Free Practice Guide

A simplified guide to help your child practice speech sounds at home.

Important Tips:

• Keep practice sessions short (5-10 minutes)
• Make it fun - use games, silly voices, and praise
• Practice in front of a mirror when possible
• If your child gets frustrated, take a break
• Celebrate small successes!
• Always check with your speech therapist before starting

What to watch for:

• Lips should come together
• Air puffs out when lips separate
• No voice/buzzing in the throat

Easy Practice Activities:

1. The Popping Game Close your lips and puff up your cheeks with air
   Pop the air out in short bursts: "p-p-p-p"
   Hold a tissue in front of your mouth - try to make it move!
   
2. Feather Fun Hold a feather near your mouth
   Try to blow it away by making the "p" sound
   
3. Motor Boat Pretend to be a motor boat
   Make "p-p-p-p" sounds going fast and slow
   

Try These Tricks:

• Touch your lips lightly together, then blow air out quickly
• Practice "kissing" sounds without the voice
• Say "ah" and then close your lips to make "pah"

What to watch for:

• Lips come together (like "p")
• BUT - your voice box should be "on" (buzzing)
• Less air puffs out than "p"

Easy Practice Activities:

1. The Buzzing Bee Put your hand on your throat
   Feel the buzzing when you say "b"
   Compare to "p" - no buzzing!
   
2. Bubble Sounds Pretend you're blowing bubbles in water
   Make "buh-buh-buh" sounds
   Feel your throat vibrate
   

Try These Tricks:

• Say "mmmm" and then open your lips to make "bah"
• Start with lips together, then pop them open while humming
• Think of it as the "noisy brother" of "p"

What to watch for:

• Tongue tip touches the bumpy spot behind upper front teeth
• Tongue drops down quickly with a little puff of air
• No voice/buzzing

Easy Practice Activities:

1. Tap-Tap-Tap Use your tongue to "tap" the bumpy spot behind your teeth
   Make quick "t-t-t-t" sounds
   Pretend your tongue is a woodpecker
   
2. Find the Bump Lick a lollipop or your finger
   Touch the bumpy spot behind your front teeth
   That's where your tongue goes for "t"!
   

Try These Tricks:

• Put a small piece of peanut butter on the bumpy ridge - lick it off with your tongue tip
• Hold a tissue in front of your mouth and make it move with the "t" sound
• Pretend to be a clock: "tick-tock"

What to watch for:

• Tongue tip touches the same bumpy spot as "t"
• BUT - voice box is "on" (buzzing)
• Less air than "t"

Easy Practice Activities:

1. The Drum Sound Put your hand on your throat
   Feel it buzz when you say "d"
   Pretend to beat a drum: "d-d-d-d"
   
2. The Motor Turn your "motor" on (voice)
   Touch tongue tip to bumpy spot
   Drop it down quickly
   

Try These Tricks:

• Say "n-n-n" and keep your tongue in the same spot but stop your nose from working
• Compare "t" and "d" - "d" has the motor running!
• Say "la-la-la" and make it shorter and quicker

What to watch for:

• Back of tongue touches the back of the roof of your mouth
• Quick pop of air
• No voice/buzzing

Easy Practice Activities:

1. The Coughing Sound Make a gentle cough sound
   That uses the same spot as "k"!
   Now make it shorter: "k-k-k"
   
2. The Crow Make a "caw-caw" sound like a crow
   Feel where the back of your tongue touches
   

Try These Tricks:

• Lie on your back - this makes the "k" sound easier
• Gargle (carefully!) - same tongue position
• Say "ng" (as in "sing") and then pop air out

What to watch for:

• Back of tongue touches the back of the roof of mouth (like "k")
• BUT - voice box is "on" (buzzing)
• Like "k" but with the motor running

Easy Practice Activities:

