How to practice L during bath time
How to make the L sound: Lift the tongue tip to the bump behind the top teeth.
Try this: Pour, splash, and name the toys, stretching the L sound in words like lion.
Words to practice: lion, leaf, and lamp.
Quick way to use this routine
Use bath time as a short, playful opportunity for the L sound. Do not ask for perfect productions over and over. Model the sound clearly, give your child a reason to try it, and move on while the interaction still feels good.
Five easy games
Try five tiny turns: a silly sound hunt, a choice between two L-heavy words, a pause before the fun part, a whisper/loud contrast, and one pretend-play moment where the L word actually matters. Keep each turn under a minute.
What counts as success
Success can be noticing the sound, watching your mouth, trying an approximation, using the word in play, or tolerating one more model than yesterday. For many kids, especially neurodivergent kids, regulation and participation come before crisp articulation.
When to ask an SLP
Ask an SLP if the L sound is still hard well beyond the expected age range, if your child avoids talking, if speech is difficult to understand across settings, or if sound practice causes stress. A clinician can separate articulation, phonology, motor planning, hearing, and language factors.
Related Little Words guides
- Speech Activities by AgeTopic hub
- L SoundBrowse all 25 articles
- Sound Practice in Daily RoutinesBrowse all 325 articles
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