By, Mary Williams-Anderson

Does your child have difficulty correctly producing particular sounds in connected speech? If so, then they may be struggling with an articulation disorder. Flash cards and drill activities can quickly become repetitive and boring for children. Here are several activities that will have your child asking you to practice their sounds:

1. Bowling-print out flash cards or words that contain their target sound (the sound that they are working on) and tape them to empty 2 liter bottles. When your child knocks down the “pin” they will produce the target word using correct articulation.

2. Bean Bag Toss: line up flash cards or words, that contain the child’s target sound and take turns throwing bean bags at cards. When they land a bean bag on a card, they can produce the target word using correct articulation.

3. Simple Card Games: such as Memory or Go Fish, buy or print out and laminate flash cards containing your child’s target sound.

4. Treasure Hunt: Involve other family members if possible and see who can find the most things that begin with the target sound. Make up your own “house rules” to make it more fun.

5. Magnet Fishing: attach a string with a magnet to a stick. Make small picture or word cards with the target sound. These can be fish-shaped, but they don’t have to be. Put a paper clip or staple at the top of each card. Take turns “catching fish” and naming the pictures or reading the words.