R Functional Games
Sentence Level Practice

Congratulations! You have made it to Sentence Level Games for R. At this stage, you are going to throw away your flashcards.

Throw away your cards because when your child sees "speech flashcards," he or she goes in to "speech mode." In "speech mode," your child remembers to say R correctly. However, when your child is not in "speech mode," he or she may not say the sound right.

Therefore, your child now must work on R during more "natural" games. This is how we transition all the great progress made so far into automatic, everyday speech!

I created games that naturally contain R words. To be successful with these games, make sure to incorporate as many R sentences as possible. Also, give appropriate verbal, visual, and tactile cues as needed.

My Best Practice Tips:

1. Remind your child that you are going to play a game and practice R at the same time. Everyone has to remember to use their good R sound! I like to do a quick "warm-up" and repeat a few R words for practice.

2. Introduce the target sentences and then practice them with your child before starting the game.

3. Incorporate as many repetitions of the target sentences as possible.

4. Make sure you, the parent, take turns during games. You have the opportunity to model the target sentence which has the power to accelerate the process.

5. Don't forget to give appropriate verbal, visual, and tactile cues as needed.

Lastly, remember to have fun!!


Functional Games

Running Race

Target Phrases/Sentences 

Let's race, 1..2..3..race, Ready...set...race!

How to Play 

Have a foot race with your child. Create a start and finish line. When all players are ready, have your child start the race with one of the phrases above. The best one is ready, set, race since it has 2 R/r/ sounds in it.

Example Script

  • Parent: Let's practice /r/ and have a race. Let's start at this tree and finish at the sidewalk.
  • Child: Yeah!
  • Parent: You must say ready, set, race with a good /r/. Remember that ready, set, race has 2 /r/ sounds.
  • Child: Ready, set, race!
  • Parent and Child: (run)


Write

Target Sentences

I wrote, I will write, I write, Please write

How to Play

If your child is practicing writing or has some writing work to do at home, ask your child "what did you write?" when he/she is finished. Have your child respond with either "I wrote____" or "I write." If your child really likes to write, you can take turns being teacher and student and tell one another "please write_____." 

Example Script

  • Parent: You did a great job with your writing. What did you write?
  • Child: I wote "I like school."
  • Parent: Good sentence, but say "I wrote" again and don’t round lips. 
  • Child: I wrote "I like school."

OR

  • Parent: Let's play school. You can be the teacher. Tell me what to write and don’t forget to think about /r/ when you say “write.”
  • Child: Write you name.
  • Parent: (parent writes name)
  • Child: Good work, now write the number 10.
  • Etc…

Paper Toss

Target Sentences

Toss the paper into garbage can, Squish the paper

How to Play

Get out scrap pieces of paper and an empty bucket. Take turns "squishing the paper" into balls. Once all the balls are made, take turns tossing the paper into the bucket saying "toss the paper" before each turn. 

Example Script: Squish the Paper

  • Parent: Let’s makes some balls out of paper
  • Parent: Squish the paper (makes a paper ball)
  • Parent: Your turn to make a paper ball. Say "squish the paper"
  • Child: Squish paper (squishes paper)
  • Parent: Good job, let's make some more!

Example Script: Toss Paper

  • Parent: Let's toss the paper into the garbage can
  • Parent: My turn, toss the paper into garbage can! (tosses paper into the garbage can)
  • Child: Toss paper into garbage can (tosses the paper into the garbage can)
  • Parent: Good job and good /r/!


Teacher Says

Target Sentence

Teacher says_____

How to Play

One person is the leader and gives a command, i.e. “teacher says touch your toes.” The other players have to follow the commands only if the leader says "teacher says.” If the command does not include “teacher says,” the other players are not to follow. If they do follow the command, they lose and everyone switches roles. Remember, your primary focus is to make sure your child says "teacher" with a correct /r/. 

Example Script:

  • Parent: Let's play "teacher says." You can start. Don't forget to use your good /r/ sound.
  • Child: Teacher says touch your toes.
  • Parent: (Touches toes)
  • Child: Teacher says spin around.
  • Parent: (spins around)
  • Child: Jump up and down.
  • Parent: (Jumps up and down)
  • Child: I didn't say teacher says, haha
  • Roles switch


Story Car Game

Target Sentences

In that car____, In the car____, The car is going to____

How to Play

While driving, someone points to a car. That person is the story teller. The storyteller has to create a story saying, "in that car____."

Example Script

Child: In that car, I see a mom and child.

  • Parent: That car is going to an amusement park.
  • Etc...Each player keeps adding to the story; however, the word car has to be in every phrase.


Reading Game

Target Sentences

This will depend on the book

How to Play

You will need a highlighter or sticky notes and a book. During story time with your child, have your child read a page out of a book while practicing /r/. Pre-marking each /r/ beforehand with a highlighter, pencil, or post-it at first is helpful. As your child improves, take away the markings.

Example Script

  • Parent: Let's read and practice/r/. First let's highlight all the /r/ words we can find and then let's read.
  • Child: Okay (parent and child highlight /r/ words)
  • Parent: We are ready! Let's get reading.


Meals

Target Words

Sugar, Fork, More, Burger, Rice, Etc...

How to "Play" 

This is not a game at all. Instead, be aware of all the /r/ words you or your child might say during meals. A sticker or tally system for every /r/ word pronounced correctly may be good motivation to remain concentrated for an entire meal. See if your child can beat their previous record!

Printable Games

What's Next

You've made it! If you want some more practice, check out some language worksheets.


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