Tongue Twisters for Kids: An

Important Speech Development Tool

What are Tongue Twisters and their benefits?
Introduction
● Tongue Twisters are phrases or sentences which are difficult to
pronounce because of successive similar consonantal sounds.

● Tongue twisters are a great way to help the children learn a

language better. They enhance pronunciation skills.

● They positively impact the brain, which controls a child’s oral

and speech functions.
Why are Tongue Twisters difficult?
Tongue Twisters are difficult because:
● The execution capabilities of the
brain with regards to the
pronunciation of certain sequence
sounds is limited.
● Certain combinations of sounds
and phrases are particularly
difficult to be pronounced one after
the other. Example, Sounds ‘th’
and ‘sh’ are difficult to be said in a
sequence.
● In case of the famous “she sells
seashells” tongue twister, the s/sh
at the beginning are alternating in
one pattern and the e/l of the rest
of the word is alternating in the
opposite pattern. Our brain isn’t
simply designed to handle two
alternating patterns in the same
utterance.
How can Tongue Twisters help in Speech
development?
Speech Production has 3 major components:
● Initiation: Using Vocal tract to set the air in motion.

● Phonation: Airflow modification while it passes through

larynx for creating sound.

● Articulation: Refers to the manner in which the oral

muscles are shaped to produce desired types of sounds.
Tongue Twisters and Language Development for Kids
● Tongue twisters can help in exercising the child’s articulators as they
extend the muscles of the tongues.
● Tongue twisters are recommended by speech therapists to improve a
child’s consonant and vowel sounds.
● They can be an effective tool to master the second/foreign language
pronunciation.
● Practising the tongue twisters of a new language can help a child
sound more like its native speakers and quickly master accents.
 Finally,
● Regular practice of tongue twisters can
help improve the child’s Fluency and
Expression.
● This quote “Hard tongues mellow and
delicate tongues solidify, contingent
upon the words of Tongue Twisters”
beautifully encapsulates the benefits of
tongue twisters!
● Read more about benefits of tongue
twisters here. Also check out our
collection of funny tongue twisters in
English and Hindi.
Try out this World’s Toughest Tongue
Twister as per Guiness Book Of World
Record:
“The sixth sick sheikh’s sixth sheep’s sick”

Also, Check out this Trickiest Tongue

Twister in entire English language:
“Pad kid poured curd pulled cold”
 Key takeaways for Parents:
● Make sure the child understands the meaning of every word in the
tongue twister as well as what the tongue twister is trying to say.
● Tongue twisters should be selected keeping in mind the age of the
child as well as the difficulty level of tongue twisters.
● Tongue twisters can help children develop clearer pronunciation
and produce clearer speech patterns.
● It helps to overcome speech disorders like stuttering and
spoonerism.
“Twist a tongue, and tongue a twist how many twists
can a tongue twist around the twisting tongue.”

- Jazz Feylenn
Thank You!
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