Thinkabara๐ฆ The SH sound: articulation words & activities
Everything you need to practice the SH sound /ส/: 54 words at the beginning, middle and end of words (each with a picture and audio), blends, phrases, sentences, a short story and printable SH articulation worksheets.
How to make the SH sound
- Put a finger to your lips: "shhh, the baby is sleeping."
- Round the lips like a fish.
- Blow air โ it should feel wider and warmer than S.
SH words โ beginning of the word 16
SH words โ middle of the word 16
SH words โ end of the word 16
SH words โ blends 6
Tap any picture to hear the word (uses your device's built-in voice).
Practice mode and printable SH 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
- shiny shoes
- shark ship
- wash a dish
- fresh fish
- sheep in a shed
- shh, shh
- push the cart
- make a wish
Sentences
- The shark swims by the ship.
- Shane shines his shoes.
- Wash the dish, please.
- The sheep sleeps in the shade.
- I found a shell on the shore.
- The fish made a big splash.
- Shh, the baby is sleeping.
- Put the trash in the can.
๐ Short story: Shelly the Shy Shark
Shelly was a shy shark. She lived near a sunken ship in the ocean. The fish thought sharks were scary, so Shelly hid in the shadows. One day a little fish shouted, "Help! My shell is stuck!" Shelly swished her tail and pushed the shell free. The fish was shocked. "You are not scary at all!" From then on, Shelly shared her ship with all the fish. They played hide-and-seek in the seashells and splashed in the sunshine.
Read it together slowly. Pause on each SH word and let your child say it, or ask who, what and where questions.
About the SH sound
SH is the "quiet" sound. The lips round and push forward a little, the tongue pulls slightly back from where it sits for S, and air flows out with the voice off.
Young children often say S for SH ("sip" for ship). Spelling varies a lot: sure, sugar, ocean, station and machine all have the SH sound.
When do children learn it? Most children (about 90%) produce the SH 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
Shh, the baby is sleeping
Put a doll "to sleep". Every SH word must be whispered so the baby keeps sleeping.
Go fish
Clip paper fish with SH pictures; "catch" them with a magnet rod and say each word.
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 SH sound?
In a 2020 review of US studies (Crowe & McLeod), about 90% of children produced SH /ส/ 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 SH 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