1. The Frog Make frog sounds: "guh-guh-guh"
   Feel your throat vibrate
   Ribbit!
   
2. Glug-Glug Pretend to pour water: "glug-glug-glug"
   Feel the back of your tongue working
   

Try These Tricks:

• Start with "ng" (as in "sing") and pop it open with voice on
• Swallow and notice where your tongue goes - that's the spot!
• Say "k" but turn on your motor

What to watch for:

• Teeth are close together (almost touching)
• Tongue tip is behind front teeth
• Air flows over the middle of the tongue
• Makes a hissing sound

Easy Practice Activities:

1. The Snake Make a long snake sound: "ssssssss"
   Teeth together (can see them in mirror)
   Tongue stays behind teeth
   
2. The Tire Pretend air is leaking from a tire
   "ssssssss"
   Keep it going for 5 seconds!
   

Try These Tricks:

• Smile slightly and put teeth together
• Rest tongue tip behind bottom teeth and arch the middle up
• Or point tongue tip up toward the bumpy ridge
• Blow air down the middle of your tongue
• Make a groove in your tongue like a slide for the air

Common Problems:

• If tongue pokes through teeth: practice keeping it inside
• If air goes out the sides: squeeze tongue sides against back teeth
• If it sounds slushy: teeth need to be closer together

What to watch for:

• Same tongue and teeth position as "s"
• BUT - voice box is "on" (buzzing)
• Like a bee sound

Easy Practice Activities:

1. The Buzzing Bee Make "zzzzzzz" like a bee flying
   Feel your throat vibrate
   Same mouth position as "s"
   
2. On and Off Make "s" and "z" back and forth
   Notice "z" makes your throat buzz
   

Try These Tricks:

• Put hand on throat - feel the difference between "s" and "z"
• Start with long "s" and turn on your voice
• The bee (z) is the noisy brother of the snake (s)

What to watch for:

• Top teeth gently touch bottom lip
• Air flows over the bottom lip
• No voice/buzzing

Easy Practice Activities:

1. The Angry Cat Make an angry cat sound
   Bite your bottom lip gently with top teeth
   Let air flow out
   
2. Blow the Candle Pretend to blow out a candle gently
   Teeth on lip
   

Try These Tricks:

• Look in mirror - you should see your top teeth on your lip
• Hold a feather and try to move it with "f"
• Whisper "very" and feel your lip on your teeth

What to watch for:

• Same position as "f" (teeth on lip)
• BUT - voice box is "on"
• Makes a vibrating feeling on your lip

Easy Practice Activities:

1. The Vacuum Make vacuum cleaner sounds: "vvvvvv"
   Feel the buzzing on your lip
   
2. The Airplane Pretend to fly a plane: "vroom"
   Keep your teeth on your lip
   

Try These Tricks:

• Say "f" and turn on your motor
• Feel the tickle on your lip when the voice is on
• Hold your lip with your fingers if needed at first

What to watch for:

• Tongue tip between teeth (peeking out)
• Air flows over the tongue
• No voice/buzzing

Easy Practice Activities:

1. Stick Out Your Tongue Let your tongue peek between your teeth
   Blow air gently over it
   Should sound like air leaking
   
2. The Teapot Pretend steam is coming out
   Let tongue touch your teeth gently
   

Try These Tricks:

• Look in mirror - tongue should show!
• Hold tongue gently with fingers at first
• Practice words like "think" "thank" "thumb"

What to watch for:

• Same tongue position as voiceless "th"
• BUT - voice box is "on"
• Should feel buzzing on your tongue

Easy Practice Activities:

1. The Motor "TH" Put tongue between teeth
   Turn on your voice: "thththth"
   Feel it buzz on your tongue
   

Try These Tricks:

• Say the quiet "th" (thumb) and turn on your voice
• Hold your throat - feel it buzz
• Practice words like "this" "that" "the"

What to watch for:

• Lips are slightly rounded (like blowing a kiss)
• Teeth close together
• Tongue pulled back a bit from "s" position
• Wider, quieter sound than "s"

Easy Practice Activities:

1. Be Quiet! Make the "shhhhh" sound to be quiet
   Round your lips a little
   Tongue is back in your mouth
   
2. The Train Make steam train sounds
   "Ch-ch-ch-shhhhh"
   

Try These Tricks:

• Pucker lips slightly (not too much!)
• Pull tongue back from where it goes for "s"
• Should sound softer and "fatter" than "s"

What to watch for:

• Mouth is open and relaxed
• Air flows out like a breath
• Very easy sound!

