My name is Nancy.

I'm a pediatric speech-language pathologist, also called a speech therapist.

In this video, you'll learn how to use the ideas and activities from the Supporting your child's speech video series.

You'll find these strategies easier to use if you watch that video series first.

If you've noticed your child's having difficulty with the “k" sound, try the ideas in this video.

If you need more help, talk to a speech therapist.

First, let's learn about this sound.

In the alphabet, “k" is represented by the letters K and sometimes the letter C.

For example, a word like cookie has a “k" represented by both a C and K.

You can tell your child K and C make the “k" sound.

When focusing on this sound, be sure to say “k," not K.

This sound is made when you lift the back of your tongue up to the roof of your mouth and keep the tip of your tongue down.

Then you release a burst of air, “k."

When children are learning to talk, the most common mistake is making the “t" sound instead of the “k" sound.

[Animated video clip plays with no audio]

For example, they might say “t" for “k."

This happens because children lift the front of their tongue, or the tongue tip, rather than the back.

Your child might have difficulty with this sound at the beginning of words like key, in the middle of words like monkey, or at the ends of words like duck.

If your child's having difficulty with “k," there's a good chance they're having difficulty with “g" too, so listen for this sound.

Most children can make the “k" sound correctly by 4 years of age.

Now let's talk about how to help with the “k" sound.

[Animated video clips play with no audio]

As you start to focus on the sound with your child, try to do it in a fun way.

When they make a mistake, don't correct them.

This can make them feel bad about talking.

Help your child learn “k" by using sound activities.

A sound activity is a short time when you highlight the sound for your child.

The goal is to create sound awareness.

You create sound awareness by helping your child hear the sound and see how the sound is made.

There are 3 ways you can help your child hear the “k" sound.

You can use modelling, talking about the sound, and pre-reading skills.

Start by modelling the “k" for your child.

This means emphasizing it and repeating it often in an activity.

[Animated video example]

For example, pretend to bake with Play-Doh.

As you play, say things like, “Let's bake a cupcake.

Cake has our “k" sound."

“k," “k," k."

Notice in this example how you can emphasize the sound by pausing before you say “k" and say the “k" a little louder.

You can also repeat cake and say “k" a few times by itself.

You can also talk about the sound.

Talk about how the sound is made.

When you make your “k" sound, you lift the back of your tongue, and you keep your tongue tip down.

Then you make a puff of air.

You could also say that the “k" sounds like coughing [coughs], or give it a name, like the quiet back sound because we make it in the back of our throat, or the coughing sound because it sounds like a cough.

The last way you can help your child hear the sound is to use pre-reading skills.

Like alliteration and rhyming.

Alliteration means to say many words that start with “k," like the clever cow can fly a colorful kite.

Point out the sound to your child.

Say, “I hear the “k" at the beginning of clever, cow, can, colorful, and kite."

You can also highlight rhyming words.

Say something that rhymes like, “Take a look, in my book, so that you can learn to cook."

Point out the sound to your child.

Say, “Look, book, and cook.

They all have “k" at the end."

Sound activities are also a chance to help your child see how the sound is made.

There are 3 ways you can help your child see how the “k" is made.

Try using a gesture or action, a mirror, or letters.

First, add a gesture or action when you say the “k" sound.

You can point to your throat, “k."

Or you can tap upwards like you're trying to lift the back of your tongue.

“k."

[Animated video example]

You can also practice the sound in front of a mirror.

Do this with your child so they can watch how you make “k."

Say things like, “Look how I keep my tongue tip down.

“k."

You can also encourage your child to see the sound by using letters.

Tell your child the letter K says “k," and sometimes so does C.

Point to these letters as you read books or see them on signs.

Trace the letters with your fingers, count the letters, or draw the letters in the air or on paper.

You can also highlight the letters in words with a marker.

When using sound activities, your child may or may not copy you.

If they copy you, they may or may not be able to make the sound correctly.

The goal is to have your child hear the correct sound, not to put pressure on them to say it.

Let's look at how to use sound activities throughout the day.

You can use a sound activity in a daily routine like dressing, bedtime, or getting ready for school.

Let's watch how to use a sound activity in a daily routine.

[Video example]

[Parent] That's a colorful shirt.

Colorful has a quiet back sound.

“k," “k," “k"

Look in the mirror and notice how my tongue tip stays down.

“k," colorful.

[End video]

You can also create a sound activity during play.

This can be any type of play, including play with games or toys.

Let's watch how this parent uses the game Candyland to create a sound activity.

[Video example]

[Parent] Candy.

That's our “k" sound.

“k," “k," candy.

I lift the back of my tongue to the roof of my mouth.

Look at the letter, C.

C says “k."

[Child] “k."

[End video]

Include sound activities while reading books.

Books work well for sound activities because they repeat words and use alliteration and rhyme.

Use the print in the book to help your child see the sound.

Look for books that repeat words with the “k" sound.

Some books that work well to highlight the “k" sound include, Kiss the Cow, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, One Duck Stuck, and I Went Walking.

Let's watch how to do this.

[Video example]

[Parent] On Saturday, the caterpillar ate through one whole cupcake.

Caterpillar and cupcake have the “k" sound.

We make “k" in the back of our throat.

We call it the back sound.

[End video]

Use a song, rhyme, or finger play as a sound activity.

Make sure to emphasize keywords, sing slow, and use the gestures.

Use songs that repeat the “k" sound, like The Hokey Pokey, The Cat Came Back, Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar, and Hickory Dickory Dock.

Let's watch how to do this.

[Video example]

[Child] Who stole the cookie from the cookie?

Yeah?

[Parent] Cookie.

Cookie has the “k" sound.

“k," “k," cookie.

[End video clip]

Include sound activities throughout the day, however they work best for you and your child.

There's no specific way to use sound activities, simply use the strategies to hear and see the “k" sound that fit the activity you choose.

The most important part is to keep it fun and with no pressure.

These ideas will get you started, but if your child needs more help, we recommend reaching out to a speech therapist.

Keep watching our video series if you want sound activity ideas for another speech sound.

[Outro]

Find information, support, and services for you and your child by clicking on the link in the description.​