Start ASL With Alphabets

What can we use if we don't have an ASL alphabet chart or a mirror for the activity?

If you don't have a printed ASL alphabet chart, open a chart image on a tablet or phone and use the smartphone front camera or a clean window as your mirror while you point to each letter and copy its handshape in the mirror.

My child keeps confusing similar handshapes—how can we fix this during practice A–I, J–R, S–Z and the fingerspelling steps?

Slow down the routine by stretching fingers, saying each letter aloud, pausing after pointing to each chart letter and checking the handshape in the mirror, and reinforce with the step where they write their first name before slowly fingerspelling it one letter at a time.

How can we adapt this ASL activity for younger preschoolers and older kids?

For preschoolers, limit practice to 6–8 letters and a simplified two-pair memory game with adult modeling at the mirror, while older kids can practice full alphabets, add timed memory rounds, and fingerspell whole words after writing their first name.

What are simple ways to extend or personalize the memory game and sharing step for more fun or challenge?

Decorate and label your picture cards, assign point values for matched pairs in the memory game, challenge players to fingerspell matched words aloud in the mirror, and record a short practice clip to share on DIY.org as the instructions suggest.