Easy Practice Activities:

1. Panting Puppy Pant like a dog: "huh-huh-huh"
   Keep mouth open
   Just breathing out with voice
   
2. Laugh Make a "ha-ha-ha" laugh
   Feel the air
   

Try These Tricks:

• Breathe on a mirror to fog it up
• Pretend to be tired: "huhhhh"
• Make your hand warm with your breath

What to watch for:

• Lips together gently
• Air comes out your nose
• Voice box is "on" (humming)

Easy Practice Activities:

1. Yummy Food Say "mmmmm" like food tastes good
   Keep lips together
   Hum through your nose
   
2. Nose Check Hold a tissue under your nose
   Say "mmmmm" - tissue should move!
   

Try These Tricks:

• Hum with mouth closed
• Pinch your nose - sound stops! (That proves air is coming out)
• Think of it as humming with lips together

What to watch for:

• Tongue tip on bumpy spot behind front teeth
• Air comes out nose
• Voice box is "on"

Easy Practice Activities:

1. The "No-No" Sound Shake your head "no" and say "n-n-n-n"
   Keep tongue tip up
   
2. Nose Test Hold tissue under nose while saying "n"
   Should move!
   Pinch your nose - sound stops!
   

Try These Tricks:

• Say "d" but let air come out your nose instead
• Hum with tongue tip up
• Think of a siren: "nnn-nnn-nnn"

What to watch for:

• Back of tongue touches back of roof of mouth
• Air comes out nose
• Voice box is "on"
• This sound only comes at the END of words in English

Easy Practice Activities:

1. The Gong Make a gong sound: "ng-ng-ng"
   Feel the back of your tongue
   
2. Singing Practice Say "sing-song" slowly
   Feel where your tongue goes for "ng"
   

Try These Tricks:

• Start to say "g" but keep it in your nose
• Touch under your chin - feel the muscle
• Practice: "sing, ring, thing, king"

What to watch for:

• Lips round and pucker (kiss shape)
• Back of tongue is slightly raised
• Quickly move to next sound
• Voice box is "on"

Easy Practice Activities:

1. Baby Crying Make "wah-wah-wah" like a baby
   Start with rounded lips
   
2. The Wind Make wind sounds: "woooo"
   Lips are rounded at the start
   

Try These Tricks:

• Pucker up like a kiss, then relax
• Say "oo" (as in "boo") and quickly change to other vowels
• Practice "we, way, why, wow"

What to watch for:

• Tongue is high in mouth (like saying "ee")
• Quickly glides to the next sound
• Voice box is "on"

Easy Practice Activities:

1. The Yes Sound Say "yes-yes-yes" quickly
   Feel tongue up high at the start
   
2. Yo-Yo Say "yo-yo" like playing with a yo-yo
   Tongue starts high and moves down
   

Try These Tricks:

• Start saying "ee" and quickly change to other sounds
• Smile and raise middle of tongue
• Practice "you, yay, yell, yoga"

What to watch for:

• Tongue tip touches bumpy ridge behind top teeth
• Sides of tongue are down (air flows around the sides)
• Voice box is "on"

Easy Practice Activities:

1. La-La-La Singing Sing "la-la-la"
   Feel tongue tip touch up top
   Sides stay down
   
2. Lollipop Licks Pretend to lick a lollipop
   Touch the bumpy spot with tongue tip
   

Try These Tricks:

• Open wide and lift just the tongue tip
• Say "d" and hold the tongue there longer
• Let air flow around the sides of your tongue

This is often the HARDEST sound! Be patient and get help from a speech therapist if needed.

