There are 2 parts to word practice:
Start with drill practice in order to teach your child how to say K correctly in words. Make sure to target K in the initial, medial, and final position.
Once your child can name or repeat most words correctly, move to the Flashcard Games.
Have Fun Practicing!
Drill practice is exactly what is sounds like….drill practice. It is the time to practice, practice, and then practice some more. Now is also the time to experiment with which tactile, verbal, and/or visual cues work best for your child. Since, most likely, your child is young, drill practice needs to be short and possibly play based.
Materials: You have 3 options
Initial
Medial
Final
Kick
Ankle
Rock
Can
Thank You
Back
Cap
Ice Cream
Kick
Cave
Backpack
Bank
Candy
Soccer
Link
Coat
Biking
Cake
Kids
Looking
Backpack
Cake
Baking
Bike
Car
Bacon
Music
Catch
Chicken
Snack
Kiwi
Pumpkin
Cook
Key
Napkin
Lick
Cookie
Jacket
Shake
Kite
Cheek
Color
Taco
Duck
Carrot
Vacuum
Hike
Cold
Weekend
Magic
Cool
Vacation
Plastic
Cow
Uncle
Traffic
Card
Checkers
Sidewalk
Print, save, or make materials now
How To Practice: (3 options)
Tips:
Once your child is saying at least 80% of these words correctly, quickly move on to flashcard word games. They are more functional and increase your chances of carry over!
Practicing the K sound during games is an important step for carryover of progress. Your child has to remember to say their newly learned way of saying K while being slightly distracted by a game. The distraction encourages your child to move their new motor habit to their automatic/procedural memory (this is the end goal after all!)
Materials: K Pictured Flashcards
Please print out the cards you would like to use or make your own!
How To Practice: You will use your flashcards in a variety of different card games. Each game is very simple. The most important thing to remember is that you are there to get in as many repetitions of the target sounds as possible. The rules do not necessarily matter. I encourage you to invent your own as you go!
I attached ideas on how to practice at the phrase, sentence, and conversation level. Therefore, if your child is doing a good job at the word level, try the next one and so on.
If you want some more information on different levels of practice, please click here for more information.
Materials: Flashcards
How to Play: Lay all the flashcards on the table face down. Take turns turning over 2 cards at a time. SAY THE WORD ON THE CARD WITH EACH TURN. This is where you will get your speech therapy practice. If a player finds a match, he or she gets another turn. The person with the most matches wins.
Word Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in just words, then you and your child will practice simply saying the words on the cards. Don’t forget to use cues given to you by your child’s speech therapist to help your child say the sounds correctly while playing.
Phrase/Sentence Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in phrases or sentences, use the carrier phrase listed below with each turn. This means, every time your child or yourself takes a turn, the phrase below must be said.
Carrier Phrase: "I found (flashcard)," "I see (flashcard) ," (flashcard) and (flashcard) are (not) a match"
Conversation Level: Simply play the game with your child! There aren’t any rules on what sentences have to be said. Just pay attention to your child’s production of their target sound in all words (not just when naming the pictures on the flashcard) and give appropriate feedback.
Materials: Flashcards, Flashlight
How to Play: Tape flashcards to a wall, preferably a small room like a bedroom or a bathroom. (Make sure the tape won't take off the paint first!) Then, turn off the lights. Have fun shining the flashlight on the wall to find the taped up flashcards. Name the pictures as you find them.
Word Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in just words, then your child will practice by only saying the words on the cards. Don’t forget to use cues given to you by your child’s speech therapist to help your child say the sounds correctly while playing.
Phrase/Sentence Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in phrases or sentences, use the carrier phrase listed below with each turn. This means, every time your child or yourself takes a turn, the phrase below must be said.
Carrier Phrase: "I see (flashcard)," "I found(flashcard)"
Conversation Level: Simply play the game with your child! There aren’t any rules on what sentences have to be said. Just pay attention to your child’s production of their target sound in all words (not just when naming the pictures on the flashcard) and give appropriate feedback.
Materials: Flashcards, Coin
How to Play: Turn over all the flashcards on a table. Under one card, hide a prize. This could be a piece of paper, sticker, or coin. Have your child turn over each card, one by one, in order to find the prize. SAY THE NAME OF THE CARD with each turn.
Word Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in just words, then you and your child will practice simply saying the words on the cards. Don’t forget to use cues given to you by your child’s speech therapist to help your child say the sounds correctly while playing.
Phrase/Sentence Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in phrases or sentences, use the carrier phrase listed below with each turn. This means, every time your child or yourself takes a turn, the phrase below must be said.
Carrier Phrase: "I see (flashcard)," "I found (flashcard)"
Conversation Level: Simply play the game with your child! There aren’t any rules on what sentences have to be said. Just pay attention to your child’s production of their target sound in all words (not just when naming the pictures on the flashcard) and give appropriate feedback.
