/sh/

A few simple steps to teach the child where to place his/her tongue, jaw, lips and teeth for a good SH sound include:

  1. Have your child part his/her lips slightly
  2. Then touch your child’s tongue with a tongue depressor or his/her toothbrush just behind the tip of the tongue. Have him/her place the part of the tongue just touched on the roof of the mouth just behind the “bumpy part.”
  3. Next, have the child lower his/her tongue just a little. You may need to use a tongue depressor or popsicle stick to help your child lower it slightly.
  4. Finally, have your child hold this position, pucker his lips and breathe out through his mouth.

Provided your child has the oral motor capabilities and cognitive ability to follow these instructions this should produce a nice SH sound.

Shaping

If your child can produce a good /s/ sound or a good “ee” sound we can shape/teach the SH sound starting from one of these sounds.

SH from /s/

  1. Have your child say /s/ (ssssssssss).
  2. While you child is saying the /s/ sound have them pucker their lips slightly and move their tongue back slowly until you hear a good SH sound.

SH from “ee”

  1. Have your child say “ee.” Then have them say “ee” in a whisper with no voice.
  2. While whispering the “ee” sound have your child move their lips into a pucker position. This should result in a SH sound.

Be liberal with praise and stickers, stars, and other rewards. When you read point out all the correct words that begin with /sh/ and emphasize the correct pronunciation of those words.