Make a cloverleaf with your tongue
Practice tongue flexibility exercises and follow step by step tips to learn how to shape your tongue into a cloverleaf safely and patiently.
Step-by-step guide to make a cloverleaf with your tongue
How to tie the cloverleaf knot
Step 1
Wash your hands with soap and water.
Step 2
Sit comfortably at a table.
Step 3
Place a mirror in front of you so you can see your mouth.
Step 4
Ask an adult to stay close while you practice.
Step 5
Take a small sip of water to moisten your mouth.
Step 6
Stick your tongue straight out and hold it for two seconds.
Step 7
Lift the middle of your tongue gently toward the roof of your mouth to make a small bump.
Step 8
Fold the left side of your tongue up toward the center to make a left ridge.
Step 9
Fold the right side of your tongue up toward the center so the left and right ridges meet.
Step 10
Tuck the tip of your tongue slightly under the two folded sides to form three small lobes like a cloverleaf.
Step 11
Stop and relax your tongue if you feel any soreness or discomfort.
Step 12
Share your finished cloverleaf on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use instead of a mirror if we don't have one?
Use a clean reflective spoon, a compact mirror, or the front-facing camera on a phone so you can still 'Place a mirror in front of you' and watch while you 'Stick your tongue straight out'.
My child can't make the left and right ridges meet—what should we try?
Have them take another small sip of water, practice holding the tongue straight for two seconds, then gently 'Lift the middle of your tongue' before folding each side slowly so the left and right ridges can meet without soreness.
How can I adapt this activity for different ages?
For toddlers, an adult can guide the tongue to lift the middle and make one ridge while older kids can time how long they hold the full cloverleaf or try it without the mirror to increase difficulty.
How can we extend or personalize the cloverleaf activity?
After forming the cloverleaf, decorate the mirror, take a photo of your finished cloverleaf to share on DIY.org, or experiment with making bigger or smaller bumps and lobes as variations.
Watch videos on how to make a cloverleaf with your tongue
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Facts about oral motor skills for kids
👄 A little fold called the frenulum sits under your tongue and can limit movement; if stretching hurts, stop and ask an adult.
👅 The human tongue is made of eight muscles working together—so it can curl, roll, and learn tricks like a cloverleaf with practice.
💪 The tongue is incredibly strong for its size and gets better at precise moves the more you train it.
🧬 Tongue-rolling used to be blamed on a single gene, but scientists now say both genetics and practice matter—many people improve with exercises.
🍭 Your tongue has thousands of tiny taste buds that renew every couple of weeks—so choose clean, gentle practice over sweets.
How do you teach a child to make a cloverleaf with their tongue?
What materials do I need to practice tongue cloverleaf exercises?
What ages is tongue cloverleaf practice suitable for?
What are the benefits and safety tips for tongue cloverleaf practice?
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