Free printable
The Filler-Word Tracker
“Um,” “uh,” “like,” “you know,” “so”… filler words are the habit that most often makes a young speaker sound unsure. The fix is simple: awareness first, then pauses. When kids can hear their fillers, they start replacing them with a confident pause.
Have your child speak for a minute or two (use one of our impromptu prompts). You tally every filler word you hear, then show them the sheet. Do it again and watch the numbers drop. Keep it a game, and nobody improves under a magnifying glass.
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What to track each round
The printable has three rounds with a tally table. Count each of these:
- um / uh
- like
- you know
- so
- basically
- actually
- Other (write it in)
Track your progress
Note the total fillers and the length of the speech each round, then compare: Round 1 → Round 2 → Round 3. Set a goal for next time (e.g., fewer than five).
The one trick that works
Teach the “silent pause swap”: whenever a child feels an “um” coming, close the mouth and pause instead. A one-second silence sounds thoughtful and confident. An “um” sounds unsure. Same gap in time, completely different impression.
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