Welcome to the Speech Sound Activities video for the “th” sound as in thumb and think.
I'm Nancy, a pediatric speech-language pathologist with Alberta Health Services, 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 “th” sound, try the ideas in this video.
If you need more help, reach out to a speech therapist.
First, let's learn about this sound.
When the letters T and H are together, they make their own sound “th.”
You can tell your child TH makes the “th” sound.
When focusing on this sound, be sure to say “th.”
This sound is made when you stick your tongue out between your teeth and gently blow.
“th.”
When children are learning to talk, one of the most common mistakes is making the “t” sound instead of “th.”
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For example, they might say “tink” instead of think.
Another common mistake is making the “f” sound instead of “th.”
They might say “fumb” instead of thumb.
Your child might have difficulty with this sound at the beginning of words like Thursday, the middle of words like bathtub, and at the end of words like tooth.
If your child's having difficulty with “th,” they might also have difficulty with what we call the loud TH “th (voiced).”
“th (voiced)” is made in the same way, with the tongue sticking out between the teeth.
The only difference is that the vocal cords vibrate with “th (voiced).”
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Your child may say “d” instead of “th (voiced).”
They might say “dat” instead of that.
Since they are similar, you can focus on these 2 sounds at the same time.
Most children can make the “th” sound correctly by 7 years of age.
Now let's talk about how to help with the “th” sound.
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As you start to focus on this sound with your child, try to do it in a fun way.
When they make a mistake, don't correct them.
This could make them feel bad about talking.
Help your child learn 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 “th” sound.
You can use modelling, talking about the sound and pre-reading skills.
Start by modelling the “th” sound for your child.
This means emphasizing it and repeating it often in an activity.
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For example, say things like, “Wow!
Thank you.
Thank you for putting away your toys.
Thank you has our “th” sound.
“th,” “th.””
You can emphasize the sound by pausing before you say thank and say the sound a little longer.
You can also repeat thank you and say “th” a few times by itself.
You can also talk about the sound.
Talk about how the sound is made.
When you make the “th” sound you, stick your tongue out between your teeth and blow.
Or give it a name, like the TH sound because those letters make the “th” sound.
Or the tongue sandwich sound.
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 “th” like, “Three thick thorns pricked my thumb.”
Point out the sound to your child.
Say I hear “th” at the beginning of three, thick, thorns, and thumb.
You can also highlight rhyming words.
Say something that rhymes like, “I walk down the path, home to take a bath.”
Point out the sound to your child.
Say, “Path and bath.
They both have “th” at the end.”
There are 3 ways you can help your child see how “th” is made.
Try using a gesture, action, a mirror or letters.
First, you can add a gesture or action when you make the “th” sound.
Point to the tip of your tongue as you make the sound.
“th.”
You can also practice the sound in front of a mirror.
Do this with your child so they can watch how you make the sound.
“th.”
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Say things like, “Look at how I stick my tongue out between my teeth.”
You can also encourage your child to see the sound by using letters.
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Tell your child that T and H together say “th.”
Point to these letters as you read books or see them on signs.
Trace the letters with your finger, 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 of a sound activity is to have your child hear the sound correctly and see how the sound is made, 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] Let's brush our teeth.
Teeth has a “th” sound.
“th,” “th.”
When I make the “th” sound, I put my tongue between my teeth and blow.
“th.”
Look, this says tooth.
Tooth also has the TH sound at the end.
See, tooth.
“th.”
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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 to use a sound activity in play.
[Video example]
[Parent] Let's use the yellow thread.
Thread has the “th” sound.
When I make that sound, I put my tongue between my teeth and blow.
“th.”
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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 “th” sound.
Some books that work well to highlight the sound include Oh, The Thinks You Can Think, The Little Engine That Could, Would You Rather, Bedwick and the Big-hearted Moose.
Let's watch how to do this.
[Video example]
[Parent] I think I can, I think I can. I think I can.
Look at the letter T and H together.
They say “th” like think or at the beginning of thumb and thunder.
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Use a song, rhyme or finger play as a sound activity.
Make sure to emphasize key words.
Sing slow and use the gestures.
Use songs that repeat the “th” sound, like The Birthday Song, Brother John, The More We Get Together, Three Blind Mice.
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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 “th” 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 you need more help, we recommend reaching out to a speech therapist.
Keep watching this video series if you want to learn 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.
