Share a warm up or tongue twister
Learn and practice a fun tongue twister plus simple vocal warm-up exercises to improve pronunciation, breath control, and speaking confidence.
About this activity
Learn and practice a fun tongue twister plus simple vocal warm-up exercises to improve pronunciation, breath control, and speaking confidence.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Gather your materials.
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Step 2
Sit or stand up straight with your shoulders relaxed.
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Step 3
Place one hand on your belly to feel your breath.
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Step 4
Take five slow deep belly breaths counting to four as you inhale and six as you exhale.
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Step 5
Hum a steady "mmmmm" and slide from low to high pitch for ten seconds.
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Step 6
Do lip trills (buzz your lips) for ten seconds.
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Step 7
Open your mouth wide three times to loosen your jaw.
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Step 8
Say this tongue twister slowly one word at a time: She sells seashells by the seashore.
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Step 9
Repeat the tongue twister at a comfortable speed three times.
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Step 10
Say the tongue twister as fast as you can three times while keeping the words clear.
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Step 11
Stand in front of the mirror.
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Step 12
Say the tongue twister once while watching your mouth make big clear shapes.
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Step 13
Take a sip of water to relax your voice.
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Step 14
Share your finished tongue-twister practice on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do you lead a tongue twister warm-up for kids?
Start with a brief explanation and a fun example. Begin seated, breathe deeply for four counts, then do lip trills and gentle humming to warm the voice. Introduce the tongue twister slowly, having the child repeat one phrase at a time, then increase speed gradually. Use a mirror for mouth shapes and encourage clear pronunciation over speed. Finish with a relaxed breathing exercise and praise effort to build confidence.
What materials do I need for this tongue twister activity?
You need almost nothing: a short list of simple tongue twisters, a comfortable seat or small open space, and a cup of water for hydration. Optional items: a hand mirror to watch mouth movements, a timer or phone to track short practice rounds, and paper and pencil to write new twisters. Keep sessions short (5–10 minutes) and playful, so children stay engaged without extra props.
What ages is this tongue twister and vocal warm-up suitable for?
This activity suits preschoolers through teens with age adjustments. Ages 4–6 benefit from very short, silly twisters and adult guidance; ages 7–12 can work on clarity and rhythm; teens can focus on speed, breath control, and expression. Keep sessions under 10 minutes for younger children and use lots of encouragement. Modify language complexity and length based on each child’s attention and speech development.
What are the benefits and fun variations of tongue twister warm-ups?
Benefits include improved articulation, breath control, listening skills, and speaking confidence. Tongue twisters also sharpen concentration and make public speaking less scary. Variations: try call-and-response, add clapping or a simple rhythm, change speed from slow to fast, use silly character voices, or turn phrases into a memory game. Always warm up gently to avoid strain and keep activities playful to sustain interest.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can I use if I don't have a mirror or don't want to use water for the sip step?
Use your phone or tablet camera or a shiny window to do the 'stand in front of the mirror' step, and if you don't have water, simply swallow once after the 'take a sip of water to relax your voice' step or rinse with a small sip of room-temperature water.
I'm having trouble feeling my belly breath and my lip trills keep stopping—what should I try?
If you can't feel your breath during 'place one hand on your belly', lie on your back with a small book on your belly to watch it rise, and if 'do lip trills (buzz your lips) for ten seconds' stalls, relax your jaw, hum first, then blow gently through loose lips until the buzz stabilizes.
How can I adapt this warm-up for different ages?
For younger children shorten the breathing to inhale for two and exhale for three and do the tongue twister one word at a time once, while older kids can keep the 'counting to four inhale and six exhale' and add more fast repeats of 'say the tongue twister as fast as you can three times' or record themselves for feedback.
What are simple ways to extend or personalize this tongue-twister activity?
Make a new tongue twister, add a clapped rhythm or harmony during the 'repeat the tongue twister at a comfortable speed three times' step, film the 'stand in front of the mirror' mouth-shape run, and upload the finished tongue-twister practice to DIY.org to track progress.