6 Best ASL Learning Games for 6 Year Olds That Deaf Educators Recommend

Your six-year-old has discovered American Sign Language, and you want to support this incredible new interest. But where do you start when you want to encourage learning without it feeling like homework? The key is finding tools that feel like play, tapping into how young children naturally absorb new skills.

Why Play-Based Learning Excels for Young Signers

When you’re six, the world is a playground. Learning isn’t about sitting still and memorizing lists; it’s about touching, doing, and experiencing. This is especially true for a visual, kinetic language like ASL. Play-based learning embeds signs into activities your child already loves, creating positive, low-pressure associations.

Think of it this way: a game builds muscle memory in the hands and connects a physical motion to a concept. It’s active learning, not passive reception. For a 6-year-old, the joy of matching a card or winning a round of Bingo is the motivation, and the language acquisition is the brilliant byproduct. This approach respects their developmental stage, building a foundation of communication that feels like fun, not a chore.

eeBoo Sign Language ABC Flash Cards for Basics

You’ve decided to start, but you don’t want to invest heavily until you gauge your child’s long-term interest. This is where high-quality, low-commitment tools are perfect. The eeBoo Sign Language ABC Flash Cards are a fantastic entry point, recommended by educators for their clear illustrations and durable construction. They focus on the absolute fundamentals: the manual alphabet.

These cards do one thing, and they do it exceptionally well. They connect the signed letter, the printed letter, and a corresponding picture (A for Apple, B for Ball). This multi-modal approach reinforces learning for a young child. Think of these as the building blocks. Before a child can spell words, they need to know their letters. It’s a simple, effective tool for daily practice that doesn’t require screens or complex rules.

The ASL App for Interactive Digital Learning

Your child has mastered the ABCs and is hungry for more. They’re comfortable with a tablet and motivated by interactive feedback. The ASL App is an excellent next step because it bridges the gap between static images and the fluid motion of real signing. It allows children to see signs performed correctly by native signers, which is crucial for learning proper handshape, location, and movement.

While we often aim to limit screen time, it’s important to distinguish between passive consumption and active engagement. This app falls firmly in the latter category. With its dictionary and phrase packs, a child can look up signs for things they see in their world, satisfying their natural curiosity. It’s a tool that can grow with them, offering a vast vocabulary that flashcards simply can’t match.

Carson Dellosa Sign Language Bingo for Groups

Learning a language can feel isolating if it’s a solo activity. How do you make ASL a shared, social experience? Carson Dellosa’s Sign Language Bingo is a brilliant solution for playdates, family game nights, or even for use with siblings. The familiar Bingo format makes it instantly accessible to any six-year-old.

The game reinforces letter and number recognition while introducing basic signs in a fun, competitive context. It shifts the focus from "practicing" to "playing," which is a game-changer for engagement. The true value here is normalization. When friends and family play along, it validates your child’s interest and creates a supportive community around their new skill. It shows them that communication is something we do together.

Signing Time! DVDs for Song-Based Learning

Do you have a child who learns every word to a song after hearing it just twice? Music is a powerful mnemonic device, and the Signing Time! series, created by Rachel Coleman, leverages this beautifully. These DVDs combine catchy, original songs with ASL signs, creating an immersive and joyful learning environment.

This method is particularly effective for auditory and kinesthetic learners. The repetition in the songs helps cement vocabulary, and the visual context provided by the videos makes the meaning clear. Signing Time! is perfect for passive reinforcement—put it on in the background or during car rides. It’s a way to expand their sign vocabulary on topics from animals to family members without structured lesson time.

My Smart Hands Memory Game for Vocabulary

At six, a child’s brain is wired for memory games. The classic game of Concentration or Memory is a perfect vehicle for reinforcing ASL vocabulary. The My Smart Hands Memory Game uses this familiar format to match a picture of an object with the corresponding sign. It’s a simple concept with a powerful impact.

This type of game strengthens two key skills simultaneously: visual memory and sign-object association. Every time they flip a card, they are recalling both the image and the sign. This repetition is what moves a new sign from short-term to long-term memory. It’s a quiet, focused activity that a child can do alone or with a parent, building vocabulary one successful match at a time.

Sign ‘n Say Cards for Everyday Object Signs

Once your child has the alphabet down, the next logical step is labeling their world. The Sign ‘n Say Cards are designed for exactly this purpose. Unlike alphabet cards, these focus on functional, everyday vocabulary: "chair," "book," "cup," "dog." They are tools for immediate communication.

These cards are most effective when integrated into your environment. You can use them for scavenger hunts ("Can you find the object that matches this sign?") or simply to talk about what you’re doing throughout the day. This approach directly connects ASL to your child’s lived experience, making it a relevant and useful language from day one. It answers the "why" of learning to sign by giving them the tools to communicate about their immediate surroundings.

Integrating Games into Daily ASL Practice

Owning the right tools is only half the battle. The real magic happens when you weave them into the fabric of your week. A shelf full of unused learning games doesn’t help anyone. The goal is to create a rhythm of exposure that feels natural and fun, not forced.

Start small. Try a "Sign of the Day" using a flashcard at breakfast. Play a five-minute round of the memory game after school. Let a Signing Time! DVD be the go-to choice for their screen time allotment. By rotating the games and keeping sessions short, you maintain novelty and prevent burnout. Consistency will always be more effective than intensity. Your role isn’t to be a teacher, but a fellow player, discovering the joy of a new language right alongside your child.

Ultimately, the "best" game is the one your child is excited to play. By choosing tools that align with their natural love for play, you are not just teaching them a language; you are fostering a lifelong love of communication and connection.