Tongue Twister Speed Challenge
Practice classic tongue twisters — 'she sells seashells' — and time how fast you can say them clearly, building articulation and phonological awareness.
What You'll Need
- 1Paper with tongue twisters written out
- 2Timer or phone
What You'll Need
Paper with tongue twisters written out
A timer or phone
How to Play
Write 5-6 tongue twisters on cards or a poster.
Read the first one slowly together.
Try it at normal speed. Expect giggles.
Challenge: say it 3 times fast without mistakes. Time it.
Take turns. Who's fastest without stumbling?
Try harder ones: "Unique New York" or "Toy boat, toy boat."
Make up YOUR OWN: "Silly Sam sits on seven soft sofas."
Crown a champion.
Tips
Tongue twisters are a workout for the phonological system. They force your child's brain to rapidly distinguish between similar sounds (s vs. sh, p vs. b), which is the same skill needed for reading fluency.
Creating original tongue twisters is an advanced alliteration exercise. Your child has to think of multiple words starting with the same sound AND put them in a sentence that makes sense. That's impressive phonological work.
The competitive element (timing, speed) motivates practice. Children will repeat a tongue twister 20 times trying to beat their record — that's 20 reps of phonological practice they chose to do.
Start with 3-4 word phrases before moving to full sentences. "Red lorry, yellow lorry" is harder than it looks.
This is another perfect car game. No materials needed once kids know a few tongue twisters by heart.
Age Adaptation Tips
School-age kids can take more ownership. Let them lead the activity, experiment with variations, and explain what they learned.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 15 min, with 5 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: paper with tongue twisters written out, timer or phone.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 5-8 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors or outdoors?
This activity works great both indoors and outdoors, giving you flexibility based on the weather or your space.
How difficult is this activity?
This is an easy activity that requires minimal setup and supervision. Great for busy days or when you need something quick.
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