Modification of consonant speech-sound articulation in young children.

The researchers worked with small groups of young children in a classroom. They used a token system to reward correct consonant sounds.

Each child could earn plastic tokens for saying target sounds right. Later, they added a peer piece. Every child became a cue for the others to speak clearly.

The team tracked articulation across several sounds to show the tokens caused the change.

Token rewards quickly lifted correct consonant production during group lessons.

When peers were taught to notice good speech, the clear sounds carried over to new times and places without tokens.

Eikeseth et al. (2003) got the same articulation gains, but they used vocal imitation drills instead of tokens. Both methods work; pick the one that fits your style.

Fay (1970) ran an earlier classroom token system for work habits, not speech. M et al. swapped the target to articulation and kept the easy group setup.

Fingeret et al. (1985) later blended tokens with peer mediation for social skills in handicapped preschoolers. Their data remind us that teacher prompts may still be needed after the peer piece is added.

You can run this in any small group with almost no materials. Hand out pennies, stickers, or points and praise clear speech. Then teach classmates to wait for good sounds before they answer. The tokens build the skill; the peers keep it alive across the day.