When working with children who struggle with “r” and “l” sounds, traditional minimal pairs therapy can often hit roadblocks. Many young clients simply don’t grasp what you’re asking them to do (e.g., when we ask, “do you mean wing or ring?”), or they may not be stimulable for these challenging sounds! But what if there was a way to make these concepts easier to understand, so that when the child DOES contrast the sounds, they have a way to categorize them?
the missing piece: teaching a "rule"
As speech-language pathologists, we know the research behind minimal pairs therapy, but bridging that knowledge to clinical practice with young children requires something special—a way to translate complex phonological patterns into concepts children can understand and relate to.
That’s exactly what the Minimal Pairs Toolkit for Gliding offers: a comprehensive resource that transforms abstract speech concepts into engaging, child-friendly stories about “running sounds” and “gliding sounds.”
A Complete System, Not Just Another Set of Cards
The Gliding Minimal Pairs Toolkit stands apart from other minimal pairs and gliding materials by offering a complete, step-by-step approach:
- Child-Friendly Rule: The “My Gliding & Running Sounds” story helps children understand their speech pattern in terms they can grasp
- Complete Treatment Sequence: We cover every step of the minimal pairs approach, from familiarization scripts through auditory discrimination to production practice
- Flexible Implementation: Choose between print and digital formats based on your therapy setting – this makes it helpful for use in teletherpay!
- Time-Saving Activities: Ready-to-use therapy ideas that reinforce the “gliding” versus “running” sound concepts
- High-Quality Visual Materials: Printable minimal pair cards that are available in both color, and black & white
Real Results from Fellow SLPs
The impact of this Toolkit speaks for itself:
“These stories are great for trying to explain tricky concepts to children and to get them thinking about the sound they are making. I love them!”
By translating complex phonological concepts into child-friendly language and visuals, this toolkit doesn’t just teach—it creates those “aha!” moments where therapy progress accelerates because it just “clicks” with the child.
“This resource is great! I love the story to introduce the concept. I feel like this is the most successful way to introduce a concept to my students. The pictures are bright and engaging too. Thanks for another great resource!“
Whether you’re struggling with clients who just don’t “get” traditional minimal pairs therapy or simply looking to enhance your therapy toolkit, this research-based resource provides everything needed to consolidate the phonological pattern of gliding with your students.
