Beyond Baby Talk: How Sound Shapes Your Child’s Literacy Journey

Articulation is how we make speech sounds using our mouth, tongue, lips, teeth, and voice. It's what helps us speak clearly but it also does much more than that.

Many people think articulation is just about how well a child speaks. But it actually plays a big role in how children learn, read, spell, and interact with others.

Let’s break it down.

1. Being Understood in Every Setting

Whether a child is participating in class, playing with peers, or talking at home, being understood matters. If they have difficulty producing certain sounds like saying “tat” instead of “cat” or “wabbit” instead of “rabbit” it can interfere with how well others understand them.

Over time, this can affect:

• Classroom participation

• Peer relationships

• Confidence and willingness to speak

Clear articulation allows children to express themselves accurately and be fully included in everyday conversations and interactions.

2. How a Child Says a Sound Affects How They Hear, Read, and Spell It

When a child consistently mispronounces a sound, it can shape how they process and remember that sound. This can influence how they read, spell, and write.

For example:

• A child who says “fumb” for “thumb” may write “fumb” when spelling.

• A child who omits ending sounds may struggle to break words apart, rhyme, or blend sounds for reading.

  
  

These challenges often show up in:

• Phonics development

• Spelling accuracy

• Reading fluency

• Writing and composition

  
  

That’s because articulation is closely linked to phonological awareness the ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds in words which is a core skill in early literacy.

Articulation Therapy

Understanding the Bigger Picture

Articulation therapy doesn’t just help a child sound better it builds the building blocks for reading, spelling, and writing. Strong articulation supports strong language development, and that’s foundational for academic success and confident communication.

When articulation is addressed early and effectively, children are better equipped to learn in school, express their thoughts clearly, and engage socially with the people around them.

Because at Speech World, we believe communication is life.