Lazy Talking (Fwee for Three)

When my five year old started doing that I told her that was "baby talk" and that nipped that in the bud. I told her if she's going to talk like a baby, I'll treat her like one. Milk, and only milk, for every meal and no more fruit snacks.

Her eyes widened, "No more fruit snacks... ever?!?"
I replied, "Not until you grow up. Only big girls have nice teeth to chew up fruit snacks. Babies can't eat fruit snacks. It's not good for them."

No more baby talk.

That's normal. My daughter started doing that around age 6.5 as well. At first we said we couldn't understand her when she talked baby-talk but she knew we could so that didn't work.

So we said we will treat her like a baby if she wants to talk like one. I served her milk in a sippy cup that night and gave her a toddler's Mickey Mouse fork and spoon. She thought that was SO FUN that she started talking even more like a baby.

That all stopped when we put her to bed at 7pm because babies go to bed early. She threw a big fit, which we ignored.

She never talked like a baby again.

Assuming that she's been able to speak these words correctly, this is a stage, trying out being a baby again. Do as the other moms have suggested. Ignore her when she's talking baby talk.

If her speech has been somewhat lazy and it's gotten worse, get an evaluation by a speech therapist. The school can help you get that done.

Don't answer.. If she asks why you are ignoring her, just tell her. i do not understand what you are saying.. or I do not respond to baby talk from a 6 year old.

If she doesn't truly have a speech problem and is doing it for effect, then simply tell her that you don't understand baby talk and when she can speak clearly, she can ask for what she wants. My SD used to baby talk and could correct herself when the situation warranted. We just matter of factly stated what we wanted from her and went on with our activity, not giving the baby talk a lot of attention. My DD may have a slight speech problem, and we are getting her evaluated, but that's different than not being able to say "three" at all. When DD imitates Max from Max and Ruby, I tell her she is older than Max and can speak in full sentences. Then I ignore her request til she does so.

Did she loose any front teeth recently? That could explain the change.

Right around when they are losing baby teeth is when they start playing with words.
If it's deliberate, then treating her like a baby if she's going to talk like a baby helps discourage it.
So will peer pressure at school.
If it's not deliberate, new teeth growing in and speech therapist in school will help.
We spent time playing with tongue twisters at this age - it was fun and a challenge and all the kids liked them.
Seven silver swans
Six thick thistle sticks
Should Sheila sell seas shells or should she sell shoes
etc
We LOVED Fox in Socks and read it out loud over and over!