Sound Sparks Practice Cards
Sound Sparks • Family Speech Cards
Part 1: Lip & Breath Sounds • Cut along dashed lines for home practice
Cut-Apart Cards 1–6
Lip Sound /m/ #01
"Mmm-mmm!" The Yummy Sound
Rub tummy when eating favorite food. Hold the sound long and smooth!
Parent Cue:
Press lips gently together. Hum through your nose. Say: "Mmm, more milk!"
Practice Stars:
★
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Pop Sound /p/ #02
"Pop! Pop!" The Bubble Pop
Blow real or pretend bubbles and pop them together with your fingers!
Parent Cue:
Trap air behind quiet lips, then release a puff! Put child's hand on your mouth to feel air.
Practice Stars:
★
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Voice Sound /b/ #03
"Buh-Buh!" The Bouncing Ball
Bounce a soft ball or bounce up and down on parents' knees!
Parent Cue:
Lips pop open like /p/, but turn on voicebox: "Buh, buh, bounce baby!" Feel throat buzz.
Practice Stars:
★
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Round Lips /w/ #04
"Whoosh!" The Windy Gust
Fly a toy plane or wave a silk scarf through the air together.
Parent Cue:
Make an 'O' circle shape with lips. Glide voice forward: "Www-wee! Water! Walk!"
Practice Stars:
★
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Warm Breath /h/ #05
"Hah-Hah!" The Happy Puppy
Pretend to be tired little puppies panting after running at the park!
Parent Cue:
Mouth stays relaxed open. Breathe warm air on child's palm: "Hhh-hot! Hi! Hat!"
Practice Stars:
★
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Open Vowels /ah-oo/ #06
"Ahhh-Ooo!" The Slide Coaster
Slide hands down a ramp or playground slide while shifting vowel shapes!
Parent Cue:
Drop chin wide for "Ahhh", then puckered small circle for "Ooo". Exaggerate jaw movement!
Practice Stars:
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Family Tip Get down at eye level so your child can watch your lips and tongue move!
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Sound Sparks • Family Speech Cards
Part 2: Tongue Tappers & Fun Noises • Cut along dashed lines
Cut-Apart Cards 7–12
Tongue Tap /t/ #07
"Tick-Tock!" The Clock Sound
Tap fingers on table like rain or swing arms back and forth like a pendulum.
Parent Cue:
Tap tip of tongue behind upper front teeth. Quick little tap! "T-t-toe! T-t-tap!"
Practice Stars:
★
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Voice Tap /d/ #08
"Duh-Duh!" The Drummer Beat
Beat on an empty pot or plastic tub with wooden spoons: "Boom, duh, duh!"
Parent Cue:
Same tongue spot as /t/, but turn vocal cords ON: "D-d-duck! D-d-doggy! Down!"
Practice Stars:
★
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Nose Hum /n/ #09
"Nnn-Zoom!" The Jet Plane
Spread arms like airplane wings and fly around the living room rug.
Parent Cue:
Mouth open slightly, tongue rests flat on roof of mouth. Hum: "Nnn-no! Nnn-night!"
Practice Stars:
★
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Back Sound /k/ #10
"Click-Clack!" The Camera Click
Make frame with fingers to snap pretend silly pictures of each other!
Parent Cue:
Tongue tip stays down behind bottom teeth. Back of tongue taps roof: "K-k-cup! K-k-cookie!"
Practice Stars:
★
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Animal Imitation #11
"Moo & Baa!" The Barnyard Crew
Cow says "Moo!", Sheep says "Baa!", Cat says "Meow!", Pig says "Oink!"
Parent Cue:
Animal noises are powerful speech stepping stones! Pair each animal sound with a toy figure or picture book.
Practice Stars:
★
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Vehicle Sounds #12
"Choo-Choo!" Little Engines
Train: "Choo-choo!", Car horn: "Beep-beep!", Race car: "Vroom!"
Parent Cue:
Push toy cars across the floor. Pause at the red light and wait for child's sound before saying: "GO!"
Practice Stars:
★
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Family Tip Celebrate attempts over perfection! If they make any joyful vocal effort, clap and cheer.
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Sound Sparks • Family Speech Cards
Part 3: Daily Routine Games & Sound Workouts • Cut along dashed lines
Cut-Apart Cards 13–18
Bath Routine #13
"Splash!" Water Fun
Tap the water: "Drip, drop!" Squeeze the sponge: "Squish, splash!"
Routine Cue:
Pour warm water over toes slowly while saying: "Down, down, splash!" Repeat every bath night.
Practice Stars:
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Snack Routine #14
"More!" Bite & Sip
Give small portions of crackers or fruit. Pause and wait for sound cue!
Routine Cue:
Hold snack near your mouth so they watch you speak. Model: "Eat!", "Crunch!", "Gulp!"
Practice Stars:
★
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Social Anticipation #15
"B-O-O!" Hide & Peek
Hide behind a blanket or hands. Wait 3 seconds with a big smiling face!
Routine Cue:
Whisper: "Where is baby...?" Wait for eye contact or any noise, then drop cloth: "BOO!"
Practice Stars:
★
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Oral Motor Play #16
"Mirror Faces" Mouth Gym
Stand together in front of the bathroom mirror and make funny faces!
Routine Cue:
Try 3 moves: 1) Big lion yawn (open jaw), 2) Fish lips (pucker), 3) Blow kiss (smooch sound: "Mwah!").
Practice Stars:
★
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Pitch & Voice Range #17
"Wheee-Down!" Pitch Rocket
Lift child high in air with high pitch voice, then lower down to toes!
Routine Cue:
Slide vocal pitch: High squeak: "Wheee!" (flying up) to low grumble: "Buummm" (landing on floor).
Practice Stars:
★
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Bedtime Calm #18
"Shhh..." Night Whispers
Tuck teddy bear into bed, whisper secret goodnights, and blow gentle sighs.
Routine Cue:
Finger to lips: "Shhh... quiet bear." Big happy bedtime yawn: "Ahhh... goodnight!"
Practice Stars:
★
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Daily Goal Pick 2 to 3 cards per day during natural play or meal times. 5 minutes is plenty!
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