Help Your Child Speak Clearly with This Simple Speech Tip!
Is your child hard to understand? Maybe you notice them getting frustrated when they try to communicate with others? Don’t worry—this is common and there are ways you can support them!
Many children go through phases where certain sounds are challenging. This may mean they substitute sounds (saying "tat" instead of "cat"), leave out sounds ("ca" instead of "cat"), or make slight errors in sound placement ("thip" instead of "sip"). While it’s common for younger children, by age 5-6, they should be more understandable to everyone—not just you!
What Can You Do? Try the "Shaping Game" Technique!
One powerful way to help your child with that tricky speech sound is to make it a fun mouth shaping game, instead of emphasizing their error. This exercise helps kids see how they form sounds and better understand where their tongue, lips, and jaw should be for specific sounds.
How to Play the “Shaping Game”
- Sit Together in Front of a Mirror: Find a mirror where you can sit together, so both of you can see yourselves.
- Choose a Sound to Practice: Pick a sound that they struggle with, such as the “s” sound
- Do as they do: Mimic how your child says the sound.
- Shape from how they say it: Slowly and very emphasized, start with how they say the sound and reshape your tongue, lips, and jaw in a way that gets to the correct sound.
- Have them Copy your new shape: Continue to do this shaping and encourage them to LISTEN & WATCH to try...
- Celebrate Their Progress: Even small improvements can be huge! Praise your child for their effort and give them positive feedback to build their confidence.
Need More Support?
Practicing at home can be very effective, but if you notice continued challenges, connecting with a speech therapist can be the next step. My Magic Words offers personalized screenings free of charge and can provide strategies and exercises tailored to your child’s needs. Don’t hesitate to reach out—getting on a waiting list sooner rather than later can be helpful, especially if you’re noticing frustration or a drop in confidence. You can also join our Speech Sound Academy where together with Miss Ashley, you can master that speech sound at home! Click Here to learn more.
Want More Tips?
For even more strategies and a breakdown of typical speech development milestones, check out My Magic Words’ Free Speech Sound Guide and Quiz. Understanding where your child is developmentally can bring peace of mind and guide you on when it’s time to get extra support.
Have questions or need specific advice? Contact Miss Ashley at [email protected]. Helping your child speak with confidence is just one magical tip away!
