7 Best Asl Beginner Dvds For Kids That Build a Strong Foundation

You see your toddler pointing emphatically at the kitchen counter, their face a mask of pure frustration. They know exactly what they want, but the words just aren’t there yet, and a meltdown is imminent. This communication gap is a universal parenting challenge, and it’s where introducing American Sign Language (ASL) can be a game-changer for your family. Choosing the right learning tool is key to turning that frustration into a breakthrough moment of connection and understanding.

Choosing the Right ASL DVD for Your Child’s Age

When you’re looking at a wall of options, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The most important thing to remember is that a child’s brain develops in predictable stages. A resource designed for a curious preschooler will completely miss the mark with an 8-month-old who is just beginning to master basic motor skills.

The key is to match the DVD’s content and presentation style to your child’s developmental level. An infant needs slow, repetitive, high-contrast visuals focused on core needs like "milk" or "more." A toddler, whose vocabulary is exploding, is ready for more signs related to their world—animals, toys, and family members. By the time they reach preschool, children are ready for signs that explain concepts, feelings, and stories.

Before you buy, consider where your child is right now, not where you hope they’ll be in six months.

• Infants (6-12 months): Focus on receptive language. They are absorbing everything. Look for programs with simple, clear signs for essential needs.
• Toddlers (1-3 years): This is the expressive stage. They want to communicate! Choose DVDs with fun songs and themes that cover their expanding world, like animals, colors, and playtime.
• Preschoolers (3-5 years): They are building narrative skills. Resources that use signs in storytelling or to explain more complex ideas are a perfect fit.

Signing Time! Series for Preschool & Early Years

If you have a child between the ages of three and seven, you’ve likely heard a fellow parent mention Signing Time!. There’s a good reason for its popularity. The series, hosted by the incredibly engaging Rachel Coleman, excels at teaching ASL in a way that feels like a fun television show, not a lesson. It uses a mix of real kids, bright colors, and catchy original songs to teach signs in thematic bundles like "My Neighborhood" or "My Favorite Things."

This approach is powerful for preschoolers because it moves beyond simple vocabulary memorization. It groups signs into logical categories, helping children build mental connections and understand how words relate to one another. The songs are particularly effective, as music helps cement new information in a young child’s memory. This series is an excellent investment for building a broad, functional vocabulary that grows with your child’s curiosity about the world around them.

Baby Signing Time for Infants and Toddlers

Before there was Signing Time!, there was Baby Signing Time. This series is specifically engineered for the youngest learners, from infants just beginning to focus their attention to toddlers starting to babble. The pace is significantly slower, the songs are gentler, and the focus is narrowed to the most critical signs a pre-verbal child needs to express their wants and needs.

Think of this as the essential toolkit for bridging that communication gap. The DVDs center on high-frequency words like "eat," "milk," "more," and "all done." By giving your baby a way to express these core concepts, you can often head off frustration and tantrums before they start. The use of animation alongside real babies provides gentle stimulation without being overwhelming, making it a perfect first introduction to the world of sign language.

My Baby Can Talk for First Words and Phrases

The My Baby Can Talk series takes a very direct, research-based approach to teaching first signs. It often features real parent-child interactions, which can be very validating and encouraging for parents who are learning right alongside their little ones. The program is structured around teaching the most common first words, pairing the sign with the spoken word and a clear image of the object.

This multi-sensory method—seeing the sign, hearing the word, and seeing the object—is a classic and effective teaching strategy that reinforces learning. It’s a fantastic choice for parents who appreciate a straightforward, vocabulary-driven program. If your goal is to quickly build a foundation of the 20-30 most useful signs for daily life, this series provides a clear and effective path to get you there.

Once Upon a Sign for ASL Storytelling Fun

As your child’s vocabulary grows, the next developmental step is putting those words together into a narrative. Once Upon a Sign is a brilliant resource for this stage, typically for children ages four and up. Instead of teaching vocabulary lists, this series presents classic fairy tales and fables, performed entirely in American Sign Language with voice-over and subtitles.

This is a crucial transition. It shows children that ASL isn’t just for asking for a cookie; it’s a rich, expressive language capable of telling complex stories and conveying emotion. Watching characters interact and express themselves through sign helps children understand syntax and context in a way that flashcards never could. This is the resource you turn to when you want to move from words to language.

WeeHands’ Play & Sign for Music-Based Learning

Some children are just wired for music. They wiggle before they can walk and hum before they can talk. For these kinesthetic, auditory learners, WeeHands’ Play & Sign is an outstanding fit. The entire learning philosophy is built around integrating ASL into songs, rhymes, and playful activities.

This isn’t about sitting and watching; it’s about participating. The music-based format makes learning feel like pure fun, and the repetition inherent in songs and rhymes is a powerful tool for memory. If you find that structured lessons don’t hold your child’s attention, but a lively music class does, the WeeHands approach will likely resonate much more deeply with your family’s style.

Sign with your Baby by Dr. Joseph Garcia

For the parent who wants to understand the "why" behind baby signing, Dr. Joseph Garcia’s Sign with your Baby is the foundational text. This program is less of a flashy kids’ show and more of a clear, instructional guide for parents. Based on Dr. Garcia’s pioneering research, it provides a solid, evidence-based framework for teaching your child to sign.

The DVD is straightforward and focuses on demonstrating the signs clearly and explaining the methodology behind the practice. It’s an excellent choice for parents who are motivated by the developmental science and want a no-frills, expert-led resource. While your child will learn the signs, the primary audience here is the parent, empowering you to be a confident and effective teacher for your baby.

Signing Smart for Everyday Vocabulary Growth

One of the biggest hurdles for parents is figuring out how to incorporate signing into an already busy day. The Signing Smart series is designed to solve exactly that problem. Its philosophy is built around integrating signs into the natural routines you already have, from mealtime and bathtime to reading stories and getting dressed.

This approach makes learning feel organic rather than like another scheduled activity. By teaching signs for objects and actions related to diaper changes, playground trips, and bedtime, Signing Smart helps you build a highly practical and immediately useful vocabulary. This focus on daily routines ensures that the signs are used and reinforced dozens of times a day, which is the fastest way to build a strong and lasting foundation in any language.

Remember, the goal at this stage isn’t fluency; it’s connection. Choosing any one of these resources is a wonderful step toward giving your child the powerful gift of early communication. Start with the program that best fits your child’s current age and your family’s learning style, keep it light and fun, and celebrate every little wave, point, and sign along the way.