Learning how to sign don’t like in ASL gives your child a way to communicate before words arrive. “Don’t like” turns protest into communication. It starts exactly like “like,” then throws the feeling away — a contrast toddlers find genuinely funny once they spot it.
How to Sign “Don’t Like” in ASL
Photos: Rodasmith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Start like “like”: Hand on your chest, thumb and middle finger extended.
- Pull out: Draw the hand away from your chest.
- Flick it away: Snap the fingers open and toss the hand outward, palm down, like discarding something.
Like grabs the feeling and keeps it; don’t-like grabs it and throws it away. Show both back-to-back and the meaning teaches itself.
Step-by-Step Photos
Photos: Rodasmith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
When to Use It With Your Child
- At refused foods: Calmly name it — “you don’t like broccoli today” — with the sign.
- In play: Have a puppet dramatically reject silly things; rejection is hilarious to toddlers.
- At real limits: When they push something away, give them the sign for what their body just said.
Tips for Success
- Model it neutrally — it is information, not naughtiness.
- A whole-hand push-away gesture counts as a first version.
- Respect it when reasonably possible; a sign that works is a sign that grows.
Signs Related to “Don’t Like”
“Like” is the same sign kept instead of tossed, and “all done” covers the mealtime version. “Yucky” often joins this set for taste protests specifically.
Negation pairs like like/don’t-like demonstrate a core ASL pattern — many negative signs are the positive sign plus a reversing or throwing-away movement.
Learn more: National Association of the Deaf — ASL resources and advocacy from the National Association of the Deaf.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start teaching my baby how to sign don’t like in ASL?
You can introduce the sign for don’t like as early as 14–18 months. Babies understand signs before they can produce them, so start modeling it consistently and reward any attempt — even an approximation — with the item or action right away.
How long does it take for a baby to learn to sign don’t like?
Most babies begin producing a recognizable version of the sign for don’t like within two to four weeks of consistent daily modeling. Frequency matters more than perfect form at this stage — sign it every time the word comes up naturally in your routine.
Is the ASL sign for don’t like the same in baby sign language programs?
Yes. Most baby sign language programs teach the authentic ASL sign for don’t like. Using real ASL rather than invented gestures means your child’s signs will be understood by Deaf signers and build a foundation for learning more ASL as they grow.