If your child says “top” instead of “stop” or “tar” instead of “star,” don’t worry, this is very common for preschool and early elementary-aged children. Consonant blends like /st/ can be tricky to learn, but with fun activities, daily practice, and a little encouragement, you can help your child speak more clearly and confidently. This guide offers clear, parent-friendly strategies to help your child master the /st/ blend and build confidence in their communication.

What Is the /st/ Blend?

The /st/ consonant blend is made up of two sounds: /s/ and /t/. These sounds are said back-to-back without a vowel between them. You can find /st/ at the beginning of words like “stop,” “star,” and “sticker,” and at the end of words like “nest,” “best,” and “toast.”

Speech Sound Development Norms

Blends typically emerge between ages 4 and 6. Many children simplify blends early on by leaving off one of the sounds. For example, “star” becomes “tar,” or “fast” becomes “fass.”

By age 6, most children can say these blends correctly. If your child is not yet producing /st/ blends by this age or is hard to understand, it may be helpful to provide some extra practice or consult a speech-language pathologist (SLP). You can contact your local school district for a free evaluation or talk to your pediatrician about a referral for a speech-language pathologist.

Why Is /st/ Blend Difficult?

Blends like /st/ are hard because:

Your child has to coordinate two different sounds quickly.
/s/ is a continuous sound (you can stretch it out: “ssss”), while /t/ is a quick stop sound.
Children may try to make this blend easier by dropping one sound.

Some children may also have difficulty with /s/ or /t/ individually, which makes the blend even trickier.

How to Help at Home: Step-by-Step Strategies

1. Start with Listening: Auditory Bombardment

Before your child can say the blend, they need to hear it—a lot. This strategy is called auditory bombardment. This is a skill that will be helpful down the road when you child is learning to read and write.

What to do:

Choose 5–8 /st/ words (like star, stop, sticker, stone, store, stomp, stairs). I like to pick words that are commonly used in their environment or words that are important to them (like names).
You say these words clearly and naturally many times a day to your child.
Emphasize them during stories, play, or everyday conversation.

Script example: “We’re going to the store! Let’s stop at the stairs. Look at that shiny sticker!”

Helpful resource:

2. Break It Down: Use “Sss…T” Practice

Help your child hear and feel both parts of the blend.

Strategy:

Say the /s/ sound and hold it out: “ssss.” I like to call this our “snake sound.”
Add a quick /t/ after: “ssss…t.”
Put it into a word: “sssstop!”

Script example: “Let’s make a snake sound: sssss… now add a tick tok sound: t! You did it—ssss-t, stop!”

Use a mirror so they can see their mouth while saying the sounds.

Helpful visual tool:

Kids Mirror

3. Make It a Game

Kids learn best through play. Turn the /st/ blend practice into a game your child will enjoy!

Sticker Hunt:

Hide stickers around the room.
Each time your child finds one, have them say “sticker!”

Stomp and Say:

Call out a /st/ word (e.g., stop, stomp, star).
Have your child stomp every time they say it.
- You can add different textures or items to stand or stomp on.

Helpful resource:

Balancing Step Stones

Puffy Stickers

Farm and Animal Stickers

Build a Star Chart:

Give a star sticker for each time your child practices a word.
Add to a chart and work toward a fun reward.

Star Chart Resource:

Parent Script to Use:

Step 1 – Set the stage:

“Today we’re going to practice our special /st/ words! Every time you say one, you get to put a star on your chart or in your book!

Step 2 – Choose 3–5 target words:

Start with simple words like: stop, star, sticker, stone, stairs
If needed, model first:

“I’ll go first. Sssst-ar… star! Now your turn.”

Step 3 – Guide practice:

“You try saying ‘star’ with me? Ssss-tar. That’s it! You used your strong /st/ sound!”

“Let’s try another one… sssstop. Nice work! Here’s a star sticker!” (You are also using auditory bombardment! Extra bonus!)

Step 4 – Add the sticker:

“You earned a star for that word! Let’s add it to your chart/book. Where do you want to put it?”

Step 5 – Celebrate effort, not perfection:

“Even if it’s not perfect, trying is how we learn. I love how hard you’re working on your words!”

4. Use Daily Routines for Natural Practice

Embed /st/ words into your everyday life so it feels natural and not like “work.”

Morning Routine:

“Let’s stop and brush teeth.”
“You can pick one sticker today.”

Car Rides:

Spot “stop” signs.
Name stores you pass.

Play Time:

Build a tower and say “stack it up!”
Use toy animals to go up the “stairs.”

Bath Time:

Pretend to scrub stones clean.
Say “fast!” when rinsing.

Story Time:

Read books with /st/ words, like:
- Stuck by Oliver Jeffers
- Stars by Mary Lyn Ray
- The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

5. Printable Practice Pages

Sometimes structured practice can help reinforce what your child is learning.

Here are free or low-cost printable options:

Teachers Pay Teachers ST Blend Worksheets
Printable ST Blend Word Cards and Games

Simple Weekly Practice Plan (Just 5 Minutes a Day!)

Day	Activity
Monday	Read a book with /st/ words and point them out aloud
Tuesday	Mirror practice: ssss-t words (use 3-5 words only)
Wednesday	Sticker hunt or stomp game
Thursday	Say /st/ words while driving or shopping
Friday	Color a printable and say a word for each star or step

Short, frequent practice (3–5 times per week) is more effective than long sessions. Celebrate effort, not perfection!

When to Seek Help from a Speech Therapist

If your child is over age 6 and still struggling with /st/ blends, or if they’re difficult for others to understand, it may be time to connect with a speech-language pathologist.

SLPs can:

Identify which sounds are difficult for your child
Use evidence-based strategies to build speech clarity
Work one-on-one or guide parents through home practice

Encouragement for Parents

You don’t need to be a speech expert to make a big difference. Just a few minutes a day of play-based practice, positive reinforcement, and patience can go a long way.

Even if your child doesn’t get it right away, keep modeling the correct blend and praising their effort:

“Wow! That was such a strong sss-t sound! I heard ‘star’ so clearly!”

Your support matters more than you know. You’re helping your child grow in confidence and communication—and that’s something to celebrate.

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Disclaimer: This article offers general educational information. It is not a substitute for professional evaluation or treatment. Please consult a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist for personalized concerns regarding your child’s speech development.