Speech Therapy Kids: Fun Games for Clear Speech

The challenge:
Your child keeps their mouth open, and air isn’t properly warmed or filtered — the starting point of many future issues.

What we explain:
Our goal is to make nasal breathing automatic at rest — during play, reading, and sleep. We begin by helping your child feel airflow through playful exercises. Watch closely: does your child pinch their nostrils? Can they create a slow, smooth exhale?

Exercises:

“Smell the Flower”
Slow nasal inhale, hold for 1–2 seconds, slow mouth exhale. Repeat 3–5 times.

“Mirror Fog”
Breathe in and out through the nose to create mist on a small mirror. 5 times.

“Nose Train”
Fingers on the sides of the nose. Inhale through the nose, exhale softly while saying “choo-choo,” feeling vibration.

Reminder Game: “Lips Are Sleeping”
Gently remind your child during calm moments: “The lips are sleeping, the nose is working.”

Mini Gymnastics
Short sniffing inhales while clenching fists. 4 rounds of 4.

The challenge:
At rest, the tongue lies low or presses against the teeth — a major cause of open bite and interdental speech.

What we explain:
The correct “home” for the tongue is with its wide tip resting behind the upper teeth, gently lifted to the palate. This relaxed resting position is the foundation of proper swallowing.

“Find the Hills”
Explore the ridge behind the upper teeth with the tongue — that’s home.

“Mushroom”
Suction the tongue to the palate, open and close the mouth while holding. 5 seconds × 5.

“Elevator”
Tongue moves slowly from bottom floor to top floor (home). 5 times.

“Swings”
Alternate tongue position between upper and lower spots, first slowly, then faster.

The challenge:
Weak, open lips can’t support proper jaw and tongue position, leading to chin tension.

What we explain:
Our goal is to relax the chin and strengthen natural lip closure. Exercises are always done in front of a mirror — lips work, chin stays smooth.

“Elephant & Frog”
Lip tube → wide smile. 10 slow repetitions.

“Fence”
Hold a wide smile with closed teeth for 10 seconds.

“Stubborn Straw”
Hold a straw or cap using lips only (no teeth). 20–30 seconds.

“Air Battle”
Puff cheeks and gently press them with hands while holding air.

The challenge:
Tongue pushes between teeth, lips tighten, chin activates — reinforcing bite problems.

What we explain:
Proper swallowing is almost invisible: tongue rests in its home, teeth closed, lips relaxed, chin soft.

“Mushroom + Swallow”
Hold tongue suction, swallow saliva without lip or chin movement.

“Rolling the Pea”
Roll an imaginary pea along the palate, then swallow.

Food Practice
Small spoon of thick yogurt — gather with tongue, swallow calmly.

Water Practice
Hold water, lift tongue to home, swallow slowly along the center line.

The challenge:
Weak or tense chewing muscles, one-sided chewing, bruxism, jaw asymmetry.

What we explain:
Healthy chewing is symmetrical, calm, and coordinated. All jaw movements are smooth and pain-free.

“Polite Crocodile”
Slow, straight jaw opening — focus on symmetry, not width.

“Clock”
Small jaw movements side-to-side and forward-back.

“Strongman”
Gentle resistance exercises for opening and closing.

Food Training: “Little Squirrel”
Chew firm food alternately on each side with closed lips.

The challenge:
Clumsy fingers often reflect immature neural pathways connected to speech.

What we explain:
By activating the hands, we stimulate nearby speech centers in the brain. Precision, pinch strength, and tactile play are key.

“Strong Pinch”
Stretch a soft band using thumb, index, and middle fingers.

“Harvest Time”
Pick up beads or beans one by one using a pinch grip.

“Finger Massage”
Roll a spiky ball or pinecone between fingers.

“Guess the Object”
Find hidden toys by touch alone.

Finger Gymnastics with Rhymes

Bilateral Brain Exercise:
Classic Fist–Palm–Edge sequence, one hand, then both.