Should I Correct My Child’s Speech Mistakes? What Helps (and What Doesn’t)

As a parent, it’s natural to want to help your child speak clearly. You might hear your child say “wabbit” instead of “rabbit” or “nake” instead of “snake” and wonder, Should I correct them? Will ignoring it make things worse?

Let’s explore what speech pathologists recommend when it comes to correcting speech mistakes, and how you can support your child’s communication in a positive and encouraging way.

What Helps:

1. Model the Correct Way Gently

Instead of saying “No, not wabbit, it’s rabbit,” simply repeat what your child said using the correct pronunciation. For example:

Child: “I see a wabbit!”You: “Yes, I see a rabbit too!”

This is called recasting. You’re showing them how it sounds without making them feel like they’ve made a mistake.

2. Praise Effort, Not Just Accuracy

Celebrate your child’s attempts at talking, even if the words aren’t perfect. Saying things like “I love how you’re telling me about that!” builds their confidence and keeps them motivated to try.

3. Give Them Time

Speech sound development happens gradually. Some speech patterns, like saying “w” for “r,” are still considered typical at certain ages. Pushing too early can lead to frustration. If your child is under 5 and only has a few sound errors, it may just be part of typical development.

4. Play With Sounds in a Fun Way

Use games, songs, and books to explore sounds together. For example:

●      Try animal sound games (“What sound does a rabbit make?”).

●      Emphasise key sounds in books (“That’s a sssnake! Look at that ssssss.”).

What Doesn’t Help:

1. Constant Correcting or Drilling

Stopping your child mid-sentence or asking them to repeat a word over and over can make them self-conscious. Speech should feel like connection, not a test.

2. Criticism or Comparing

Comments like “That’s not how you say it” or comparing to other kids (“Your brother says it right”) can discourage your child. We want them to feel safe and confident when talking with you.

3. Worrying Too Soon

Some errors are very common in young children. For example:

●      Saying “tat” for “cat” (a ‘fronting’ error)

●      Saying “poon” for “spoon” (a cluster reduction)

These often resolve on their own. However, if your child is hard to understand for their age, or their speech isn’t improving, it’s worth checking in with a Speech Pathologist.

Amy Cannon - Speech Pathologist at Kids Inspired