Materials: Flashcards
How to Play: Place the cards on the floor and have your child step on each one. As he or she steps on the card, have your child say the word. That's it! It is a simple and quick game, but yet very motivating for many children.
Word Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in just words, then you and your child will practice simply saying the words on the cards. Don’t forget to use cues given to you by your child’s speech therapist to help your child say the sounds correctly while playing.
Phrase/Sentence Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in phrases or sentences, use the carrier phrase listed below with each turn. This means, every time your child or yourself takes a turn, the phrase below must be said.
Carrier Phrase: "I see (flashcard)," "I stepped on (flashcard)"
Conversation Level: Simply play the game with your child! There aren’t any rules on what sentences have to be said. Just pay attention to your child’s production of their target sound in all words (not just when naming the pictures on the flashcard) and give appropriate feedback.
Materials: Flashcards
How to Play: Crumple each flashcard into a ball. Throw a crumpled card to your child. Have your child catch it, open it, and say the word. Take turns crumpling and throwing. It is important for adults to take turns as well since they model the correct production of the target sounds.
Word Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in just words, then you and your child will practice simply saying the words on the cards. Don’t forget to use cues given to you by your child’s speech therapist to help your child say the sounds correctly while playing.
Phrase/Sentence Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in phrases or sentences, use the carrier phrase listed below with each turn. This means, every time your child or yourself takes a turn, the phrase below must be said.
Carrier Phrase: "I caught (flashcard)," "I threw (flashcard)," "I dropped (flashcard)"
Conversation Level: Simply play the game with your child! There aren’t any rules on what sentences have to be said. Just pay attention to your child’s production of their target sound in all words (not just when naming the pictures on the flashcard) and give appropriate feedback.
Materials: Flashcards, Bean Bags
How to Play: Place cards on the ground face up. Take turns tossing bean bags at the cards and see which one you can hit. Once a card is hit, the player must name the card with their good sound.
Word Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in just words, then you and your child will practice simply saying the words on the cards. Don’t forget to use cues given to you by your child’s speech therapist to help your child say the sounds correctly while playing.
Phrase/Sentence Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in phrases or sentences, use the carrier phrase listed below with each turn. This means, every time your child or yourself takes a turn, the phrase below must be said.
Carrier Phrase: "I hit (flashcard)," "I want to hit (flashcard)"
Conversation Level:
Simply play the game with your child! There aren’t any rules on what sentences have to be said. Just pay attention to your child’s production of their target sound in all words (not just when naming the pictures on the flashcard) and give appropriate feedback.
Materials: Flashcards
How to Play: Place flashcards on the ground and space them out. Tell your child that each card is a pretend rock in a shallow pond. Everyone has to jump from card to card while being careful not to get wet, wink wink ;) Make sure to name the card that you jump on and have your child do the same.
Word Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in just words, then you and your child will practice simply saying the words on the cards. Don’t forget to use cues given to you by your child’s speech therapist to help your child say the sounds correctly while playing.
Phrase/Sentence Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in phrases or sentences, use the carrier phrase listed below with each turn. This means, every time your child or yourself takes a turn, the phrase below must be said.
Carrier Phrase: "I jumped on (flashcard)"
Conversation Level: Simply play the game with your child! There aren’t any rules on what sentences have to be said. Just pay attention to your child’s production of their target sound in all words (not just when naming the pictures on the flashcard) and give appropriate feedback.
Materials: Flashcards
How to Play: Hide the cards around a room while your child counts to 20. When time is up, your child has to find the cards and name them as he or she discovers them.
Word Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in just words, then you and your child will practice simply saying the words on the cards. Don’t forget to use cues given to you by your child’s speech therapist to help your child say the sounds correctly while playing.
Phrase/Sentence Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in phrases or sentences, use the carrier phrase listed below with each turn. This means, every time your child or yourself takes a turn, the phrase below must be said.
Carrier Phrase: "I found (flashcard), "I am hiding (flashcard)"
Conversation Level: Simply play the game with your child! There aren’t any rules on what sentences have to be said. Just pay attention to your child’s production of their target sound in all words (not just when naming the pictures on the flashcard) and give appropriate feedback.
Materials: Flashcards, Toy Cars
How to Play: Get on the floor with your child. Place flash cards face up on the floor. Push cars towards the cards. When a car hits a card, the player must name it and keep it. The one with the most cards wins. If you use your imagination, there are many different ways to play this one!
Word Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in just words, your child will practice by saying the words on the cards. Don’t forget to use cues given to you by your child’s speech therapist to help your child say the sounds correctly while playing.
Phrase/Sentence Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in phrases or sentences, use the carrier phrase listed below with each turn. This means, every time your child or yourself takes a turn, the phrase below must be said.
