Thinkabara๐ฅ The CH sound: articulation words & activities
Everything you need to practice the CH sound /tส/: 56 words at the beginning, middle and end of words (each with a picture and audio), blends, phrases, sentences, a short story and printable CH articulation worksheets.
How to make the CH sound
- Round the lips a little, like for SH.
- Touch the tongue to the bump behind the top teeth.
- Pop the tongue down with a puff of air: "ch!" like a sneeze โ "ah-CHOO".
CH words โ beginning of the word 16
CH words โ middle of the word 16
CH words โ end of the word 16
CH words โ blends 8
Tap any picture to hear the word (uses your device's built-in voice).
Practice mode and printable CH worksheets
Pick a level and position, then open the big-card practice mode or print picture cards, bingo boards, a memory game, a home practice log or a word list.
Phrases
- cheese chips
- chocolate cherry
- chicken lunch
- beach chair
- catch the ball
- peach at lunch
- choo-choo train
- cheerful chick
Sentences
- The chick is on the chair.
- Charlie chews his cheese.
- Let's have lunch at the beach.
- Watch me catch the ball.
- The teacher has chalk.
- I want a chocolate cherry.
- The chicken sits on the bench.
- The witch has an itch.
๐ Short story: Charlie's Choo-Choo Lunch
Charlie the chick had a choo-choo train. Every day at lunch he chugged around the kitchen. "Choo-choo! Who wants cheese? Who wants chips?" His teacher, Mrs. Cheetah, chose a peach. His friend the chicken chose chocolate. Then the train stopped with a crunch. "Oh no, a chair is on the track!" Charlie and his friends pushed the chair back to the bench. "Choo-choo!" Off went the train again, all the way to the beach for a picnic lunch.
Read it together slowly. Pause on each CH word and let your child say it, or ask who, what and where questions.
About the CH sound
CH is like a T and an SH said together quickly: the tongue starts touching the ridge behind the top teeth, then releases into a burst of air โ "ch-ch-ch" like a train.
Children may say SH ("shair" for chair), T ("tair") or TS for CH. Spellings include ch, tch (watch) and t (picture, nature).
When do children learn it? Most children (about 90%) produce the CH sound by around age 4โ5, according to a 2020 review of US studies (Crowe & McLeod). Every child is different โ see the speech sound development chart.
๐ฒ Practice games
Choo-choo train
Line up picture cards like train cars. The child "chugs" along and says "ch-ch-ch" plus each word.
Sneeze game
Pretend to sneeze "ah-CHOO!" โ then say a CH word right after the CHOO.
Bingo and memory
Print the bingo boards (each one is different) and the caller cards. Whoever calls a card says the word; players say it again as they cover the square.
Tips for parents and teachers
- Keep sessions short and playful: 5โ10 minutes a day beats one long session a week.
- Go step by step: sound alone โ syllables โ words โ phrases โ sentences โ the story โ conversation. If it gets hard, go back one step.
- Model the word correctly instead of correcting ("Yes, a rabbit!").
- Blowing and tongue exercises without speech ("oral-motor exercises") have not been shown to improve speech sounds. Practicing the sound itself is what helps.
Frequently asked questions
At what age should a child say the CH sound?
In a 2020 review of US studies (Crowe & McLeod), about 90% of children produced CH /tส/ by around age 4โ5. That is a range, not a deadline โ many children master it earlier, and some later. If you are worried, talk to a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP).
How do I practice the CH sound at home?
Practice for 5โ10 minutes a day, a little at a time. Start with whatever level is easy (a single sound, then words, phrases, sentences and the story). Say the word correctly yourself and let your child copy you โ don't ask them to "say it right". If your child sees an SLP, follow their plan and practice the words they choose.
Which position should we start with?
Usually the position the child finds easiest. For many sounds that is the beginning of the word, but not always โ an SLP will test which words and positions are stimulable (easy to imitate) for your child.
Are these printable articulation worksheets free?
Yes. Every word list, card set, bingo board and home practice log on this page is free to print on US Letter paper, with no sign-up.
More speech sounds
Related pages
All speech therapy activitiesMinimal pairsArticulation card makerHome practice sheets