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jbachurski
Jul 102 min read

Speech Therapy & /K/ Sound: A Parent's Guide


Understanding the /K/ Sound

The /K/ sound is an essential milestone in your child’s speech development, typically acquired between the ages of 2 and 3. This sound, known as a velar sound, involves the back of the tongue lifting to touch the soft palate or velum. Unlike voiced sounds, the /K/ sound is voiceless, similar to a whisper. Sometimes, children might mistakenly produce the /G/ sound instead of /K/, but with the right techniques, you can help guide them to proper articulation.


Key Techniques to Facilitate the /K/ Sound

  1. Tongue Position Awareness The /K/ sound requires the back of the tongue to go up while the tongue tip remains low behind the teeth. This coordination can be tricky for young children. Visual and tactile prompts can be beneficial in helping them understand where their tongue needs to be.

  2. Using Food as a Tool A simple and effective way to help your child with tongue positioning is by using a small cracker or cereal. Place it behind your child’s bottom teeth and have them hold it in place with their tongue. This encourages the tongue to stay low while they attempt to produce the /K/ sound.

Practice Makes Perfect

Incorporate practice into daily activities to make learning the /K/ sound fun and functional. Here are some words you can use during mealtime, playtime, or even while watching TV:

  • Key (🔑)

  • Cup (🍵)

  • Cat (😺)

  • Kite (🪁)

  • Cold (🥶)

  • Car (🚗)

  • Comb (🪮)

  • Cake (🍰)

  • King (🃏)

  • Kangaroo (🦘)

  • Cow (🐄)

  • Candle (🕯️)

  • Cop (👮)

  • Carrot (🥕)

  • Coin (🪙)

  • Cook (🧑‍🍳)

  • Candy (🍬)

  • Scissors (✂️)

  • Cart (🛒)

  • Cookie (🍪)

  • Camera (📷)


Need Help?

If you have any questions or need further assistance with helping your child master the /K/ sound, feel free to reach out! Click the "contact" tab at the top or email me at jbachurski@speech-essentials.com.


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