Carrier Phrase: "Drive on (flashcard)," "Stop on (flashcard)"
Conversation Level: Simply play the game with your child! There aren’t any rules on what sentences have to be said. Just pay attention to your child’s production of their target sound in all words (not just when naming the pictures on the flashcard) and give appropriate feedback.
Materials: Flashcards, Envelopes
How to Play: Name the cards as you place them in an envelope. Each card gets its own envelope. Place the envelope in a real mailbox or on the floor. Then, you can even take turns "getting" and "opening" the mail! Name the cards as you pull them out of their envelopes.
Word Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in just words, then you and your child will practice simply saying the words on the cards. Don’t forget to use cues given to you by your child’s speech therapist to help your child say the sounds correctly while playing.
Phrase/Sentence Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in phrases or sentences, use the carrier phrase listed below with each turn. This means, every time your child or yourself takes a turn, the phrase below must be said.
Carrier Phrase: "Mail (flashcard)," "Send (flashcard)"
Conversation Level: Simply play the game with your child! There aren’t any rules on what sentences have to be said. Just pay attention to your child’s production of their target sound in all words (not just when naming the pictures on the flashcard) and give appropriate feedback.
Materials: Flashcards, Blank paper, Crayons
How to Play: Name the target words as you draw them.
Word Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in just words, then you and your child will practice by simply saying saying the words as you draw them. Don’t forget to use cues given to you by your child’s speech therapist to help your child say the sounds correctly while playing.
Phrase/Sentence Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in phrases or sentences, use the carrier phrase listed below with each turn. This means, every time your child or yourself takes a turn, the phrase below must be said.
Carrier Phrase: “I drew (picture),” “Look at my (picture)”
Conversation Level: Simply play the game with your child! There aren’t any rules on what sentences have to be said. Just pay attention to your child’s production of their target sound in all words (not just when naming the pictures on the flashcard) and give appropriate feedback.
Materials: 2 copies of each flashcard
How to Play: Mix up the flashcards and deal 3 cards to each player. Place the rest in the middle of the table face down. One player starts and asks anyone who is playing "(i.e., mom, do you have a ____(i.e., zipper)?" The player asking the question is trying to make a match with a card he/she has in his/her hand. If the player, in this case mom, has "zipper,” she gives it to her child. Her child makes the match and lays it on the table. Then, the next player asks another player for a card in hopes to make a match. Continuing with our example, if mom did not have "zipper,” she would say "keep looking." The child then would pick a random card from the center pile and add it to his/her hand. If the new card is a match, the child gets to lay the match down. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins.
Word Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in just words, then you and your child will practice simply saying the words on the cards. Don’t forget to use cues given to you by your child’s speech therapist to help your child say the sounds correctly while playing.
Phrase/Sentence Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in phrases or sentences, use the carrier phrase listed below with each turn. This means, every time your child or yourself takes a turn, the phrase below must be said.
Carrier Phrase: "Do you have (flashcard)?"
Conversation Level: Simply play the game with your child! There aren’t any rules on what sentences have to be said. Just pay attention to your child’s production of their target sound in all words (not just when naming the pictures on the flashcard) and give appropriate feedback.
Materials: Flashcards
How to Play: Get out a trash can or bucket. Crumple up the flashcards and take turns trying to throw them in the bucket. Don't forget to name the cards with each turn!
Word Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in just words, then you and your child will practice simply saying the words on the cards. Don’t forget to use cues given to you by your child’s speech therapist to help your child say the sounds correctly while playing.
Phrase/Sentence Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in phrases or sentences, use the carrier phrase listed below with each turn. This means, every time your child or yourself takes a turn, the phrase below must be said.
Carrier Phrase: "I am throwing (flashcard)," "I got (flashcard)"
Conversation Level: Simply play the game with your child! There aren’t any rules on what sentences have to be said. Just pay attention to your child’s production of their target sound in all words (not just when naming the pictures on the flashcard) and give appropriate feedback.
Materials: Flashcards
How to Play: Place flashcards on the ground and space them out. Challenge your child to jump from card to card as he or she names them.
Word Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in just words, then you and your child will practice simply saying the words on the cards. Don’t forget to use cues given to you by your child’s speech therapist to help your child say the sounds correctly while playing.
Phrase/Sentence Level: If your child is working on saying their target sound in phrases or sentences, use the carrier phrase listed below with each turn. This means, every time your child or yourself takes a turn, the phrase below must be said.
Carrier Phrase: "I got (flashcard)," "I jumped on (flashcard)"
Conversation Level: Simply play the game with your child! There aren’t any rules on what sentences have to be said. Just pay attention to your child’s production of their target sound in all words (not just when naming the pictures on the flashcard) and give appropriate feedback.
Once your child can say K during flashcard games, head on over to K Functional Games to solidify the generalization process! Your child will practice K without flashcards at this level.