8 Tongue Twisters to Help Your Child Pronounce the Letter R

8 Tongue Twisters to Help Your Child Pronounce the Letter R

Last update: 23 April, 2018

If your child has trouble pronouncing the letter R, in this article you’ll find 8 tongue twisters to help them.

It’s important for parents to pay attention to rhotacism, or difficulty pronouncing the letter R.

Some parents simply think that children will learn as they grow. But there is a very effective way to help correct this issue by using tongue twisters.

Causes of rhotacism or difficulty pronouncing the letter R

One of the causes of rhotacism is related to the use of pacifiers for a long period of time.

Another cause is that the child doesn’t know how to properly place their tongue in order to make the sound appropriately.

A third possible cause of this affectation is physical problems such as a frenulum of the tongue or cleft palate issues.

If this problem of mispronunciation isn’t corrected in time, it can condition their language and personality. It isn’t caused by psychological or mental issues.

It’s important to identify the cause of this problem with the help of a medical professional to find the best treatment method.

8 Tongue Twisters to Help Your Child Pronounce the Letter R

How is the letter R pronounced properly?

The sound R is formed by multiple alveolar vibrations; in other words, the tip of the tongue needs to vibrate in order to produce the sound correctly.

The pronunciation of this word may vary and require other parts of the mouth or tongue depending on the phonological system of each language.

Although it seems simple, for some children pronouncing the letter R can be a real challenge.

Parents and teachers can use tongue twisters as a tool to help children learn to pronounce the letter R. 

However, when the correction techniques aren’t properly focused, it can cause the child to correct their pronunciation without understanding the root of the problem.

What are tongue twisters?

Tongue twisters are short sentences created by the repeated pronunciation of a specific letter.

This spoken language technique is quite interesting because it can be a fun and helpful tool for parents to teach their children.

Tongue twisters force the proper positioning of the tongue while pronouncing certain sounds. Little by little the child will be able to pronounce these sounds spontaneously.

In addition, the frequency of the repetition promotes better tongue coordination.

8 tongue twisters to pronounce the letter R

Here are 8 well-known tongue twisters that will help your child pronounce the letter R properly:

  1. Rory’s lawn rake rarely rakes really right.
  2. A really leery Larry rolls readily to the road.
  3. Revelers revel in leveling levels. 
  4. Jerry’s jelly berries taste really rare.
  5. Ray Rag ran across a rough road. Across a rough road Ray Rag ran. Where is the rough road Ray Rag ran across?
  6. Rhys watched Ross switch his Irish wristwatch for a Swiss wristwatch.
  7. Ruby Rugby’s brother bought and brought her back some rubber baby-buggy bumpers.
  8. Round and round the rugged rocks the ragged rascal ran.

As you can see, the common denominator in all of these 8 examples is the use of the letter R.

8 Tongue Twisters to Help Your Child Pronounce the Letter R

How to use the tongue twister technique correctly?

Apply the following techniques with your child:

  • Dedicate a few minutes a day to your child for practicing pronunciation.
  • The allocated time shouldn’t be too long to prevent exhausting the child.
  • Perform the tongue twister activities like a game.
  • Consult your pediatrician for more useful information.
  • Be patient and congratulate your child on their progress.
  • As a parent strive to have good pronunciation.

In conclusion, your example, attention and love for your child will be the best motivation to help them deal with their pronunciation problems.

 


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.