How can i help my 5-year old daughter to start pronouncing her r's?

Question

she seems unable to say r, and occasionally some other letters and sounds. am i right to be concerned, is there anything i can do to help?

Answer 1

To help with pronunciation:
1. Make certain you and your spouse, if you have one, are NOT using any local inflections, pronunciations, or speech habits that would affect her.
2. Put three words she has trouble with on construction paper with big block letters and prett colors. Put it on the fridge at her eye level. (Use one syllable words to start).
3. Each time you and she pass the fridge, or at least three times a day, both of you practice proper pronunciation of the word.
4. Explain to her how you form your jaw to make an "R" sound -- where you put your tongue, etc. Do this each time you practice.
5. Repetition, repetition, repetition. Two times, per day, three times per day, five times per day. I keep thinking you're a male parent, which you may not be, but approach this as you would if it was you learning a new sport or taking a difficult class in school - you have to practice. For her, this is a difficult thing, but she may not know there is a problem, and her reaction to it will be modeled after how you approach it.
6. Failing to say the word properly is an attempt, and it counts, but she should know that "it wasn't quite right," and that you'll keep working on it.
7. Do NOT under any circumstances, which I am sure I don't have to tell you, make her feel inferior, stupid, or second-class because of her problem. And don't let other people do it either.

Young children, especially your daughter's age, are incredibly perceptive and if you or someone approaches the issue as if there is something terribly wrong, she may pick up that notion.

Some other things to do:

1. Get a phonics program/workbook or whatever. There are tons out there, go to your local bookstore.
2. Read to her nightly and be sure you are correctly pronouncing all the words. I particlularly recommend any of the Oz books by Baum -- they are great for children as they are entertaining, scary, fun, happy, and have subtle moral lessons.
3. Have her hearing checked. The "Ear Doctor" is a fun visit. No needles, pinching, or poking.
4. Contact your local school district and request further information on speach impediments. Educate yourself on it. Make some opinions, look for topic related clubs and support groups.
5. Exhale, and breathe regularly, this is (for most parents) something most kids work through.

Answer 2

At 5 years old your daughter is not expected to pronounce the "r" correctly 100% of the time. However, If you daughter is also pronouncing other sound incorrectly and it is interfering with others understanding what she is saying you may want to get her speech production evaluated by a Speech-Language Pathologist. At the age of 5 most of your daughter's speech should be clear and understandable with some exceptions, sounds like "s", "r" and "l" may come a little later, in some children as late as 9 years old.
Good Luck

Answer 3

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Answer 4

My daughter is 8 and still can't pronounce it. She has been taking speech since kindergarten. When she first started the speech therapist said she was going to work with her on the r's a little bit but for most kids the r's don't come until later. So basically it's normal!

Answer 5

She might just be unable to say her 'r's, I wouldnt worry too much, it will all come in good time. If you want reassurance call your health visitor, but I would let her carry on myself, perhaps just if she says a word where the r's are mis-prounounced, reiterate the sentance with the correct pronunciation , as if asking a question but dont dwell on it - she needs encourangement at that age, not picking up on incorrections - you will be un-intentionally making a bit issue out of something that will probs naturally sort itself out.

Just as an after thought - she doesnt have a slight hearing problem like glu ear or anything does she? It might be worth checking that out, just to be sure as well, although I would have thought that would be picked up on her pre-school health check.

Good luck mate.

Answer 6

I went through this as a child and eventually my school when I was in 2nd grade demanded I take special speech therapy to correct the problem. If you want to help simply sit down with your child and have them say a bunch of words with strong "r" sounds. Repetition is the key. It wont happen in a day but with practice it will come. Good Luck

Answer 7

Just practice with and correct her. I start very early with my kids (as soon as they are learning to talk), but it isn't too late to start now. If she still has problems when she is in school, they will have her meet with a speech therapist, usually once or twice a week. I needed that when I was a child. Remember, though, that for most children it is normal to have pronunciation issues at that age.

Answer 8

There are alot of different reasons why kids have trouble with some speech patterns. The Scottish Rite (an off-shoot group of the Masons, like the Shriners) have made it their philanthropic project and have numerous speech clinics throughout the U.S. They do speech evaluations and treatment and I believe it is all free (like the Shriner's childrens hospitals). Here is a link for info with a link to a directory of clinics. http://www.srmason-sj.org/council/philanthropy.html

Answer 9

Well my friends son coudnt pronounce his r's and it turned out he had to have an operation with his nose because of synesis or sumthing wen there nose is blocked up. This may not be the problem with your child however why not make an appointment with a speech therapist and they should help him out.

Answer 10

If you contact your child's Health Visitor or GP, they can arrange speech therapy sessions. Some speech problems arise from hearing problems. Just make an appointment. It's probably nothing, and all children do develop differently, but I would still get it checked, personally.