Teaching Your Child to Say ‘L’

Many children struggle with the ‘L’ sound.  They will often substitute a ‘W’ sound instead.  You can teach your child to produce the ‘L’ sound by putting her tongue up behind her top teeth, where they meet the bony ridge of tissue called the Alveolar Ridge.  It’s helpful for the child to use a mirror when you are first teaching the ‘L’ sound.  Have her hold her tongue there for a second, then remove it and try again.  Once she has gotten used to putting her tongue in the right place, tell her to turn on the sound.  You could say, “Hum while you hold your tongue there,” and model it for her. 

 After she’s mastered that, tell her it’s time for the tongue to push off.  Show her how your tongue pushes against the ridge as you slowly say ‘La, la, la’.  

 Sometimes the kids go overboard when they are first learning to make the ‘L’ sound, and their tongue flips all the way out of their mouth.  That’s okay at first, but eventually encourage them to keep that tongue inside where it belongs.  Explain to them that if they keep their tongue up there close to the alveolar ridge, it will be easier and faster to say their words. Make sure they eventually get rid of the mirror when they practice so that they learn to put their tongue in the right place by ‘feel’.

Learning the ‘L sound will take lots of practice, but eventually it will become second nature!

Good luck!