Learning how to sign good in ASL gives your child a way to communicate before words arrive. “Good” is one of the most encouraging signs a toddler can learn. It starts exactly like “thank you” and lands in the other palm, and toddlers usually manage it between 12 and 18 months.
How to Sign “Good” in ASL
Photos: Rodasmith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Make the handshape: Hold one hand flat at your chin, palm facing you. Hold the other flat in front of you, palm up.
- Touch your chin: Rest your fingertips lightly on your chin.
- Drop it down: Lower the hand until its back lands in the waiting palm.
Think of it as “thank you” that lands in your other hand — that landing is what makes it “good.”
Step-by-Step Photos
Photos: Rodasmith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
When to Use It With Your Child
- At praise moments: Sign “good” with a big smile when they stack the block or finish the peas.
- About food: Taste something and sign “good” before offering a bite.
- At book time: Label pictures — “the puppy is being good!”
Tips for Success
- Pair it with applause at first; toddlers connect the sign to praise faster.
- A single flat hand bouncing off the chin counts as an early version.
- Model “good” far more often than “bad” — it keeps signing positive.
Signs Related to “Good”
“Bad” starts the same way but flips palm-down instead of landing in the palm, and “thank you” is the chin movement alone. All three share the chin starting point, so they reinforce each other.
“Good” appears in nearly every early-intervention core vocabulary list because praise is one of the highest-frequency messages parents send.
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 good in ASL?
You can introduce the sign for good as early as 12–18 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 good?
Most babies begin producing a recognizable version of the sign for good 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 good the same in baby sign language programs?
Yes. Most baby sign language programs teach the authentic ASL sign for good. 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.