ASL Curriculum for Kids: Beginner Plan for Families and Classrooms
Build an ASL curriculum kids can actually use
This beginner ASL curriculum gives families and teachers a simple order: useful daily signs first, short app practice, printable review, games, and a course path when the learner is ready for more structure.
Affiliate disclosure: This page includes course affiliate links and Amazon affiliate links. If you enroll or buy through these links, ASL Kids may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We include free ASL Kids resources too, because many children should begin with short, playful practice before a paid course.
Download the 12-week ASL curriculum planner
Print the weekly curriculum map, blank lesson planner, practice station checklist, and progress tracker so you can turn this guide into a real home, homeschool, therapy, or classroom routine.
Quick answer: what should an ASL curriculum for kids include?
A beginner ASL curriculum for kids should include real sign models, repeated visual practice, fingerspelling, facial expression, Deaf-culture context, and useful signs from everyday routines. For most families, the best setup is simple: use the ASL Kids app for short video practice, choose a weekly theme, print a checklist, and add a structured course when the child or adult guide needs more sequence.
Start with routines
Teach signs for food, help, more, all done, bathroom, feelings, family, and play. Keep lessons under five minutes and use signs during real life.
Add weekly themes
Use signs by topic, fingerspelling, games, app review, and printable checklists. Older children can begin a structured online course.
Learn beside the child
Adults often need more than vocabulary lists. A parent or teacher course can build confidence with grammar, receptive practice, and Deaf-culture context.
Important: ASL is not signed English. It is a complete visual language with its own grammar, facial expression, movement, and cultural context. Use ASL-fluent and Deaf-created resources whenever possible, especially for a deaf or hard-of-hearing child.
Choose the right curriculum path
| Learner | Best first step | Use ASL Kids for | Paid course fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby or toddler | First 25 baby signs and simple routine signs. | Watch a sign, model it during meals or play, and repeat naturally. | Usually wait. Parents can take a course if they want to learn more ASL themselves. |
| Preschooler | Preschool sign activities, games, songs, and visual routines. | Practice one tiny group of signs at a time with short videos. | A parent or teacher course helps the adult lead practice more confidently. |
| Elementary learner | First 50 signs, alphabet, numbers, and short conversations. | Review vocabulary, fingerspelling, and signs by routine between lessons. | Kids ASL course can be useful when the child can follow structured video lessons. |
| Homeschool family | A weekly plan with app practice, printables, games, and review days. | Use the app as daily practice and ASL Kids pages as the lesson library. | Use the homeschool ASL course guide to choose a course spine. |
| Teacher or aide | Classroom signs, lesson plans, visual supports, and family communication. | Give children repeated video practice and printable classroom prompts. | Adult beginner ASL course fits the adult learner. |
12-week beginner ASL curriculum for kids
Use this as a flexible map. Repeat a week when the signs are useful, skip themes that do not fit your child, and keep practice short enough that everybody still wants to come back tomorrow.
Attention and greetings
Practice hello, goodbye, yes, no, please, thank you, look, and name. Use eye contact and facial expression.
Family and people
Practice mom, dad, family, friend, baby, teacher, boy, girl, and who. Use photos or drawings for review.
Food and mealtime
Practice eat, drink, milk, water, more, all done, apple, cracker, hungry, and full during real meals.
Feelings and help
Practice happy, sad, angry, scared, tired, sick, help, hurt, want, and need. Match signs with facial expression.
School and routines
Practice school, book, read, write, sit, stand, line up, bathroom, clean up, and wait.
Colors and numbers
Practice the first colors, numbers 1-10, counting objects, choosing colors, and simple signed questions.
Animals, toys, and play
Practice dog, cat, bird, fish, ball, doll, game, play, again, and stop. Turn review into a matching game.
Bedtime and care
Practice sleep, bath, brush teeth, pajamas, diaper, change, medicine, story, light, and dark.
Choices and questions
Practice what, where, which, want, like, don’t like, finished, again, same, and different.
Alphabet and fingerspelling
Practice A-Z slowly, names, favorite words, and short spelling games. Focus on clear handshapes first.
