07/27/2026
Why is “grrrr” a great place to start for /r/ therapy?
1. The /g/ sound brings the tongue up and back, closer to the necessary position to make an /r/ sound. In other words, /g/ is facilitating tongue placement for /r/.
2. It’s fun! Kids love saying, “grrr” and it seems like play rather than a boring articulation drill.
3. Its strengths based! Many kids have a strong /g/ sound before they can say the /r/ sound.
4. Its much easier for younger kids to follow 1 simple direction, “repeat grrr” than to follow more complex multistep directions (e.g., bring your tongue up and back, and make sure the sides or your tongue touch the back morals to achieve lateral bracing, and elevate your tongue tip, and lift the side of your tongue etc.) Sometimes simple is best!