Speech is a huge part of being human; it is how we communicate with others and express ourselves for the better. Despite being so important, this is a skill that people aren’t born with – they have to be taught how to from childhood!

Of course, we’re talking about speech that goes beyond the usual “mama!” or “dada!”. We’re talking about speech clarity – i.e. the ability to speak so clearly, that you have no trouble communicating and being understood. So how can you teach your little one how to have clear speech?

Well, we’ve got some tips that will help you out:

Plan First, Speak Later

An important part of clear speech is to know exactly what you want to say – otherwise, there is no point in speaking confidently! So teach your child to think before they speak; let them articulate the words they want to say out loud before they do it. You can help by modeling similar behavior; for example, you could pause before saying something, so that your child understands that thinking before speaking helps out a lot.

Control & Match Their Pace

Sometimes children speak too fast, because of which they can’t speak clearly at all. If you want them to learn clarity, they need to be brought down to the right pace. Keep in mind that there is no “standard” pace – in which case you should adjust to whatever suits your child. For example, teach them to speak a little slower by pausing in between words, or slowing down their mouth and jaw.

Be Consistent

Speech practice isn’t something that should be dealt with once every week or so – it should become a consistent part of you and your child’s routine. Start with small steps: first make it a half-an-hour everyday activity, and see how your child progresses. If you see a willingness in them to learn more, slowly increase the time up to an hour every day. Make it so that it becomes a habit for your child as well!

Make It Fun

Children are more likely to learn something if they’re enjoying themselves. So don’t make the speech clarity lessons draining – add some fun! For example, set a little “victory dance” the two of you can do whenever your child pronounces a word right, or sing a song together. Adding an element of joy in the whole process will make the entire ordeal not only effective but also memorable.

Praise Good Speech Clarity

The best way to encourage good habits in children is by praising them for it. So to make speech clarity second nature to your child, then praise them every time they do it right. Whether it’s during a lesson, or while enjoying their meal at the dinner table, appreciate them for having good or improved speech skills. It will make them more confident and hence more willing to be better speakers.


Teaching and encouraging speech clarity can be a long and draining process, but fortunately, nurseries in Al Barsha can help out. Oakfield Early Learning Centre encourages speech clarity in the form of fun sing-alongs, group activities, story-times and much more. The nursery as a whole supports a loving and constructive environment, where children love to learn new skills and pieces of knowledge.


As a parent, all it takes is dedication. Then eventually you too will see your child grow up to have fine speaking abilities.