Mini conversations
Combine signs into real exchanges: “Want water?”, “I need help”, “My name…”, and “I like that.”
Review and show
Let the child choose favorite signs, teach a family member, play a review game, and mark progress on a tracker.
Daily lesson routine
Warm up
Review yesterday’s signs with the app, a card, or a quick mirror check.
Watch and copy
Choose two or three signs. Watch the sign model, pause, copy, and repeat.
Use it for real
Use the signs during snack, a book, a game, a classroom transition, or bedtime.
Track one win
Mark a sign on a printable checklist or note the routine where the child used it.
When should you add a paid ASL course?
A paid ASL course makes sense when the learner is ready for sequence, longer video lessons, grammar, receptive practice, and review outside a single sign dictionary. It is especially useful for older children, homeschool families, teens, parents, and teachers who want structure instead of choosing random signs.
Kids course path
Use a kids course when your child can follow lessons, repeat signs from video, and practice independently with a parent nearby.
Adult beginner path
Use an adult beginner course when the adult needs grammar, fingerspelling, facial expression, receptive practice, and confidence leading the child.
Curriculum materials worth having
You do not need a huge supply shelf. The best materials make practice visible, repeatable, and easy to reset. Start with one or two tools, then add more only if they help the child use signs more often.
| Material | Why it helps | Best fit | Amazon starting point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablet stand | Keeps sign videos visible and hands free. | App practice, course lessons, dictionary lookup, and video calls. | Browse tablet stands |
| ASL flash cards | Turn vocabulary into quick review games. | Preschool, elementary kids, classrooms, and family practice. | Browse ASL flash cards |
| Visual timer | Shows that practice is short and predictable. | Autism-friendly routines, preschool, classrooms, and bedtime. | Browse visual timers |
| ASL books | Pair signs with stories, routines, and parent learning. | Family shelves, classroom libraries, and quiet review time. | Browse ASL books |
| Mini whiteboards | Let kids draw, match, spell, and create quick sign prompts. | Homeschool, therapy, and classroom centers. | Browse mini whiteboards |
| Storage tray or cart | Keeps the app device, cards, printables, and markers in one place. | Practice stations that need to stay easy to restart. | Browse storage options |
Use these free ASL Kids resources with the curriculum
Start Learning ASL
Use the beginner hub for a first-week plan, family paths, app links, printables, and course options.
ASL Signs by Routine
Choose signs that belong to meals, bedtime, school, play, family, feelings, and cleanup.
ASL Lesson Plans
Turn the weekly curriculum map into classroom, homeschool, preschool, or family lessons.
Free ASL Printables
Use checklists, posters, trackers, and routine sheets to make progress visible.
ASL Practice Station
Set up a simple screen, cards, timer, mirror, and storage spot for repeatable practice.
Best Online ASL Course
Compare free resources, kids courses, parent courses, teacher paths, and homeschool options.
Best next step
If your child is new to ASL, start with the ASL Kids app and the first 50 signs. If the adult needs a complete learning path, compare the course options and choose the path that matches who is really learning: the child, the parent, the teacher, or the whole family.
Sources and further learning
- Gallaudet Clerc Center K-12 ASL Content Standards
- Head Start: Using American Sign Language for Early Learning
- American Society for Deaf Children: Learning ASL
- Lifeprint ASL University
- Sign Language 101 course catalog
FAQ
What is the best ASL curriculum for kids?
The best ASL curriculum for kids combines useful signs, real video models, short daily practice, review activities, fingerspelling, and Deaf-culture context. Younger children usually do best with routine signs first. Older children and homeschool learners may benefit from a structured online course.
Can I teach ASL at home if I am a beginner?
Yes, you can start at home with simple signs, app videos, and routine practice. If your child is deaf or hard of hearing, also look for Deaf educators, early-intervention support, ASL-fluent teachers, and local Deaf community resources.
How long should kids practice ASL each day?
Short, consistent practice is usually better than long lessons. Many families can start with five to fifteen minutes, then use the signs naturally during meals, play, bedtime, school, or classroom transitions.
Should children learn signs by topic or by alphabet?
