Understanding my child

I can’t understand my child’s speech? How can I help?

Learning to produce speech sounds correctly is a gradual process. Most children will learn to speak properly as they get older but some may need help. Remember:

• By age 2, you will have a hard time understanding what your child says. He/she should be understood 40% of the time.
• By age 3, your child may not say all words perfectly. He/she should speak clearly enough to be understood 60% of the time by you and your family.
• By age 4, your child should be able to produce most sounds correctly but may still have trouble with “s, z, th, r, l”. He/she should speak clearly enough to be understood most of the time by familiar and unfamiliar listeners.

How to help:

• Look at your child when he/she talks.
• Praise your child’s efforts to talk.
• Focus on what your child says and not how he says it.
• Watch for eye movements or gestures that might help you understand what he/she is saying.
• Provide good pronunciation examples by speaking slowly and clearly
• Use gestures and actions.
• Play with sounds like “a cow says mooo.”
• Encourage your child to play with other children.
• Never let anyone make fun of the way your child talks.

Find a printable version here.