08/06/2025
Helping Your Child Speak Clearly: First Steps in Articulation
Therapy Every Parent Should Know
If your child is struggling with speech sounds—maybe they say “wabbit”
instead of “rabbit” or leave off sounds altogether—you’re not alone.
Many children face challenges with articulation, the ability to
clearly pronounce sounds and words. The good news? Early support at
home can make a big difference.
As a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), I often work with
families who are just beginning their speech journey. Whether you're
already in therapy or just starting to explore it, here are a few
essential first steps you can take to help your child build strong
speech foundations.
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1. 💬 Understand What Articulation Is
Articulation simply refers to how we form speech sounds. It involves
the movement and coordination of the tongue, lips, jaw, and breath.
For some children, learning to say sounds like “s,” “r,” “l,” or “th”
takes a little extra support.
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2. 👅 Practice Proper Tongue Placement
One of the most common reasons kids struggle with sounds is that their
tongue isn’t in the right place when they speak. For example:
The “l” sound requires the tongue tip to touch the alveolar ridge (the
bumpy part behind the top teeth).
The “s” sound needs the tongue to stay behind the teeth without poking out.
Play “mirror games” where you and your child watch your tongues while
saying sounds. Use gentle prompts like, “Can you make your tongue tap
just behind your teeth like mine?”
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3. 👃 Encourage Nasal and Diaphragmatic Breathing
Clear speech starts with good breathing. If your child mouth breathes
or sounds stuffy often, it may affect how they produce sounds.
Encourage:
Nasal breathing (in and out through the nose)
Diaphragmatic breathing, or “belly breathing,” which supports good
airflow for longer sentences
You can try blowing bubbles, feathers, or cotton balls through a straw
to build awareness of controlled breathing.
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4. 👄 Build Lip Rounding and Strength
Sounds like “oo” (as in “boot”) and “w” require rounded lips. Practice
exaggerated lip movements with fun sounds, blowing kisses, or
pretending to be fish. Strengthening lip muscles helps your child
articulate sounds with more clarity.
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5. 💪 Support Tongue Strength and Coordination
Strong, coordinated tongue movements are key for many speech sounds.
You can support this through:
Licking yogurt off a spoon or around the lips
Pushing the tongue against the inside of the cheek
Making silly “tongue wagging” faces in the mirror
These fun exercises also build your child’s awareness of how their mouth works.
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6. 😀Make Practice Fun and Stress-Free
Children learn best through play and connection.
Read books together and have your child “catch” their target sound
Play turn-taking games with sound cards or animal noises
Keep sessions short, positive, and consistent—5–10 minutes a day can
make a real difference.
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7. 🩺 Know When to Get Extra Support
If your child is still struggling with certain sounds, or
if their speech is hard for others to understand, don’t hesitate to
reach out to a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. Early intervention often leads to faster
progress!
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🫶🏻You’re Not Alone—And You’re Doing Great
Supporting your child’s speech doesn’t mean you have to be perfect.
Even just knowing the basics—tongue placement, breathing, and playful
practice—puts you on the right path.
If you have questions or want a personalized plan for your child, I’m here to help with iver 20 years of clinical experience.
Reach out anytime for a consultation—we’ll take the next
steps together.
📞(843) 318-2593
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