Which phonemes should be mastered by age 6?

To determine which phonemes should be mastered by age 6, it is essential to understand the developmental milestones for speech sound acquisition.

The phonemes that are generally expected to be mastered by the age of 6 include s, v, ŋ (the "ng" sound), r, and l. These sounds are considered complex because they require more developed articulatory skills. Children typically begin to acquire these sounds around ages 5 to 6, and achieving mastery means they can produce them correctly in various contexts.

In contrast, the phonemes in the selected option, which are θ (as in "think"), ð (as in "this"), and ʒ (as in "measure"), are often among the later sounds to develop. Mastery of these phonemes typically occurs after age 6, as they require more sophisticated articulatory control and are less frequent in the phonetic inventory of young children. Therefore, this option would not reflect the sounds that should be mastered by age 6.

The focus on the initial option showcases the typical mastery timeline associated with phoneme acquisition, affirming that the correct phonemes for age 6 encompass the fricatives and consonant clusters that require both physical and cognitive maturation for articulation