What to watch for:

• There are MANY ways to make "r" - all correct!
• Lips may be slightly rounded
• Tongue is pulled back in the mouth
• Voice box is "on"
• Should sound deeper than other sounds

Easy Practice Activities:

1. The Growl Make a growling sound like a dog or tiger
   "Grrrrr"
   Feel your tongue pull back
   
2. The Motor Make a motor starting sound: "rrrrrr"
   Back of tongue is bunched up
   

Try These Tricks:

Method 1 - Tongue Tip Up:

• Curl tongue tip back toward the roof of your mouth
• Don't touch the roof!
• Round lips slightly
• Turn on voice

Method 2 - Tongue Tip Down:

• Keep tongue tip behind bottom teeth
• Bunch up the middle/back of tongue
• Make it rounded like a ball in your mouth
• Turn on voice

Method 3 - From Other Sounds:

• Say a long "er" sound (as in "her")
• Now say it at the start of words: "er-ed" → "red"

When "R" is at the end (like "car"):

• Start with "uh" sound
• Pull tongue back slowly while saying it
• Should start sounding like "er"

Practice Words:

• At beginning: "row, ray, run, read"
• At end: "car, bear, hair, more"
• In middle: "very, carrot, cherry"

Making Practice Fun:

• Play "I Spy" with target sounds
• Read books that emphasize the sound
• Make silly sentences with the sound
• Use hand gestures or movements
• Give stickers or small rewards
• Practice in the car, at bath time, during walks

Using a Mirror:

• Let your child watch your mouth
• Have them watch themselves
• Make funny faces together
• Point out tongue and lip positions

When to Get Help:

• If you're not sure how to make the sound yourself
• If your child is frustrated or upset
• If these techniques don't work after trying for a few weeks
• If your child's speech therapist recommends something different

Important Reminders:

• Every child learns at their own pace
• Some sounds develop later than others (like "r")
• Practice makes progress, not perfection!
• Keep it positive and playful
• Celebrate effort, not just correct sounds

(When kids typically learn sounds)

By Age 3: p, b, m, h, n, w By Age 4: d, t, k, g, ng, f, y By Age 5: s, z, l, sh, ch By Age 6: th (both kinds), v By Age 7-8: r (can be even later!)

Remember: These are averages. Many children learn sounds earlier or later and are still developing normally.

Problem: Child loses interest quickly

• Shorter practice sessions (3-5 minutes)
• More games and movement
• Let them choose activities
• Practice during favorite activities

Problem: Child gets frustrated

• Take a break
• Go back to easier sounds or steps
• Focus on fun, not perfection
• Try again tomorrow

Problem: Sound is correct in practice but not in regular talking

• This is NORMAL!
• Keep practicing
• Gently remind during conversation
• It takes time to make it automatic

Problem: You're not sure if the sound is correct

• Record your child and listen back
• Compare to your own production
• Ask your speech therapist
• Focus on consistent effort

Consider getting professional help if:

• Your child is frustrated by communication difficulties
• Family members can't understand your child
• Your child is teased about their speech
• Speech errors persist past the typical age
• Your child avoids talking because of speech issues
• You notice regression (sounds they could make are now errors)
• Your child has other developmental concerns

Speech development is a journey, not a race. Your love, patience, and encouragement are the most important ingredients for success. These practice activities are meant to support - not replace - professional speech therapy.

Keep it fun, keep it positive, and celebrate every small step forward!

This guide is adapted from evidence-based clinical speech therapy techniques by Andrzej Lewandowski MHS MA CCC-SLP/L PEL, a bilingual speech therapist in the Chicago area. It is simplified for home use. Always consult with a qualified speech-language pathologist for professional assessment and treatment recommendations.