Parents:
1. Speak with your child in an unhurried way, pausing frequently.
Wait a few seconds, after your child finishes
speaking, before you begin to speak. Your own slow, relaxed speech
will be far more effective than any criticism or advice such as "slow down"
or "try it again slowly."
2. Reduce the number of questions you ask your child.
Children speak more freely if they are
expressing their own ideas rather than answering an adult's questions.
Instead of asking questions, simply comment on what your child has said,
thereby letting him know that you heard him.3. Use your
facial expressions and other body language to convey to your child,
when she stutters, that you are listening to
the content of her message and not to how she's talking.
4. Set aside a few minutes at a regular time each day when you can
give your undivided attention to your child.
During this time, let the child choose what he
would like to do. Let him direct you in the activities and decide
himself whether to talk or not. When you talk, during this special
time, use slow, calm, and relaxed speech, with plenty of pauses. This
quiet, calm time can be a confidence-builder for younger children, serving
to let them know that a parent enjoys their company. As the child gets
older, it can serve as a time when the child feels comfortable talking about
his feelings and experiences with a parent.
5. Help all members of the family learn to take turns talking and
listening.
Children, especially those who stutter, find
it much easier to talk when there are few interruptions and they have the
listeners' attention.
6. Observe the way you interact with your child.
Try to increase those times that you give your
child the message that you are listening to her and she has plenty of time
to talk. Try to decrease criticisms, rapid speech patterns,
interruptions, and questions.
7. Above all, convey that you accept your child as he is.
Your own slower, more relaxed speech and the
things you do to help build his confidence as a speaker are likely to
increase his fluency and diminish his stuttering. The most powerful
force, however, will be your support of him whether he stutters or not.
For more information, visit the:
Stuttering Foundation of America
Home Page
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Teachers:
1. Don't finish his/her sentences.
Children who stutter know what they want to
say and generally don't like it when their sentences are completed for them.
It elevates their stress levels, possibly increasing the instances of
stuttering.2. Wait patiently for a child to finish.
Don't rush a child who stutters. Provide
adequate wait time for him/her to complete the thought.
3. Watch your body language.
Children are very aware of your own non-verbal
reactions to their speech. Keep your face neutral, with an unchanged
expression when the child stutters.
4. Educate others about the child's disorder.
Children in the class will be curious about
the child's speech. Sometimes they will tease the child about his/her
speech. If you teach them about the disorder in a fun, educational
way, this may alleviate some of the discomfort.
5. Keep an open door.
Allow the child to come to you at any time to
talk about school, family, or any other issues he/she might have.
6. Monitor the child's classroom achievment.
Some children who stutter begin to do poorly
in the classroom setting. They may stop volunteering to answer
questions or speak in front of the class. Make sure you notice any
changes in the child's classroom performance and notify parents if changes
occur.
(courtesy of Super Duper Publications, Inc.)
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