American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual language that bridges the communication gap between hearing adults and pre-verbal children. Before a child develops the fine motor skills necessary for speech, they often have the gross motor ability to form simple hand signs. Teaching basic signs allows young learners to communicate their needs and observations, dramatically reducing the frustration that often accompanies the pre-verbal stage. This approach provides practical vocabulary and methods for integrating signing into daily interactions.
Signs for Identifying People
Learning signs for people helps children categorize the individuals in their lives and express affection or seek specific caregivers. Signs for immediate family members often utilize a gender distinction, with male signs placed near the forehead and female signs placed near the chin.
To sign MOM or DAD, use an open hand with fingers spread. For MOM, tap your thumb on your chin twice, while for DAD, tap your thumb on your forehead twice. The sign for BABY is formed by crossing your arms at the chest and gently rocking them back and forth, mimicking the act of holding an infant.
For CHILD, hold a flat hand, palm down, and pat the top of an imaginary child’s head twice, moving the hand slightly downwards. The sign for GIRL involves forming an ‘A’ handshape with your thumb extended, then tracing the thumb along your jawline from the ear toward the chin. To sign BOY, touch the brim of an imaginary baseball cap at your forehead, quickly bringing your fingers and thumb together in a grasping motion.
Signs for Daily Needs and Routines
Functional signs related to basic needs are the most frequently used and can significantly decrease tantrums by giving children a voice for their wants. The sign for EAT or FOOD uses a flat ‘O’ handshape tapped gently against your mouth. The sign for DRINK is made by forming a ‘C’ handshape, as if holding a cup, and bringing it to your mouth.
To sign MORE, bring your fingertips and thumbs together on both hands, then tap the fingertips together repeatedly. When a child is finished, they can sign ALL DONE or FINISH by holding both hands up with palms facing in and quickly flipping them outward and down.
The sign for SLEEP is performed by opening your hand and drawing it from your forehead down over your face, ending with your fingers and thumb together at the chin, mimicking closing your eyes. The sign for HELP is formed by placing your dominant hand, made into a thumbs-up shape, onto the open palm of your non-dominant hand, then moving both hands upward together in a smooth motion.
Tips for Introducing Signs to Children
Introduce signs when a child is around six months old, as they can begin to remember and imitate gestures by eight months. Consistency is a powerful teaching tool, so integrate the signs into daily routines, such as mealtimes or bedtime. Parents should always speak the word aloud while performing the sign, which is known as simultaneous communication, linking the visual gesture to the auditory word and supporting eventual speech development.
When signing, use exaggerated facial expressions and body language, known as non-manual markers in ASL. These expressions convey tone, emotion, and grammatical information that hands alone cannot. This helps the child understand the full meaning of the communication.
For instance, a happy expression while signing MORE conveys pleasure, whereas a concerned expression with the sign for HELP conveys urgency. Using signs proactively, such as signing EAT before presenting food, helps the child connect the concept to the action, leading to earlier comprehension and use.