Watch on YouTube · More tips on the Speech by Katie channel
Does your child say "fink" instead of "think" or "dat" instead of "that"? The TH sound is one of the trickiest speech sounds in English — and one of the last to develop. You literally have to stick your tongue out between your teeth to make it, which is why so many kids substitute F, V, D, or T instead.
I'm Katie Tashkin, MS, CCC-SLP. These five tips are the same strategies I share on YouTube and with Tampa Bay families at home and virtually across Florida.
Who this helps: parents of kids roughly ages 5–9 working on the TH sound and articulation at home.
Tip 1: Know the two TH sounds
TH is actually two different sounds:
- Voiceless TH — "think," "thumb," "bath." No voice, just air.
- Voiced TH — "the," "this," "them." Your voice is on.
Have your child put a hand on their throat. Voiceless = no vibration. Voiced = vibration. Most kids learn the voiceless version more easily first — and knowing which target you're practicing makes home practice much clearer.
Tip 2: Make the tongue visible
The magic of TH is that you can see it. The tongue tip peeks out just between the upper and lower front teeth, and air flows over it. Practice in a mirror together. Make it silly — pretend you're sticking your tongue out and blowing air. Once kids see the placement, they can copy it. Visual feedback is especially powerful for younger children.
Tip 3: Start with the sound alone before words
Don't jump straight to "think" or "three." Start with just the sound: thhhh — hold it for about five seconds. When isolated TH is reliable, move to syllables: tha, thee, thi, tho, thu. Then single words. Rushing to words before the sound is solid often leads to sloppy productions that are harder to fix later. This sound is worth taking slow.
Tip 4: Address the most common errors specifically
Two error patterns show up most often:
- F/V substitution: "fink" for "think," "baf" for "bath" — teeth are close, but the tongue isn't coming out. Fix focus: tongue peeking out.
- D/T substitution: "dem" for "them," "dat" for "that" — tongue touches behind the teeth instead of coming through. Fix focus: airflow over the tongue.
The cue is slightly different for each pattern, so knowing which one your child does matters a lot.
Tip 5: Use a tongue depressor, popsicle stick, or straw
If placement is hard to feel, try a clean popsicle stick or tongue depressor lightly between the teeth as a guide. Have your child rest the tongue on top of the stick and blow air. That physical reference helps many kids "get" the spot. Once it feels right, remove the stick and try again. A straw can also help teach directed airflow before transferring to TH.
When to get extra support
TH often develops between ages 5 and 8, so there's usually no need to panic. Consider a free consult if:
- Your child is over 8 and still struggling with TH
- You're seeing errors across multiple sounds
- Speech is hard for others to understand
- You want a clear, personalized practice plan
Learn more about speech & articulation therapy, or schedule a free 15-minute consultation. Step Up For Students scholarships accepted. Related tips: R sound · SH sound · S sound.