Start with signs the child can use right away, such as help, more, eat, drink, family, feelings, and classroom routines. Add the ASL alphabet and fingerspelling once the child is ready for handshape practice and names.
Do kids need a paid ASL course?
Not always. Many young children should begin with free app practice, signs by routine, and printables. A paid course is useful when an older child, parent, teacher, or homeschool family wants a structured sequence and more complete learning path.
Can ASL support speech and communication development?
ASL can give children a visual way to express needs, reduce frustration, and support language development. For children with speech delays, autism, hearing differences, or complex communication needs, coordinate with the child’s support team.
Need a preschool-ready ASL plan?
Use the Preschool ASL Curriculum for weekly signs, circle-time practice, snack routines, story-time signs, classroom transitions, app videos, and the free planner PDF.
Add playful review to this plan
After each weekly sign set, use ASL Games for Kids for scavenger hunts, matching games, sign bingo, storybook signs, snack requests, feelings check-ins, and quick family review.
Choosing your first ASL course?
Use the ASL Course for Beginners guide to decide between a free start, a kids course, an adult beginner course, app practice, and a homeschool-friendly routine.
Need an ASL certificate, CEU, or credit path?
Use the ASL Course with Certificate guide to understand the difference between a completion certificate, CEUs, school credit, and interpreter certification before choosing a paid course.
Are you the adult learning ASL?
Use the ASL Course for Adults guide to choose a structured adult path for parents, teachers, caregivers, teens, and beginners, then pair lessons with ASL Kids app practice.
Choosing a course for a teen?
Use the ASL Course for Teens guide to decide whether your learner fits the kids course, adult beginner course, high-school-credit path, or free app practice first.
Considering SignLanguage101?
Read the SignLanguage101 review to see when it fits kids, teens, parents, teachers, and adult beginners, and when a free app path, live feedback, or credit-focused course is a better choice.
Looking for an ASL 1 course?
Use the ASL 1 Course Online guide to choose between a free app start, a self-paced kids or adult course, a high-school-credit path, or a guided course with feedback.
Need printable ASL practice sheets?
Download the free ASL Kids Starter Pack for first signs, weekly lesson plans, baby-sign routines, classroom signs, family practice, and a 12-week planner.
Comparing ASL apps?
Use the Best ASL Apps for Kids and Beginners guide to choose between ASL Kids, dictionary apps, structured lesson apps, baby-sign video libraries, and course paths.
Need a simple ASL lesson sequence?
The ASL Lessons for Kids hub turns app videos, first signs, printables, games, and course paths into a practical beginner lesson order for families, teachers, homeschoolers, and children.
Choosing an ASL class for a child?
The ASL Classes for Kids guide compares app-first practice, free resources, live online classes, local options, kids courses, parent courses, and homeschool paths.
Learning ASL as a family?
The ASL for Families guide gives parents, kids, siblings, grandparents, and teachers a practical path: app videos, daily routine signs, a 30-day printable plan, and course options when you need more structure.
Need a structured ASL course path for your family?
The ASL Course for Families guide compares parent courses, kids courses, free family ASL supports, app practice, and printable routines.
Considering SignLanguage101 for a child?
The SignLanguage101 for Kids review explains when the kids course fits older children, teens, and homeschool learners, and when app-first or family ASL support is the better first step.
Planning ASL for homeschool?
Use the Homeschool ASL Course guide to choose between app-first practice, a kids course, a parent course, credit planning, printables, and a weekly curriculum plan.
Planning ASL for a middle schooler?
The ASL Course for Middle School guide helps families choose between app-first practice, a kids course, a parent-led course, homeschool records, and high-school-credit planning.
Teaching ASL to an elementary student?
The ASL Course for Elementary Students guide helps families choose between app-first practice, weekly lessons, printables, curriculum, a kids course, and parent support.
Teaching ASL to preschoolers?
The ASL Course for Preschoolers guide helps parents and teachers choose an app-first routine path, preschool curriculum, adult course support, printables, and classroom materials without pushing a formal child course too early.
Need ASL to count for high school credit?
Use the ASL Course for High School Credit guide to choose between homeschool records, school approval, certificates, and formal credit before buying a course.