Strengthen Lips to Help Your Child Say /p/ /b/ /m/ More Clearly 👄💙 | Pediatric PT #203

Oral Sensory Strengthening for Speech & Articulation 👄💙 | Pediatric Physical Therapy with Myla @pediatricPTexercises I’m back again with my co-instructor, Myla Sunshine 👧🏼, a beautiful and adorable 7-year-old with low tone and Down syndrome — and this time her sister Maycie (age 10) 👱🏼‍♀️ joins us! In this session, I demonstrate oral sensory awareness and strengthening techniques using tools such as the Ark Probe, Nuk, pacifier, toothbrush, or a small lollipop. We begin by practicing lip-strengthening resistance pulls with Maycie, then invite Myla to pull the tool from her sister’s mouth — a playful way to build lip activation and awareness. Children with low tone often struggle to articulate /p/, /b/, and /m/ because these sounds require strong lip closure. Resistance-based oral games like these help children feel and activate their lips more consistently, setting the stage for clearer speech. I’m Amy Sturkey, a pediatric physical therapist, and I’ve worked with Myla since she was a baby. I use these strategies regularly with children with low tone, Down syndrome, or autism who are developing oral motor control, communication, and more precise articulation. ✨ What You’ll Learn How to safely use oral sensory tools like the Ark Probe and Nuk 🪥 A simple resistance-pull routine to strengthen lips and improve closure 👄 Why low-tone children struggle with articulatory placement 🧠 How to introduce stronger oral sensations in a playful way How oral sensory input supports clearer speech production 🎤 🎥 Timestamps 0:00 Introduction & purpose of the activity 0:16 Why low-tone children struggle with oral articulation 0:47 Tools you can use: Ark Probe, Nuk, toothbrush, small lollipop 1:05 Lip-strengthening with Maycie: quick pulls + sustained hold 1:47 Myla pulls the tool from Maycie’s mouth to build awareness 2:24 Why resistance activities are challenging for Myla 2:57 Alternative tools: small lollipops or pacifiers for beginners 3:20 How resistance builds lip strength for /p/, /b/, /m/ 3:26 Closing message & Subscribe reminder 💛 Watch Myla’s full playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAkJbMrHyKjMZYC1aYPuXrp-I9VFpNhCu 💡 Perfect for parents & professionals searching: Oral sensory stimulation for low tone Tools for oral motor awareness Activities to support speech clarity Pediatric physical therapy ideas for hypotonia Oral motor strategies for kids with Down syndrome or autism Simple mouth-awareness routines for articulation 👩🏼‍🦱👨🏾‍🦱 Whether you’re a parent, therapist, or educator, this gentle approach helps children feel where their lips, gums, tongue, and palate are — making it easier to copy movements and produce clearer sounds. 🌍 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