Using Story Time to Practice Speech Sounds

Using Story Time to Practice Speech Sounds

By: Maggie Wade, M.S., CCC-SLP

Reading with your child is a great way to build vocabulary and language, but did you know you can also use story time to help with speech sounds? It’s a fun and natural way to support their progress without needing a ton of extra time or effort.

Here are some easy ways to practice during story time:

Listen for the sound (Auditory Bombardment)

  • Pick a book where your child’s target sound shows up a lot. If they’re working on the /k/ sound, try a book like A Cat in the Hat.
  • The goal here is simple: let your child hear their sound over and over, no pressure to say it, just listen!

Point out the sound

  • As you read, pause to highlight the sound. For example, “I heard the /k/ sound in cat!”
  • This helps your child notice the sound in everyday words.

Pay “I Heard It!”

  • Make it a game! Ask your child to raise their hand or point when they hear the sound.
  • To make it easier, only focus on sounds at the beginning of words.
  • For a challenge, try listening for sounds in the middle or end of words, too.

Go on a Sound Hunt!

  • If your child knows some letters, look for the letter that matches their sound. For example, if they’re working on the /s/ sound, look for words with “s.”
  • You can even make a tally of how many times that letter shows up in the book.

Let Your Child Be the “Expert”

  • Kids love catching adult mistakes!
  • Try reading a word incorrectly on purpose—for example, say “tat” instead of “cat.”
  • See if your child can spot the mistake and correct you.

When They’re Ready to Practice Saying the Sounds

Once your child can hear and recognize their sound (and maybe even correct your “mistakes!”), they may be ready to try saying it themselves

You can:

  • Practice saying the word on its own
  • Saw the whole sentence together
  • Make silly sentences with lots of their sound!

Most of All: Keep It Fun!

  • If your child seems frustrated or loses interest, it’s okay to pause and try again another time. Story time should feel playful, not like homework.

Using Story Time to Practice WH Questions

  • Reading stories with your child is a great way to sneak in some speech practice—especially WH questions. These include who, what, where, when and why.
  • If story time is already part of your day, this is an easy way to build language skills without adding anything extra to your routine.

Why Practice WH Questions?

  • Kids are asked questions all the time! It helps teachers, parents, and caregivers learn more about what they want and need. But for children with language delays or difficulties it can be hard to figure out the right answer, especially if the room is noisy or they’re distracted.
  • Books are prefect for this! When you’re reading together, your child is usually calm and focused. Plus, pictures in the story help them figure out the answers.

Easy Ways to Practice

  • Model it first: While reading, ask something like” Who is eating the cookie?” then point to the picture and say “The mouse is eating the cookie.” This sows our child how to answer, without pressure.
  • Point instead of answering: Let your child show you the answer by pointing, and you can say it out loud. If they’re not sure, point together!
  • Give choices: If your child needs help, give them two options. For example: “Is the god eating the cookie or is the mouse eating the cookie?”
  • Take turns asking questions: Kids love to be the “teacher.” Let them as you questions about the pictures—and have fun letting them correct you!

Tips to Make it Easier

  • Focus on one question at a time.
  • Before you ask, give a little hint: “Remember, who means a person,” or “What means a thing.”

Which Questions are Easiest?

  • Who and what are usually the easiest.
  • Where can be a little tricky (there may be more than one right answer—“on the swing,” “outside,” “at the playground”).
  • When can also be tough for the same reason—“at 9:00,” “in the morning,” “at breakfast”
  • Why is often the hardest, since it requires your child to think about cause and effect

Have fun with it! Keep things playful, take turns, and remember—it’s okay if your child doesn’t get it right every time. You’re building their confidence and communication skills one question at a time.

Story Time to Practice Prepositions

Story time is a perfect chance to sneak in a little extra language practice—especially prepositions! These are words that show relationships between:

  • Place (in, on, under)
  • Time (before, after, until)
  • Direction, (to, from, toward)

Why Are Prepositions Important?

  • Prepositions help children follow directions and answer questions.
  • If a child doesn’t understand words like under or next to, simple tasks like “Put your cup on the table” or “Where are your shoes?” can become confusing.

When Do Children Start Using Prepositions?

  • Around age 2, kids usually understand 1-2 step direction using simple prepositions (on, in).
  • Between ages 2-3, they begin to use prepositions in their own speech.
  • After age 3, children begin to understand and use more complex words like next to, behind, or between.

How to Practice Prepositions During Story Time

Here are some fun and simple ways to build preposition skills while reading together.

Model it First

While reading, point out where the character is

  • “The boy is on the chair.”
  • “The dog is under the table.”

Use simple, clear sentences as you point to the picture.

Ask Simple Questions

Start with easy questions like “who is next to the chair?”

Let your child point to the answer, and model the sentence back:

  • “Yes! The cat is next to the chair.”

Try “Where” Questions (for a challenge!)

If your child can answer who or what questions, try adding where. \

  • “Where is the toy?”
  • “Where is the boy?”

Give Choices

If you child needs a little help, give two options:

  • “Is the toy under the bed or on the bed?”
  • “Is the cookie on the plate or next to the plate?”

Let Them Be the “Teacher”

Kids love to flip roles! Let them ask your questions or quiz you about the pictures. Have fun pretending to get it wrong so they can correct you!

A Few Final Tips

  • Keep it playful and low-pressure.
  • Take turns and don’t worry about getting it perfect every time.
  • You’re helping your child build confidence and understanding, one step at a time.

If your child seems frustrated or tired, it’s okay to pause and try again later. Story time should feel fun—not like homework!

References

https://www.handyhandouts.com/viewHandout.aspx?hh_number=561

https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones/