Some sounds are harder to say than others, so we don't tend to hear children say them until they're older. Knowing WHEN sounds typically develop will ensure that you're not expecting too much of your little one. Children are developing their speech sounds from the moment they start babbling, and it's totally normal for children to still be learning some of the trickier sounds up to ages 6 or 7. This post will help you understand the order sounds typically develop.
The EARLY 8 typically develop between the ages of 1 and 3. We'd expect a 3 year old to be using these sounds correctly consistently at the start, middle and end of words.
🐝 B as in "bee"
🐕 D as in "dog"
🐷 P as in "pig
🙂M as in "me"
👩👩👧👧 W as in "we"
👎 N as in "no"
🙋♀️ H as in "hello"
👍 Y as in "yes"
THE NEXT NINE. Children can be developing these sounds anywhere between ages 1 and 6, though we'd typically expect most children to have mastered them between age 4 and 5.
To master a sound, children must be able to say these sounds consistently at the start, middle and end of words. Note that the 'NG' sound isn't found at the start of words in English but IS in Te Reo Maori. The /L/ sound isn't often pronounced at the end of words in NZ English.
☕️T as in "tea"
🐈K as in "cat"
👩⚕️G as in "girl"
🐠F as in "fish"
🚛V as in "van"
🦒J as in "giraffe"
🍋L as in '"lemon"
🧀CH as in "cheese"
💍NG as in "ring"
THE LAST LOT. Children can be developing these sounds anywhere between ages 1 and 8, though typically we'd expect most children to have all of these mastered before age 7. The /R/ sound isn’t often pronounced at the end of words in NZ English (unless you roll your r's like those from Southland typically do).
🧦S as in "sock"
🐁R as in "rat"
🦒Z as in "zoo"
🦈SH as in "shark"
📐ZH as in "measure"
💭TH as in "think"
⬅️TH as in "there"
Yes - there are two types of 'th'! One is voiced and one is voiceless. Try saying the 'th' from 'think' on its own - it's really quiet and whispery. Now try saying the 'th' from 'there' on its own - it vibrates and it's noisy!
Has your little one mastered any of these? Sooner or later than expected? Let me know in the comments 👇👇