How to encourage my 3 year old kid to speak clearly?

Question

My kid is turning 3 this nov and I find that he is getting more and more bored and I am desperate to indulge him in something useful and stimulate his over all development. He watches rhymes and tries to say it back but his speech isnt clear yet. He can only say words but not make any sentences. Otherwise he is a pretty normal kid who has reached all his milestones by now, he can say all the alphabets and numbers upto 10 and is potty trained too. He perfectly understands everything we say but his speech part is one thing that is not clear yet. Please guide me thro this and let me know how I can make him communicate effectively. Thank u so much in advance.

I am not the mom who expects miracles from her kid but I am planning to send him to a preschool and its just that I would be comfortable if he is able to convey what he wants to the teacher or the caretaker. I can totally understand what he means when he speaks gibberish but am not sure if other people can. What if he is hungry or is in pain...I may sound neurotic but I guess that comes with the package of being a mom:-)

Answer 1

Usually, by three a child makes sentences. Three-year-olds often don't speak clearly and distinctly. Sometimes they not only don't speak clearly but may have crazy sounding words for certain words, but usually they are able to have a conversation and put sentences together. I would not be concerned at all about a three-year-old who hadn't mastered sounding like a grown-up, but it may not hurt to mention to your pediatrician that he isn't yet putting sentences together.

This is only a guess, but I would think if you sit with him and read very simple stories to him (like the stories first-graders begin reading with) you could talk to him about what is happening. You could say, "The ball went behind the tree" and then say, "What happened to the ball?" If he doesn't make any effort to say, "Its behind the tree" or "There it is" and he only sayd, "Tree", you can say, "That's right. The ball went behind the tree."

Even when you're not reading, and when you're doing something like washing your dishes talk to him. Say, "Did you see where I left the soap?" If he says, "There", say, "So that's where it is. I left the soap on the counter." Keep giving him the sentences that he isn't able to offer on his own right now. It can't hurt, and maybe he will make the connection that there is more to say than just "there".

You could sit with him and play blocks or play with something like dollhouse people and do the same thing.

Make it a point to talk to him to get him engaged in the subject you're talking about, ask him questions that should get a simple answer but with a simple sentence, and then follow-up on his brief answer with the simple sentence that will show him the elaboration on his one word.

You don't have to put your face in his face or anything, but speak to him directly and to him only. Don't say things while you're doing something else and figure he's in the room, so he'll hear. Include him in whatever you do, and talk to him about everything you're doing.

One of the big things with learning to speak is mimicking and hearing and listening to what there is to mimick. First you have to make sure he's listening to you, then you have to engage him, then he'll give you his answer, and finally - now that's he's engaged and listening - you give him the simple sentence to mimick some time later.

Answer 2

First thing I would do is have his hearing checked out just to make sure that isn't the source of the problem.

From there I would just try working with him on his vocabulary.Or think about a speech therapist

I had a niece that seemed to hear fine, but it turns out that it was her hearing effecting her speech problem.

It could jut be a phase also. Maybe a little more time is all he needs. Some kids develop a little later than others.

Good luck...

Answer 3

It is totally normal to have a brilliant child who can't speak clearly. Dont' wait like I did......call your local school district and ask for a speech evaluation. I think at 3 years old "Early Intervention" will no longer handle his case, but the school district will. He may simply need a little speech therapy, and if he doesn't, then you will know and can stop worrying about it. If he DOES need it, then you will be doing him a big favor by catching a problem before he starts kindergarten. It doesnt' mean anything's wrong with him, lots of kids get speech and other therapy.

Answer 4

I recommend an excellent book - "Teach Me How to Say It Right: Helping Your Child With Articulation Problems" by Dorothy P. Dougherty. You can get it on amazon for $10. It will tell you what's normal, what's not, and give you specific exercises to encourage clear articulation of particular sounds/phoenems. It also has a helpful list of books which emphasize certain sounds (like The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats for pronunciation of "S"). It will also tell when it's time to get professional help (and how to get it). It's a really good resource.

Chances are, your child is doing just fine. Read to him as much as possible and talk in a way that encourages a descriptive response (not just yes/no answers).

Answer 5

Here's the best 3 ways to encourage your kid to speak clearly.

1 low bubbles then screw the lid on tightly

and hand it back to your child for their turn. Wait for them to request help with a a sign or a word. Model the sign or word if necessary.

Using these little tricks that require your child to communicate will teach your child the power of communication. They will learn very quickly that when they sign or say “out” they can go outside but if they simply cry by the door nothing happens. It is important to be quick with your reinforcement so your child will make the connection easily, for example if you are teaching your child to request “more cookie” be sure to have that cookie ready to put in their darling little hands right away. When your child points and grunts, or tantrums pay no attention at all, or be sure to explain that you don’t understand what they want even when you do. Then model an appropriate way to make the request.

2. Use tight containers to store things in.

When your child indicates he/she wants a cookie you might hand him/her the cookie jar (tightly sealed of course), when he/she can’t open it and hands it back to you make him/her sign open or help.

3. Play turn-taking games

such as rolling the ball back and forth, or pushing a car back and forth. Once your child expects another turn hold the car or ball and wait. Look at him/her expectantly if no sign or verbal request is made, model an appropriate request such as the sign for “ball,” the /b/ sound, the word “ball” or “ball please”…

Answer 6

Myabe you are expecting too much? He's not even 3 years old yet. He IS communicating effectively for a child his age. You're just trying to make him grow up before he is ready to. Leave him alone. Talk to him as you would normally talk to a person. If you don't understand something he says have him repeat it SLOWLY. But don't expect too much...he's only a little child.

Answer 7

My son is turning 3 in nov. also and kinda has the same problem. If he can say 2 or 3 word sentences then at his age that is fine. Don't correct him though b/c then he's going to fight you even more. For god knows what reason my son was calling "Chips" "juice" he knows perfectly well what "juice" is but for about 3 months instisted on calling his chips that well we just ignored him and gave him his chips and now he calls them chips like there suppose to be called. My point is if you stress your self out over it then he is going to feel the tension and get more tense himself.

Answer 8

Like the others stated, each child is different. However, if you are really concerned, your local school should have a "child find" program. This program is an early intervention program to find problems early and start services if required. At three, your son would just meet the age requirement for most schools.

Answer 9

Every child learns at their own pace. He may also have a slight speech problem that can be helped when he is school age, or possibly a speach therapist. But I think it is way too soon to be worried! He is a baby, let him stumble all over his words until he gets ready to speak clearly.

Answer 10

First don't compare him with other kids do not rush things.
Then boys normally take a little longer than girls to communicate.
Treat him normally and maybe speak slowly n clearly so that he can comprehend and repeat and understand.
Make sure he has many friends his age.