My Preschooler Mispronounces Words: Should I Worry?

"Mama, I'm firsty," my 3-year-old said sweetly.

"You mean you're thirsty," I corrected her.

"That's what I said. I'm firsty."

Preschoolers are notorious for pronouncing common sounds incorrectly. Many a 3-year-old has pronounced "yellow" as "lellow," and "spaghetti" as "pasghetti." Nevertheless, it can be alarming when parents hear some preschoolers speaking with precision while our tots struggle to pronounce simple words. If your preschooler's pronunciation seems poor for her age, here are some things to consider.

1. Poor pronunciation skills are normal at this age. It is completely normal for a 2- to 5-year-old to have difficulty pronouncing certain words and sounds. At this age, a child's physical and neurological development simply don't accommodate adult-like pronunciation skills. While you may occasionally see preschoolers with impeccable pronunciation, they are actually in the minority, according to my daughter's preschool teacher.

2. Some words are harder than others. Often, a preschooler will have mastered a specific sound, but simply can't use it in some contexts. My own daughter can easily pronounce "rabbit" and "rainbow," but says that her favorite color is "wed." When this happens, you can be assured that your preschooler's speech is developing normally, but that a few sounds remain somewhat difficult. Odds are high that your child will quickly outgrow any lingering problems with pronunciation.

3. Correct pronunciation is a developmental milestone. Along with first words, first steps and first sentences, pronunciation is a milestone that marks a child's normal physical and mental development. Because of this, it's important for moms to be on the lookout for red flags. However, it is also important to understand that all milestones take place on a bell curve, and that many perfectly children will reach certain milestones sooner or later than average.

4. Watch for signs of a problem. Occasionally, a preschooler's poor pronunciation skills are accompanied by other signs of a developmental problem. Preschoolers who have difficulty using and moving their mouths may drool excessively or have difficulty eating and swallowing. Other red flags to look for include gross motor delays, signs of poor hearing, problems with cognitive development, and difficulty with hand-eye coordination. These could signal that the child has an underlying condition that needs to be treated.

5. Get help if your child needs it. If your preschooler is not mostly understandable by the time she is 3 1/2 years old, she may benefit from a developmental evaluation and/or speech therapy. By age 5, strangers should be able to understand all of your child's speech, even if some words are pronounced oddly or incorrectly. If you are at any point concerned about your preschooler's health or development, get in touch with an expert to determine the best course of action.