Help your child enhance their early language development with this easy to use sign language alphabet for kids guide!
Learn how to hand sign the letters A through Z by following these simple step-by-step instructions in addition to visuals of how to form the letter with your hand.
Plus, there is a FREE kid’s American Sign Language (ASL) alphabet download you can use at the end of this post along with additional helpful resources. 🙂
A
To hand sign the letter A, curl all your fingers to make a fist BUT your thumb.
Leave your thumb pointing upwards resting on the side of your hand.
B
To hand sign the letter B, raise your one hand to the side.
Have all your fingers pointing up, palm is flat like a pancake, and facing out.
THEN tuck your thumb in.
C
To hand sign the letter C, open your hand and curve it to make the shape of the letter.
Push your top four fingers together to form the top part of the “C” and curve your thumbs to make the bottom part of the “C”.
D
To hand sign the letter D, face your palm forwards.
Touch your three finger tips (middle, ring, and pinky) to your thumb AND then leave your index finger pointing upwards to form a “D”.
E
To hand sign the letter E, face your palm out and then curl your four fingers (index, middle, ring, and pinky) into your palm.
Then tuck your thumb sideways so your four fingers rest on it.
F
To hand sign the letter F, touch the tip of your index finger to the tip of your thumb to make the shape of a circle.
At the same time hold your middle, ring, and pinky fingers straight up slightly apart from one another.
G
To hand sign the letter G, bring up your hand chest height.
Point out your thumb and index finger so they are parallel to one another.
These two fingers (index and thumb) will point towards you and rest on top of your hand on your other three fingers which curl into your palm.
H
To hand sign the letter H, face your palm towards you while holding your hand horizontally.
Point out your index and middle finger, pushing them together.
Then curl the following fingers into your palm; pinky, ring, and thumb.
I
To hand sign the letter I, point your pinky straight up to make an “I”.
Then form a fist with your other fingers by pressing them into the palm of your hand.
J
To hand sign the letter J (which is like the letter I), point your pinky straight up while forming a fist with your other fingers pressing into your palm.
Then make the letter “J” in the air with your pinky.
Start from the top, going down, and then curving at the bottom to form the letter.
K
To hand sign the letter K, hold up your hand with your palm facing out.
Make a “peace sign” or a “v” by lifting your index and middle fingers straight up and tuck your thumb at the bottom of your two raised fingers.
The ring and pinky finger will curl toward your palm.
L
To hand sign the letter L, stick your thumb out horizontal and then your index finger straight up to make the shape of an “L”.
The last three fingers will curl in toward your palm.
M
To hand sign the letter M, have your palm facing out and then curl all your fingers into your palm.
While your fingers are curled, tuck your thumb in between your ring and pinky finger.
N
To hand sign the letter N (which is similar to M), have your palm facing out and then curl all your fingers into your palm.
While your fingers are curled, tuck your thumb in between your ring and middle finger.
O
To hand sign the letter O, curve all your fingers and touch them to your thumb to form the shape of an “O”.
P
To hand sign the letter P (which is similar to K), but you point your fingers down.
Hold down your hand with your palm facing in.
Make a “peace sign” or a “v” by lifting your index and middle fingers straight up and tuck your thumb at the bottom of your two raised fingers.
The ring and pinky finger will curl toward your palm.
Q
To hand sign the letter Q, hold down your hand with your palm facing in.
Line up your hand and fingers horizontally.
Then curl in your middle, ring, and pinky fingers while sticking out your index and thumb fingers parallel to each other pointing down.
R
To hand sign the letter R, hold up your hand and face your palm out.
Hold up your index and middle fingers making a “peace sign” and then intertwine them.
Place your middle finger over your index finger.
Then touch your ring and pinky fingers to your thumb.
S
To hand sign the letter S (which is similar to A), but instead you rest your thumb in front of your hand rather than on the side.
To do so, curl all your fingers to make a fist BUT your thumb.
Leave your thumb pointing upwards resting in front of your hand.
T
To hand sign the letter T (which is similar to N), have your palm facing out.
Curl your fingers into your palm to make a fist.
Then tuck your thumb in between your index and middle fingers.
U
To hand sign the letter U, push together your index and middle fingers pointing them both straight up.
Then curl your ring and pinky fingers to your palm while resting your thumb on the side of your ring finger.
V
To hand sign the letter V, hold up your hand with your palm facing outward.
Stick your index and middle fingers straight up and slightly apart to make the shape of a V (which looks like the “peace sign”).
Then curl down your ring and pinky fingers to touch your thumb.
W
To hand sign the letter V (which is similar to V), hold up your hand with your palm facing outward.
Stick your index, middle, and ring fingers straight up and slightly apart to make the shape of a W.
Then curl down your thumb and pinky fingers.
Rest your pinky under the tip of your thumb.
X
To hand sign the letter X, hold up your hand facing your palm outward.
Make a fist with all your fingers curled together into your palm.
Take your index finger, stick it straight up, and then bend it forwards.
Y
To hand sign the letter Y, hold up your hand facing your palm outward.
Make a fist with all your fingers curled together into your palm.
Then stick out your thumb and pinky fingers.
Z
To hand sign the letter Z, hold up your hand facing your palm outward.
Make a fist with all your fingers curled together into your palm.
Take your index finger and point it straight up while tracing the letter “Z” in the air.
Additional Resources to Learn Sign Language Fast
Click here to download your FREE American Sign Language (ASL) alphabet template created by the American Society for Deaf Children. 🙂
If you need to advance your child beyond learning the alphabet, here are several GREAT resources to help you along the way …
Easy to Read Book
The “American Sign Language for Kids: 101 Easy Signs for Nonverbal Communication” is one of the best books on the market to help nonverbal kids or those with communication impairments ages 3 to 6 years be able to learn how to sign words and letters with ease.
Learn how to communicate by starting from the basics by mastering how to sign the alphabet, the most common words kids learn (like mom, dad, I love you), family and feelings, at home, and mealtime.
==> View on Amazon <==
Flash Cards
Flash cards are a valuable teaching guide to help grow your child’s vocabulary visually.
These double-sided sign flash cards include illustrations of the alphabet, feelings, numbers, animals, food, and more.
There are 122 included for ages 4 and up.
==> View on Amazon <==
If your child enjoys coloring this is an excellent activity to do to expose them to sign language.
This kid-friendly ABC sign and coloring book is for beginners.
They will be exposed to FUN and engaging illustrations which include the basics of both American Sign Language (ASL) and the American Manual Alphabet for finger spelling words.
==> View on Amazon <==
Final Takeaway
I hope this post added value to your research efforts in finding easy to use sign language tools for your child to learn quickly.
If you have questions or anything you’d like to add that I did not cover in this post, please feel free to comment below.
If you found this information helpful, please share by clicking the sidebar link to help another child. 🙂
I really do strive to make the content I create as helpful as possible for you…as a fellow parent looking out for their most precious gift.
Thank you for stopping by today!
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Wow, superb blog format! How lengthy have you ever been running a blog for? you made blogging glance easy. The overall glance of your site is great, as neatly as the content!!
Thank you so much for the kind words! I’ve been running this blog for 1 1/2 years now. Hope to see you back soon. 🙂
Your post has inspired me to relearn sign language. While working with adults years ago, I learned sign language to the point that I could understand for the most part and communicate a bit. I never learned American Manual spelling well. The people I worked with could hear so I didn’t need to sign. But they enjoyed teaching and I enjoyed learning. For time to time, I need the language, but I have let it slide. I am going to look for an online course. Thanks. Happy New Year!
Glad you found value in the post and thanks for sharing!