Oral Muscle Development Training: Laying the Foundation for Language Skills

Written by: Speech Therapist Ms Jenny T. Y. Kwok



Every child’s language ability is different. Some children can speak various words by the age of one and form sentences by two, communicating effectively with others. However, some children develop their language skills more slowly. In fact, the development of oral muscles has a profound impact on both eating and language abilities. Parents can engage in various small games to train their children's oral muscles, laying a solid foundation for their language development.


Oral muscles include the muscles of the cheeks, lips, tongue, and jaw, which develop and improve with age and eating experiences. The strength, control, flexibility, and coordination of these muscles are crucial factors in a child's ability to learn to speak.


Daily meal times provide excellent practice opportunities. However, some cases involve children primarily eating finely chopped or pureed foods, which can hinder the normal development of their chewing abilities, affecting both eating and language development. Common issues include drooling and unclear or inaccurate pronunciation, so oral muscle problems must be addressed.


Here are some simple games to train oral muscles, which we hope will improve children's oral capabilities through fun activities, thus laying a strong foundation for their language skills.


Blowing Practice


How to Play:


First, prepare a basin of water and position it between the parent and child, who should face each other. Fill the basin halfway with water and place a paper boat on the parent's side, adding a small treat or toy (such as stickers, etc.) inside. The parent blows the paper boat toward the child, who can then take the treat. If the child wants more, they must blow the boat back toward the parent.


This blowing exercise strengthens the ability to retract the tongue and round the lips, enhancing the stability and control of the jaw, which improves speech clarity.



Chewing Practice


How to Play:


Cut harder vegetables or fruits (such as carrots, cucumbers, celery, and apples) into strips approximately the length and thickness of a finger. The parent holds the end of the vegetable strip and places it between the child’s molars to encourage chewing. The parent should stabilize the food's position, pushing it slightly each time the child bites until the strip is completely eaten, alternating sides for practice. Parents can adjust the size, length, and hardness of the food strips according to the child's abilities.


Chewing requires the coordination of the lips, tongue, and jaw muscles, while speech development also relies on the collaboration of different oral muscles to produce various sounds. Therefore, chewing training helps improve clarity of pronunciation.





撰文:資深註冊社工李淑輝姑娘


無論是爭玩具、遊戲中輸掉和排隊爭先恐後……每當遇上不如意,常見孩子會用推撞打人的方式去處理問題,這亦是父母常感頭痛的事 ─ 為甚麼孩子是個打人小惡霸呢?



  1. 情緒和行為混為一談?


「你不可以嬲就發脾氣打人!」孩子因為出現情緒 -「嬲」,所以出現發洩行為 -「打人」。然而,父母可以禁止孩子的打人行為,但不能禁止他有「嬲」的情緒,孩子更不會因父母禁制「嬲」,而把情緒即時緩和過來。父母要教導孩子情緒和行為須分開處理 -「我明白弟弟拿走你的玩具,所以你很嬲,但你不可打人!」



  1. A餐無益不要吃!


「你不可打弟弟,總之不可打弟弟啦。」父母只叫孩子不要吃A餐,因為吃了會痴肥無益,但又沒有給他B、C、D餐的選擇,如弟弟再次取走他的玩具,十居其九,他仍會繼續吃A餐。父母聲嘶力歇地叫孩子不可打弟弟(A餐),跟著應該提供選擇 - 「不可打人,如果弟弟取走你的玩具,你可以告訴他:『玩具是我的,我玩完才給你』(B餐),亦可以請媽媽評理(C餐),或者讓給弟弟先玩 (D餐)……」


  1. 孩子絕對會接受挑戰!


「你試下再打弟弟,信不信我以後不要你?」父母意圖用恐嚇方式來鎮壓孩子打人行為,許多時候會適得其反,因為現代的孩子絕對會接受挑戰的!孩子會記恨父母和弟弟,會伺機出拳,再次攻擊弟弟。父母說過如他再犯會不要他,不論會否言出必行,親子關係已陷於僵局。其實,父母只是一心希望孩子做出好行為,應該直截了當地說出要求:「請你停手!」


  1. 孩子打我,不痛,我能忍受?


無論孩子如何生氣或不滿,當他做出傷人、傷己和破壞性行為,父母必須即時制止。假若平日孩子慣性不開心的時候,就打人洩憤,由於力度不大,大人又能承受痛楚,所以不被阻止,孩子便會誤以為攻擊他人是沒有問題的。父母有責任即時制止及清楚表明,孩子的打人行動是不被接納的。


其實,孩子不是天生的小惡霸,他在成長過程中,身邊的人在陪伴他的同時,又悉心教導他正確處理問題的方法,孩子才能發展成熟,獨立成材。