By around 5-years-old your child should be able to appropriately produce the SH sound. This sound is heard in words like; sheet, tissue, and fish. A common substitution of this sound is /s/. For example, your child may say “seat” when attempting to produce sheet. This speech error can make it difficult to understand what your child is trying to say. Keep reading to find out easy tips to help your child appropriately produce the “sh” sound.
5 Tips to Produce SH Sound
- To make a good “sh” sound your child’s teeth should be closed, lips rounded, and air blown out through the middle of the mouth.
- You can have your child practice this sound in front of the mirror to see his lips rounded.
- Have your child practice making the “quiet sound” by putting his finger in front of his mouth while producing “sh”.
- Have your child start off producing the /s/ sound and then have him round his lips to help make the “sh” sound.
- Once your child is able to produce “sh” in isolation, have him practice the sound in syllables (she, shy, shoe, show, shah, shay).
Auditory Bombardment
Read these lists of words to your child as an auditory bombardment activity. (Auditory bombardment is an evidenced based practice which allows your child hear their target sound produced correctly numerous times in a short period of time) Emphasize the SH sound in the words. Have your child try to repeat the words using his good SH sound after you.
10 SH Sound Words in Initial Word Position
- Shout
- Sheet
- Ship
- Share
- Shin
- Shirt
- Short
- Shine
- Shop
- Shut
10 SH Sound Words in Medial Word Position
- Fishing
- Pushing
- Tissue
- Mushy
- Washes
- Cashier
- Lashes
- Flashes
- Flushing
- Dishes
10 SH Sound Words in Final Word Position
- Dish
- Push
- Fish
- Lash
- Cash
- Rush
- Rash
- Wash
- Mush
- Wish
Recommended Product
These cards are a great purchase to practice “sh” with your child in initial, medial, or final word positions. Once your child is able to produce “sh” in syllables, you can move onto practicing the sound in words. These cards are a great resource with wonderful visuals. You can use the cards in many different ways but try to get creative so your child does not get bored. Let your child pick a favorite board game. Before your child can take a turn in the game, have him label two “sh” cards using his good “sh” sound.
Remember, if you have concerns regarding your child’s speech skills, please contact a licensed speech language pathologist.
Buzz Speech 