TH Sound Activities for Children
The /th/ sound comes in two varieties — voiceless (as in "think") and voiced (as in "the"). Many children substitute /f/ or /d/ for /th/ (saying "fink" instead of "think" or "da" instead of "the"). This is one of the later-developing sounds in English.
Why This Is Challenging
The /th/ sound requires placing the tongue between or just behind the front teeth — a position that feels unnatural to many children. Because /th/ develops later (ages 6-8), it can be hard to know when to seek help versus when to wait.
How Verbalyft Helps
Verbalyft provides targeted /th/ stories and games that naturally include high-frequency /th/ words (the, this, that, think, three). Real-time feedback helps children feel the difference between /th/ and substitute sounds like /f/ or /d/.
Activities in Verbalyft
Frequently Asked Questions
When should my child be able to say /th/?
The /th/ sound is one of the last to develop, typically mastered between ages 6-8. Substituting /f/ or /d/ for /th/ before this age is developmentally typical.
What's the difference between voiced and voiceless /th/?
Voiceless /th/ (as in 'think,' 'three') has no vocal cord vibration. Voiced /th/ (as in 'the,' 'this,' 'that') vibrates the vocal cords. Children may struggle with one or both.
Why does this matter?
English has two 'th' sounds — the voiced one in 'this' and the voiceless one in 'think' — and they appear in some of the most frequent words in the language: the, this, that, they, with, there. Because those words are so common, substituting 'f' or 'd' is noticeable across almost every sentence a child produces. The upside is that 'th' is one of the few sounds where the tongue is genuinely visible, which makes it more teachable than most.
When does this usually develop?
'Th' is one of the later-developing English sounds and commonly is not fully established until the school years. Substituting 'f' or 'd' for 'th' is a very common pattern in younger children and is not usually a cause for concern on its own at preschool age.
How should I practise this at home?
Use a mirror — this is the sound where seeing helps most, because the tongue tip is visible between the teeth. Exaggerate the position when you model it so your child can see exactly what to copy. Practise the two 'th' sounds separately rather than assuming one transfers to the other, since they differ in voicing. Given how common 'th' words are, once your child can produce the sound in single words there is no shortage of natural practice material in ordinary reading and conversation.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not using a mirror. This is the sound where visual feedback pays off most, and skipping it makes the task harder than it needs to be.
- Treating both 'th' sounds as one target. Voiced and voiceless 'th' usually need separate practice.
- Correcting the very common 'th' words in ordinary conversation, which means correcting constantly and making talking unpleasant.
- Expecting it early. 'Th' is a late sound and pushing it before a child is ready produces frustration.
How do I know it's working?
Progress usually follows this rough order. Children move through it at very different speeds, and going back a step on a tired day is normal.
- 1Can place the tongue correctly when watching in a mirror
- 2Produces the sound in isolation
- 3Correct in single words at the start of the word
- 4Correct in the middle and at the end of words
- 5Correct in the high-frequency function words — the, this, that — during phrases
- 6Occasional self-correction in conversation
When should I seek help?
If your child is still noticeably behind peers on this sound well past the typical range, if unfamiliar adults regularly cannot understand them, or if they are becoming frustrated or avoiding talking, ask a speech-language pathologist for an evaluation. You generally do not need a referral, and an assessment is worthwhile even if the answer turns out to be that no therapy is needed.
Sources
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Speech Sound Disorders. Accessed .
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), NIH. Speech and Language Developmental Milestones. Accessed .
Try These Activities Free
Verbalyft makes th sounds practice feel like play. No credit card required.
Start Free Trial