Speech is how we make sounds and put them together to form words.

Children learn speech sounds by listening to the people around them and practising their own talking. Learning all the different sounds we use takes time, and it is normal for some sounds to develop later than others. Most children continue to develop their speech sounds throughout their early childhood years.

If your child finds some sounds difficult, this is often a normal part of their development. There are many ways you can support your child’s speech through talking, playing, reading, and having fun together.

Click the buttons below to find out more about how speech sounds develop and ways you can support your child.