Developmental pattern

Fronting

Sounds made at the back of the mouth get replaced by sounds made at the front.

Resolves by: Velar fronting by 3;6
Sounds affected: k, g, ng, sh, ch (as "ts"), j (as "dz")
Minimal pairs: 14

What it sounds like

"key" becomes "tea"
"go" becomes "dough"
"shoe" becomes "Sue"
"chip" becomes "tsip"

Also called: Velar fronting, palatal fronting

What is going on

Fronting happens when a child makes a sound with the tip of the tongue that should be made with the back of the tongue. The most common version is velar fronting, where /k/ turns into /t/ and /g/ turns into /d/ - so "cookie" comes out as "tootie" and "go get it" becomes "doe det it." A second version, palatal fronting, moves SH and CH forward into S and TS, so "shoe" sounds like "Sue." Front sounds are simply easier to see and feel, which is why toddlers reach for them first.

Fronting affects some of the most common sounds in English, so it can make a child hard to understand very quickly. The good news is that it usually responds well and fast to minimal pair therapy, because the child can hear the difference between the words even when they cannot yet make it.

Try this at home

For /k/ and /g/ the trick is getting the tongue to the back. Lie the child on their back, or tip the head back, so the tongue falls toward the throat; a yawn, a gargle or a pretend cough finds the spot. Then "kuh" with the mouth open wide, and only once that is easy, "key" and "tea" side by side.

When to refer

Still fronting past age 4, or fronting sounds the child can produce correctly in isolation.

Print it

Fronting minimal pairs14 pairs grouped by sound · PDF Fronting picture pair cards9 reviewed two-picture pairs · PDF

Picture-ready minimal pairs

9 pairs

These pairs have two distinct picture subjects. Put both pictures on the table and take turns asking for one. If the two words sound alike, slow down and compare the sounds together. The printable word list has additional listening contrasts.