Invent a tongue-twister
Create and practice an original tongue-twister by choosing tricky sounds, writing lines, testing aloud, and timing clarity with friends or family.
Step-by-step guide to invent a tongue-twister
Easy Tongue Twisters in English for beginners 😝 Easy tongue twister challenge for kids
Step 1
Pick one or two tricky speech sounds to focus on (examples: s sh r th p b).
Step 2
Write down 8-12 words that include your chosen sound(s).
Step 3
Circle or highlight the 3-5 words that sound the most fun.
Step 4
Use two or three of those words to write a short first line.
Step 5
Write a second short line that repeats the tricky sound.
Step 6
Read both lines slowly out loud to hear how they flow.
Step 7
Change any word that makes your tongue trip so the line is easier to say.
Step 8
Practice saying the full tongue-twister five times in a row at a steady speed.
Step 9
Ask your friend or family member to listen and count how many times you stumble.
Step 10
Use the timer to record how long it takes you to say the tongue-twister three times.
Step 11
Try the three rounds again and see if you can be faster while keeping the words clear.
Step 12
Share your finished tongue-twister on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
If we don't have a highlighter, paper, or a timer, what can we use instead to follow the steps like circling words and timing three runs?
Use a colored crayon or pencil to circle or underline your 8–12 words, a smartphone stopwatch or kitchen timer for the three-run timing step, and any scrap paper or a notebook for writing your lines.
What should we do if the tongue-twister keeps tripping us up when we read the lines out loud during the 'read both lines slowly' or 'practice five times' steps?
Slow down and break the problem word into syllables, swap that word as the instructions say to change any word that makes your tongue trip, then practice the full tongue-twister five times at the steadier speed.
How can we adapt this activity for younger or older kids when the instructions ask for 8–12 words and to practice five times and time three runs?
For younger kids choose one easy sound and 4–6 words with pictures and do three practice runs, while older kids can pick two tricky sounds, write 10–12 words, and use the timer to chase faster three-run times.
How can we enrich or personalize the tongue-twister beyond sharing it on DIY.org?
Add a rhythm or clap pattern to the two lines, substitute friends' names in your highlighted 3–5 fun words, record a short video of three timed runs, and ask the listener to count stumbles before posting to DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to invent a tongue-twister
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Facts about phonics and speech practice
⏱️ Timing how fast you can say a tongue-twister without stumbling turns practice into a playful speed-and-clarity challenge.
🌍 Almost every language has tongue twisters — kids and performers around the world use them for fun and practice.
🧠 Repeating tricky sound patterns trains your mouth and brain to coordinate better, which helps with pronunciation and phonics.
🐚 The famous 'She sells seashells' tongue-twister is widely linked to 19th-century fossil collector Mary Anning.
🗣️ Tongue twisters are used by actors and announcers as vocal warm-ups to help improve clarity when speaking quickly.
How do I invent and practice an original tongue-twister with my child?
What materials do I need to create and practice a tongue-twister at home?
What ages is inventing tongue-twisters suitable for?
What are the benefits and safe variations of practicing tongue-twisters?
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