Describe a Disney Character Family in ASL
Learn and practice ASL signs to describe a Disney character family, signing relationships, appearance, and personalities through short, clear signed sentences.
Step-by-step guide to describe a Disney character family in ASL
Step 1
Pick one Disney character family you like and place a picture or their toys where you can see them clearly.
Step 2
Look at your picture or toys and name each family member out loud so you know who you will describe.
Step 3
Use an ASL reference book or a trusted ASL website to learn the signs for family relationships like family mother father sister brother.
Step 4
Stand in front of the mirror and practice each relationship sign until your handshape and movement look like the example.
Step 5
Use the ASL reference to learn signs for appearance words such as hair color hair length eye color tall and short.
Step 6
Practice each appearance sign in the mirror until you feel comfortable with the shapes and movements.
Step 7
Learn ASL signs for simple personality words such as happy funny shy brave and grumpy using your ASL reference.
Step 8
Practice each personality sign in the mirror one at a time until your hands and facial expressions match the sign.
Step 9
Write three short sentences on your paper that describe the family using relationship appearance and personality words you learned.
Step 10
Point at each sentence on your paper and practice signing it slowly in the mirror once.
Step 11
Draw or color a small picture of the family on the paper and add the three sentences next to the drawing.
Step 12
Practice signing all three sentences while pointing to each family member in your drawing three times in a row.
Step 13
Teach one of your family or a friend one sign you learned and have them try it back to you once.
Step 14
Share your finished drawing and the three sentences you sign on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use instead of a printed picture or an ASL reference book if we can’t find them?
If you don't have a printed picture or ASL reference book, place clear photos or your Disney character toys where you can see them and use trusted ASL tutorial videos or a reputable ASL website as your reference while you practice in the mirror.
My handshape and movement don’t look like the example when I practice in the mirror—what should I try?
If your handshape or movement doesn't match during mirror practice, record a short video of yourself signing, compare it to the ASL reference video or images, then slow the motion and isolate the specific handshape or movement from the instructions until it matches.
How can I change this activity for younger kids or make it harder for older kids?
For younger children, simplify by using one toy, learning two relationship or appearance signs, drawing one big picture and writing or dictating one short sentence to practice, while older kids can learn more signs, write three detailed sentences, and practice full signed descriptions with facial expressions and classifiers.
What are some ways to extend or personalize the activity after I finish the three sentences and drawing?
To enhance the activity, make a short video of yourself signing the three sentences while pointing to each drawn family member three times, teach one sign to a friend on camera, and then upload the finished drawing and video to DIY.org as suggested in the instructions.
Watch videos on how to describe a Disney character family in ASL
How to Sign Disney Characters in ASL | Disney Parks 2023
4 Videos
How to Sign Disney Characters in ASL | Disney Parks 2023
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Learn to Sign "FAMILY" in American Sign Language (ASL) ❤️ Wonderoos
Facts about American Sign Language for kids
👐 American Sign Language (ASL) is used by hundreds of thousands of people across the United States and parts of Canada.
👪 ASL has specific signs for family members (like MOTHER, FATHER, SISTER, BROTHER) and ways to show relationships using space and pointing.
🙂 Facial expressions and body movement in ASL act like punctuation — they show questions, emotions, and sentence structure.
🧠 Learning ASL can boost visual-spatial skills and memory — perfect for kids who love hands-on, visual learning.
🎬 The Incredibles (a Disney/Pixar family movie) is a great example for describing personalities and roles when signing about a character family.
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