Sequencing Tongue Movements to Support Speech 👅 | Pediatric PT #204

Tongue Side-to-Side for Articulation & Oral Motor Control 👅💙 Pediatric Physical Therapy with Myla | @pediatricPTexercises I’m back again with my co-instructor, Myla Sunshine 👧🏼 — an adorable, fun-loving, and sweet 7-year-old with low tone and Down syndrome — and her sister Maycie (age 10) 👱🏼‍♀️ joins us to help demonstrate today’s activity. In this session, we work specifically on tongue side-to-side movement, an important skill for articulation, motor planning, and speech endurance. Children with low tone often struggle not only with strength, but also with organizing and sequencing oral movements, especially when movements need to repeat quickly or alternate from side to side. We begin with Maycie demonstrating how to move the tongue left and right, gradually increasing speed. Then, Myla tries the activity for the first time. You’ll see how challenging this can be — and how visual cues, repetition, and gentle physical assist can help a child begin to understand and practice the movement. This activity targets tongue strength, coordination, and endurance, all of which are necessary for producing multiple syllables during speech — not just a single sound. I’m Amy Sturkey, a pediatric physical therapist, and I’ve worked with Myla since she was a baby. I use strategies like this regularly with children who have low tone, Down syndrome, or other developmental conditions affecting oral motor control and speech clarity. ✨ What You’ll Learn 👅 How to practice tongue side-to-side movement for articulation 🧠 Why motor planning and endurance matter for speech 🍭 How simple tools (like a small lollipop) can support learning 🤲🏽 When and why physical assist may be needed 🗣️ How repeated tongue movements support clearer, more consistent speech 🎥 Timestamps 0:00 Introduction & who is here 0:24 Why tongue strength matters for articulation 0:42 Tongue movements for oral motor strength 0:55 Faster side-to-side tongue practice 1:09 Maycie demonstrates tongue speed 1:32 First attempt with Myla 1:52 Physical assist introduced 2:23 Simplifying the task with front placement 2:41 Repetition & counting reps 3:19 Why this activity was difficult for Myla 3:44 Endurance & speech carryover explained 3:54 Closing 💛 Watch Myla’s full playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAkJbMrHyKjMZYC1aYPuXrp-I9VFpNhCu 💡 Helpful for parents & professionals searching for: Oral motor exercises for low tone Tongue strengthening for articulation Speech support activities for Down syndrome Motor planning activities for oral musculature Pediatric physical therapy ideas for speech support 👩🏽‍🦱👨🏾‍🦱 Whether you’re a parent, therapist, or educator, this approach helps children better understand where their tongue is and how it moves, making it easier to coordinate sounds during speech. 🌍 Website: www.pediatricPTexercises.com 📘 Facebook: Pediatric Physical Therapy Exercises 📧 Email: amysturkey@gmail.com 📚 My books on Amazon P is for Poop and Pee Accidents → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLSRJ483 A is for Anxiety → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LXQ3W6V A is for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QH9H5HR C is for Cerebral Palsy → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088TSJCYP D is for Down Syndrome → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079P8HH49 A is for Autism → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071F4FFTB Pediatric PT Strengthening Exercises — Hips → https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156736 Pediatric PT Strengthening Exercises — Knees → https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156760 Pediatric PT Strengthening Exercises — Ankles → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TX2ZCFD