Fun and Engaging Articulation Activities for Kids
Fun and Engaging Articulation Activities for Kids
Practicing speech sounds at home doesn’t have to feel like homework! Fun and engaging articulation activities help children improve pronunciation while keeping them motivated and excited to practice.
Whether your child is working on S, R, L, TH, SH, or CH sounds, these interactive activities will make speech practice feel like play.
1. Mirror Game (Watch and Imitate)
-Best for: R, L, S, TH, SH, CH sounds
-Why it works: Helps children see how their tongue, lips, and mouth move when forming sounds.
How to Play:
Sit in front of a mirror with your child.
Say a target sound slowly (e.g., “Sssssnake”) while exaggerating mouth movements.
Have your child copy you and watch their mouth in the mirror.
Make it silly by adding funny faces or sound effects!
📌 Tip: Take turns being the “teacher” and let your child model the sound for you!
2. Articulation Treasure Hunt
-Best for: Any speech sound
-Why it works: Helps children connect speech practice to real-life objects.
How to Play:
Pick a target sound (e.g., “L” for “Lion, Lamp, Ladder”).
Challenge your child to find objects around the house that start with that sound.
Say the name of each object together, emphasizing the correct pronunciation.
📌 Tip: Make it competitive by setting a timer—who can find the most “S” words in 2 minutes?
3. Silly Sound Storytelling
-Best for: R, S, L, TH, SH, CH sounds
-Why it works: Encourages kids to use speech sounds in sentences and storytelling.
How to Play:
Start a silly story using a word with the target sound. Example:
For “S” sounds: “Sammy the silly snake went to space!”
Ask your child to continue the story, adding more words with the same sound.
📌 Tip: Write the story down and read it together later to reinforce correct pronunciation.
4. Popcorn Word Game
-Best for: Any articulation sound
-Why it works: Encourages quick thinking and repetition.
How to Play:
Choose a target sound and say a word using it (e.g., “Rainbow” for R sounds).
Your child must quickly say another word with the same sound.
Keep going back and forth until someone runs out of words!
📌 Tip: For younger kids, use picture flashcards instead of thinking of words from memory.
5. Stuffed Animal Speech Practice
-Best for: Shy or hesitant kids
-Why it works: Removes pressure and makes practice feel playful.
How to Play:
Have your child teach a stuffed animal how to say their speech sounds.
Let them pretend to be the “speech teacher” and correct the stuffed animal’s mistakes.
📌 Tip: If they mispronounce a word, model the correct pronunciation naturally instead of correcting them directly.
6. Tongue Twister Challenge
-Best for: S, R, L, SH, CH, TH sounds
-Why it works: Improves fluency and strengthens mouth coordination.
How to Play:
Start with easy tongue twisters and say them slowly and clearly:
For S: “Silly snakes slither south.”
For R: “Red robots race rapidly.”
Gradually speed up as your child gets better!
📌 Tip: Record your child saying the tongue twister and play it back so they can hear their progress.
7. Play-Doh Speech Shapes
-Best for: Any articulation sound
-Why it works: Combines hands-on play with speech practice.
How to Play:
Have your child mold a Play-Doh object that starts with their target sound.
When they finish, they must say the word correctly before moving on.
📌 Tip: Make it interactive—guess what they’re making and repeat the word together!
8. Speech Sound Bowling
-Best for: Any articulation sound
-Why it works: Adds movement and excitement to speech practice.
How to Play:
Tape pictures or words with the target sound onto plastic bowling pins or empty bottles.
Have your child say the word before rolling the ball.
When they knock the pins over, they must say the word again correctly.
📌 Tip: If you don’t have bowling pins, use stacked cups or soft toys.
9. Bubble Blowing and Sound Practice
-Best for: S, SH, CH, TH sounds
-Why it works: Strengthens breath control and oral motor muscles.
How to Play:
Blow bubbles and stretch out the target sound as they pop (e.g., “Shhhhhhh!” for SH sounds).
Encourage your child to imitate the sounds while blowing bubbles.
📌 Tip: Use a straw or pinwheel to strengthen oral muscles while making speech sounds.
10. Digital Speech Games and Apps
-Best for: Kids who love screens
-Why it works: Provides engaging, interactive practice.
Fun Speech Apps:
Articulation Station – Helps kids practice target sounds through interactive games.
Speech Blubs – Uses AI and facial recognition to encourage speech imitation.
Speech Tutor – Shows animated mouth movements to teach sound production.
📌 Tip: Use screen time wisely by reinforcing speech sounds with real-world conversation afterward.
Bonus: How to Keep Speech Practice Fun and Motivating
Make it short: 5-10 minutes of focused practice is more effective than long sessions.
Use rewards: Create a speech sticker chart or let your child earn small prizes.
Be patient: Celebrate small improvements and focus on effort, not perfection.
Integrate speech practice into daily life: Talk about target sounds during meals, car rides, or bedtime stories.
Final Thoughts
Articulation practice doesn’t have to feel like a chore—by using games, movement, and creative activities, your child will stay engaged and motivated while improving their speech.
If your child continues to struggle with pronunciation despite home practice, speech therapy can provide expert guidance and structured support. Reach out to us today for a free online evaluation to help your child build clear, confident speech!