1 Help | ASL Signs
The official way to sign “help” is shown first. With your right hand, make a fist with your thumb facing the sky. With your left hand, turn a flat palm to the sky. Place the fist on the left palm. Move both hands up towards the sky.
The second sign is a modified version of “help” that can be easier for little hands. For this sign put two palms together as if having prayer hands. Move both hands up towards the sky.
Memory trick: Your right hand is “helping” your left hand up.
#2 Hurt | ASL Signs
Make a pointer finger with both hands. Point them at each other, with your palms facing your body. Move your pointer fingers towards and away from each other two times.
Memory trick: You are pointing to where it “hurts.”
#3 Hot | ASL Signs
Make a 5 with your right hand. Bring your four fingers down to your thumb. Hold this shape and bring your hand to your mouth. Once you reach your mouth, turn your hand around, spreading your fingers apart as you get farther away from your mouth.
Memory trick: It represents putting food in your mouth but the food is too hot so you spit it out.
#4 Drink | ASL Signs
The first sign is the sign “drink.” To make this sign, form the letter “C” with your hand. Turn your hand sideways so that your palm is facing a wall. Bring the hand to your mouth, place your thumb on your lips and tilt your fingers towards your face.
Memory trick: It’s like you’re taking a glass of water and drinking it.
The second sign here is “milk.” I included both signs because babies can learn sign language before they’re allowed to have anything besides milk to drink! Cool, huh? To sign, “milk,” make the same “C” hand formation that you did for “drink.” Squeeze your fingers into your palm several times.
Memory trick: It represents someone squeezing the udders of a cow.
#5 Eat | ASL Signs
Make a 5 with your right hand. Bring your four fingers down to your thumb. Hold this shape and bring your hand to your mouth.
Memory trick: It represents someone putting food in their mouth.
Can you tell I forgot to record this video at first? Haha. I went back to film it because it is such an important sign! Here’s how you sign it.
On your right hand, bring your four fingers down to meet your thumb. Do the same with your left hand. While holding this shape, turn your hands sideways so that your palms are facing your body. Bring your two hands together so your fingers meet. Separate them and bring them back together.
#6 All Done | ASL Signs
Make a five with your left hand. Make a 5 with your right hand. Turn your hands so that your palms face each other. Shake your hands back and forth.
# 7 Be Careful | ASL Signs
This is a tricky one but I know you’ve got this! With both hands, make the number 3 using your thumb, pointer finger and middle finger. Move your middle finger slightly forward. Place your thumb on your middle finger’s knuckle. This is the letter “K”. Turn your left hand (still in the “K” formation) sideways. Your left palm should face your chest. Now turn your right hand (still in “K” formation) sideways. Your right hand should face your chest. Tap your right and left wrists together while your hands are in the shape of a “K.”
# 8 Play | ASL Signs
With both hands, make a thumbs up. Now stick out your pinky. This forms the letter “Y.” With your palms facing each other, shake both hands back and forth.
# 9 Mad | ASL Signs
Bring the number 5 towards your mouth and bend your knuckles.
Memory trick: It shows how your face gets wrinkly when you are mad.
#10 Love | ASL Signs
The fist sign shown here is “Love.” Make a fist in both hands. Bring your right fist to your left shoulder. Cross the left fist over your right arm, placing your left fist on your right shoulder.
Memory trick: It represents hugging or holding someone you love.
To sign “I love you” make a thumbs up. Now stick out your pinky finger. Now stick out your pointer finger. Hold this in front of your body with you palm turned away from your body.
For even more on ASL, check out Janet Moreno over at Deaf Motherhood Ministries. She’s a down to earth mama with a good sense of humor and a love for God. She is Deaf and often her videos teaches sign language or show what it’s like to be a mom who is Deaf. She has a store where you can buy sign language jewelry and puzzles!
So what do you think? Will you teach your kids signs? Are there any signs you wish I had shown you? I hope teaching your kids sign language helps you and your little ones grow together. I know it has in this Mama Bear’s Home.
Citations
Marilyn Daniels (2004) Happy hands: The effect of ASL on hearing children’s literacy, Reading Research and Instruction, 44:1, 86-100, DOI: 10.1080/19388070409558422
Marilyn Daniels (2004) Seeing Language: The Effect of Sign Language on Vocabulary Development in Young Hearing Children. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED392103
Tiara Mallory (2003) Sign Language Use for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing Babies; The Evidence Supports It
