Help For A Stuttering Child
As parents we want the best for our children. We provide them with food, clothing, and shelter, and we give them
lots of love and support. So when our child suffers from a problem like stuttering, it’s upsetting because we may
not know what to do. But you don’t have to face the problem alone. There is help for a stuttering
child. Best of all, you can even provide some of this stuttering help yourself.
First of all, it’s important to be supportive of the child. Your home should be a haven where your stammering
child can relax and be himself. You can show support for a stutterer by being patient and not showing any
impatience or anxiety while he or she is speaking. Allow him to express himself in his own time and don’t correct
improperly pronounced words.
Make it a rule in your home that everyone shows respect for whoever is speaking by not interrupting. This goes
for everyone. Take turns talking and listening. This will really help a stuttering child feel free to express
herself, without the pressure to hurry and finish before being cut off. Of course, it goes without saying that
teasing from siblings is not acceptable. Make your home a safe, non-pressured place.
Stutterers are often reluctant to talk because of the impatience that they sense in others. The no-interrupting
rule is a great way to help a stutterer feel better about himself while relieving pressure from him.
Avoid asking too many questions one after the other. Let your child finish answering the first question before
you ask the second one. Again, this reduces pressure on a stuttering child.
When stuttering children talk, listen carefully so you can understand what they are saying and don’t have to ask
them to repeat themselves. The last thing a person with a stutter wants to do is to have to repeat what they’ve
already said.
Just as importantly, speak normally to them. Don’t change the way you talk just because they stutter. If you
speak differently to them than you do to others, you are sending the message that they are different. You don’t
want them to feel any more conscious of their stammering than they already are.
The hardest time for your child will be when they are away from home. School can be especially challenging for a
stutterer as they are an easy target for teasing. One thing you could do would be to meet with the teacher.
Stress how important it is that your child not be centered out in any way. Request that your child be called
upon only infrequently, unless they volunteer to answer, and only for short answers. Oral presentations, if really
necessary, should be done only in front of the teacher rather than the whole class.
You may want to look into getting some help for stuttering from a speech therapist. Speech therapists can help
by teaching your child strategies and techniques to at least minimize this speech disorder. Schools often provide
this service as part of their student support services. But if not, you may be able to access these services within
your community.
Finally, learn to love and accept your children the way they are. This is good advice for any child, whether
they have problems or not. But if you are looking for a way to provide help for a stuttering
child, start with this. With your love and support and a caring environment, your child may be able to
overcome his stuttering problem.
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