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  • Kindergarten
  • Speech & Language
  • About 10 minutes
  • See it all: a chart to keep

Early Sounds Chart

The first sounds kids learn. Point to a sound, say it, then say the three pictures.

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Early Sounds ChartName:Date:The first sounds kids learn. Point to a sound, say it, then say the three pictures.pPthe popping soundvoice offLips together, then pop apuff of air.pigapplecupbBthe bubble soundvoice onLips together, voice on,then pop.ballrabbitwebmMthe yummy soundnose soundLips closed, hum throughyour nose.moonlemondrumtTthe ticking clock soundvoice offTongue tip taps behind thetop teeth.topkittenhatdDthe drum soundvoice onTongue tip taps, voice on,like a drum.dogladderbednNthe motor soundnose soundTongue tip up, hum throughyour nose.nosebananasunhHthe tired dog soundvoice offMouth open, breathe out awarm puff.hathorsehousewWthe kissing fish soundvoice onLips round like a fishkiss, then open.webwhalewormk5printables.com · Sheet #129824601

How to do it

  1. Point to a sound and say it by itself.
  2. Look at the mouth picture and read how to make it.
  3. Say the three picture words with a clear sound.

Teaching tip

Practice in front of a mirror so your child can see their lips and tongue.

Early Sounds Chart for kindergarten (early sounds p b m t d n h w), free printable
Printable preview

About this chart

The p, b, m, t, d, n, h and w sounds at a glance, each with a mouth picture, how to make it, voice on or off and three picture words.

What kids practice

These are the first speech sounds most children learn, usually by about age 3: p (as in pig), b (ball), m (moon), t (top), d (dog), n (nose), h (hat) and w (web). They are made with the lips, the tongue tip or a puff of breath. Kindergartners who are still working on them might say d for t, b for p, or leave sounds off the ends of words (ca for cat). Common Core doesn't cover speech sounds, so these sheets have no Common Core code.

Watch for

  • Leaving off the last sound, like ca for cat. Stretch the end of the word together.
  • Mixing up voice on and voice off pairs, like p and b or t and d. Feel the throat buzz.
  • Practicing too fast. Slow, clear tries teach the mouth better than quick ones.
  • If your child is hard to understand or gets frustrated when talking, ask your pediatrician or a speech-language pathologist for a check.

It's free to print, as many copies as you need. See the full early sounds p b m t d n h w guide for kindergarten.

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