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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

When did your DC start saying "r" correctly?

11 replies

Avocadoes · 04/08/2010 20:23

DD1 is about to turn 4 and still has a very babyish "r". So she says "cwying" instead of "crying" and "wed" instead of "red". All her friends seem to say "r" correctly. Is it unlikely she will ever learn now? My brother is in his 40s and still says he is my "bwother", maybe it's genetic.

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rabbitstew · 04/08/2010 20:25

I think any time up until about 6 is considered normal.

Original poster

Avocadoes · 04/08/2010 21:05

Really. That's reassuring. Is there anything I can do to encourage her along?

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sparkle1977 · 05/08/2010 12:57

Interesting post as my DS1 (aged almost 4) also pronounces his "r"'s in the same way.

Acanthus · 05/08/2010 13:04

My younger DS took ages - 7 or 8 I think. It's fine now (he's 9)

mamaloco · 05/08/2010 13:05

DD 1 (5.5) still has a problem, but her dad (37 ) too. She has a deformed palate that the GPs in the UK failed to detect, which is not helping her with pronounciation.
Can you check yourself ? unusually high and narrow palate (ogival palate) or ask next time you are a the practice.
The trick is to teach them to make contact with their tongue to the roof of the palate, move the tongue around the mouth, and outside the mouth as well.
If she has that she might need a speacher therapist as well.
We practice the tiger growl as well, and make her repeat the words with R slowly and properly.

Original poster

Avocadoes · 06/08/2010 14:16

Thanks mamaloco. Those exercises sound good. I will go and growl at her right now... I have felt inside her mouth and it seems quite wide and normal but its rather hard to judge really.

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ShowOfHands · 06/08/2010 14:18

DD is 3 and has no problems with any letter apart from f which sometimes comes out as v. I am pretty sure it's nothing to worry about. My godchild was still struggling with a few sounds at 5 but it was sorted out by 6.

TheProvincialLady · 06/08/2010 14:19

Oh this is helpful, thanks so much. My DS1 is nearly 4 and his R sound is perfect when saying the sound in isolation, eg Robert, but if he has to say Brick, Granddad or Drink it comes out as Blick, Blanddad and Jink. I am starting to be a little bit concerned.

snowmummy · 06/08/2010 16:26

My DS is 5 and, as he was born with a cleft palate, he sees the speech therapist regularly. His last visit was 3 weeks ago and mentioned that he does not pronounce his r's correctly. She said it was nothing to worry about.

bakingtray · 06/08/2010 20:48

My son was about 7 and it helped when he was able to read and learnt how the letter 'r' should be pronounced and saw it in words. He also had a lisp which he outgrew too. Now 15 and no trace at all!

TurtleAnn · 06/08/2010 21:08

By the time they are 7 most kids will have developed a consistent 'r' production. switching r for w is considered within normal speech because it doesnt interfere with you or others understanding your childs speech and therefore not treated on the NHS by a speech therapist. Think Johnathan Ross.
If you are worried by the time your child is 8yrs old you could look for a private speech therapist on helpwithtalking.com, if 'r' is your only concern.

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