Helping Your Child Develop Clear Speech Sounds

Children between 4 and 6 yrs old are still learning many of the sounds in English. Most develop naturally - but there are lots of fun ways parents can help along the way. Catherine Campbell, Speech Language Therapist in Nelson, New Zealand, shares her top tips on how you can guide and interact with a child to help them to develop clear speech sounds.

1. Be a Great Speech Model
Children learn speech by hearing it.

• Use clear, slow, natural speech when talking to your child.
• When they make an error, simply repeat it back correctly without asking them to say it again:

Child: “Look, a tar!”
Adult: “Yes, a car! It’s going fast!”
This keeps communication positive and shows them the right way without pressure.

2. Play With Sounds
Sound play helps children listen for the parts of words.

• Play “I Spy” using sounds instead of letters: “I spy something starting with s.”
• Clap out syllables together: “di-no-saur”, “ba-na-na”.
• Make silly sound games: “Let’s find things that end with t - hat, cat, mat

3. Read, Read, Read!
Books give children repeated exposure to sounds and new words.

• Choose books with rhyme, rhythm, and repetition (e.g., “room, zoom, broom”).
• Emphasize beginning sounds during reading: “Look - bear starts with b!”

4. Encourage Lots of Talking
More talking = more practice.

• Ask open-ended questions: “What was your favourite part of the day?”
• Give them time to answer without rushing.
• Show interest - even if the speech isn’t perfect yet.

5. Use "Listening Ears"
Help your child notice differences in sounds.

• “Do you hear the difference between sun and fun?”
• Sort picture cards by sound: All the k words in one pile (car, cup, cat).

6. Make Speech Fun With Games
These build awareness without feeling like practice.

• Tongue and lip awareness: blowing bubbles, using straws, licking yoghurt off lips.
• Sound hunts: find objects beginning with the target sound.
• Mirror play: make faces and watch lips/tongue move

7. Use Everyday Moments
Speech learning doesn’t need to feel like therapy.

• At mealtimes: “Mmm - milk starts with m.”
• In the car: “Let’s find things that start with k.”
• While playing: “You built a big, blue bridge - lots of “b” sounds!”

❤️ 8. Keep It Positive
Build confidence first.

• Celebrate successes: “I heard your clear s sound - nice work!”
• Avoid saying “say it properly” or “that’s wrong.”
• If they are frustrated, let it go - try another time.

9. Know What Speech Sounds Should Develop When

Not all sounds appear by 4 - 6 yrs. Some (like r, th, and l) develop closer to 6 - 7 yrs.
If parents know this, they feel far less worried.

Thanks, Catherine!