How to Use Songs and Music to Improve Speech

Music is a powerful tool for developing speech and language skills in children. Whether your child is just beginning to talk, struggling with articulation, or working on expanding their vocabulary, songs can make speech practice fun and engaging.

Singing also provides respiratory support and can improve speech volume.

– Christina Carson, MS CCC SLP, MA BCBA

Here’s how you can use music to support your child’s communication skills.

1. Singing Action Songs to Connect Words with Movement

Action songs are a great way to help children link words with physical movements, reinforcing both comprehension and speech production. The combination of singing and movement makes learning more engaging and helps children who benefit from multi-sensory input.

Try These Songs:

• “If You’re Happy and You Know It” – Teaches emotions and action words like clap, stomp, shout hooray!
• “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” – Encourages body part recognition and coordination.
• “The Wheels on the Bus” – Reinforces verbs like go, open, shut, swish, bounce, and more.
• “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed” – Helps practice counting and sequencing while using jumping movements.

How to Use Action Songs for Speech Development:

• Sing slowly and exaggerate movements to help your child make the connection between words and actions.
• Model the actions first, then encourage your child to imitate both the movement and the word.
• Give choices to encourage participation, e.g., “Do you want to clap or stomp?”
• Use props like a toy bus while singing “The Wheels on the Bus” to make it even more interactive.
• Encourage verbal responses by pausing during the song (e.g., “If you’re happy and you know it… [pause]” to see if your child will say “clap your hands!”).

2. Using Nursery Rhymes to Introduce Common Words and Phrases

Nursery rhymes are full of repetitive, rhythmic language, making them ideal for speech development. They expose children to new vocabulary, grammar structures, and the natural flow of language in a fun and engaging way.

Try These Classic Nursery Rhymes:

• “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” – Introduces descriptive words and opposites (little, high, above).
• “Itsy Bitsy Spider” – Helps with sequencing (up, down, out).
• “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” – Reinforces animal names and sounds.
• “Hickory Dickory Dock” – Helps with rhyming and number recognition.
• “Jack and Jill” – Teaches basic storytelling and cause-effect relationships.

How to Use Nursery Rhymes for Speech Development:

• Use repetition to strengthen word recall and pronunciation.
• Sing with exaggerated expressions and animated voices to keep your child engaged.
• Act out the nursery rhyme (e.g., use a toy spider and a water spout for The Itsy Bitsy Spider).
• Pause at key words and let your child fill in the blanks (e.g., “Twinkle, twinkle, little ___”).
• Ask open-ended questions after singing (e.g., “What animals were on the farm in ‘Old MacDonald’?”).

3. Adding Gestures or Visuals to Help Children Associate Words with Meaning

Pairing gestures, facial expressions, and visuals with words can help children understand language more easily. This is especially helpful for children with speech delays, autism, or language processing difficulties.

• Pointing and Labeling – While singing Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes, point to each body part and encourage your child to do the same.
• Hand Motions for Concepts – In The Wheels on the Bus, make circular motions for “round and round,” or open and close your hands for “open and shut.”
• Picture Cards or Storybooks – Show images of the words in the song (e.g., pictures of animals for Old MacDonald Had a Farm).
• Toys and Props – Act out Five Little Ducks with rubber duck toys, or use dolls to demonstrate actions in Row, Row, Row Your Boat.
• Mirror Play – Have your child watch themselves in a mirror while making mouth movements for songs with tricky sounds.

How Visuals and Gestures Help with Speech:

• Strengthens word-object associations, making it easier for children to remember words.
• Encourages engagement, as children often respond better when they can see and do something hands-on.
• Provides alternative ways to communicate, helping nonverbal or minimally verbal children express themselves.

4. Encouraging Imitation and Repetition

Many children learn best by imitating others, and music naturally encourages repetition. If your child struggles with certain sounds or words, pick songs that emphasize those sounds and encourage them to sing along.

• Repeating simple songs like Row, Row, Row Your Boat to practice rhythm and syllables.
• Pausing during familiar songs to encourage your child to fill in the missing word.
• Singing slow, clear melodies to help with pronunciation.

5. Improving Articulation and Speech Clarity

Music helps children practice speech sounds in a structured but fun way. Singing encourages slower, clearer pronunciation, which can help with articulation challenges.

• Singing tongue twisters like She Sells Seashells to practice difficult sounds.
• Choosing songs with alliteration (e.g., Baa Baa Black Sheep) to focus on specific sounds.
• Exaggerating mouth movements while singing to model proper articulation.

6. Strengthening Auditory Processing Skills

Listening to music enhances a child’s ability to process sounds, rhythms, and patterns, which is crucial for speech development.

• Clapping along with rhythms to improve syllable awareness.
• Playing call-and-response songs to practice listening and responding.
• Encouraging sound discrimination by playing games with musical tones and words.

7. Building Confidence in Communication

Singing can be a confidence booster for children who are hesitant to speak. Music provides a structured, low-pressure way to practice speech.

• Letting your child sing in a group to ease anxiety about speaking.
• Using a microphone or recording their voice to help them hear their progress.
• Encouraging creative expression through songwriting or freestyle singing.

Final Thoughts

Incorporating songs into your child’s daily routine can make speech practice feel more like play. Whether you’re singing together in the car, using music during bedtime, or making up silly songs while cooking, these moments can have a lasting impact on your child’s communication skills.