How to Teach ASL to Children

ASL instruction can benefit hearing and hearing-impaired children.

American Sign Language can be successfully taught to hearing and hearing-impaired children. Infants as young as 7 or 8 months old have shown an ability to remember and imitate the signs and gestures that make up the ASL vocabulary. ASL instruction should be appropriate for the child's age group and developmental level and circumstances. ASL instruction has also been shown to have beneficial effects for hearing children who have other types of special needs, such as autism.

Things You'll Need

• Instructional materials for ASL; videos, flashcards and online resources

Instructions

1. Introduce a limited number of signs into your child's daily life and routine activities. Depending on the age and developmental level of the child, introducing three to five words that are attached to meaningful concepts works best. For very young children, keep signs basic, such as "eat," "sleep," "stop" or "help." Repeat the signs often throughout the day until you see some response. Monitor the child's responses carefully, and use lots of positive reinforcement when the child imitates a sign.

2. Coordinate signing instruction with other visual cues, such as flashcards or structured games where the instructor asks the child to label --- in sign --- concrete objects in a classroom. Labeling and naming activities reinforce learning and are a necessary precursor to moving to the more abstract level of finger spelling and proper names. When basic conceptual signs are well integrated into a child's signing vocabulary, begin introducing alphabet signs.

3. Stay engaged with your child, regardless of which type ASL instruction you choose. Make learning American Sign Language a family affair. Children learn easily and naturally when lessons are integrated seamlessly into daily life. ASL is a form of language acquisition, and children are highly motivated to communicate with those around them. Lessons can be merged with story-time, playtime or anytime.

4. Make a commitment to learning ASL, which is the primary means of communication for hearing impaired children. Learning ASL will enable you to communicate with your child throughout his lifetime. Practice continually and don't get discouraged.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact organizations that advise families with hearing impaired members. These organizations can direct families to resources for ASL education and counsel your family about what instructional program is most appropriate for your circumstances. These organizations often have a variety of instructional materials on their websites that can be downloaded and used at home or in the classroom (see Resources).

• Experiment with a range of materials and programs to determine what works best for your child. A variety of materials and resources are available for ASL instruction that fit every learning style. Very young children might benefit from close, one-on-one instruction with a parent or a tutor. Older children might respond better to video resources or online instruction where they can be more self-directed. Some children might need the more structured environment of a school or group program.

References

• How to Teach ASL to Children: ASL for Kids
• American Sign Language: Sign Language - Benefits to Children; Jenny Carrow; April 2003
• American Sign Language: A New Strategy to Integrate into Your Current Teaching Practices; Jenning Prevatte; July/August 2007
• Deaf Today; "First Words: Sign Language Lets Babies 'Speak' Their Minds"; Susan Glairon; 2003

Resources

• World Deaf Directory: Deaf Schools
• American Society ofr Deaf Children: Resources