Friday, March 18, 2011

Tips for Parents of Children Who Stutter

  • You must be aware of your child’s worry and discomfort. Your child will try not to stutter. But the harder he tries, the worse the stuttering is apt to get.
  • You probably make remarks about your child’s stuttering from time to time. It is understandable for you to want to help. Perhaps you don’t find it easy to listen to the stuttering and would like it to stop. When you say or do something to help your child, you should observe carefully. If your help results in his becoming more relaxed and calm, you will be doing the right thing. His talking will get easier, too.
  • It is quite possible your child does not want to be helped when talking. Then it is no use trying to do so. He or she will only get more tense. (Maybe because he gets the message that he is not allowed to be imperfect?) The more the child tenses up, the harder it will be for the words to come through. Better than any stranger, parents know whether their child is tense or relaxed. That is why we ask for your help. Because you know your child best and can gauge his or her feelings, you give the most valuable support of all.
  • It is important to state that parents’ behavior never is the cause of stuttering. Your child was born with a hereditary tendency to stutter. This means the area of speech is a weak point in his general make up. Stuttering manifests itself when demands (in whatever area of life) become too heavy. This stuttering is harmless in itself. But if your child thinks others do not like his stuttering, he will try to talk “better” and to hide or stop the stuttering. That makes the stuttering worse, and it is the reason he still suffers because of it.
  • So remember you are not the cause of your child’s stuttering, but you are the nearest and best supporters on his road to talking more easily.Your child may feel angry as well as hurt and discouraged because of his speech problem. What he needs most are parents who allow him to be resentful or sad about it and who show they understand.

These tips are from Sometimes I Just Stutter by Eelco de Geus.

The Stuttering Foundation has many excellent books, articles, and DVDs for parents of young children who stutter. You can access their website for this and other free resources at www.stutteringhelp.org

Friday, March 11, 2011

When Children Stutter:

The Stuttering Foundation Offers Tips for Teachers

1. Talk with the child privately and explain that talking is just like any other skills we learn and that making mistakes is okay, and with practice it will improve.

2. Until the child has had adequate time to adjust to the class, ask questions that can be answered with a few words.


3. Call on the child that stutters early in the discussion. Waiting and not knowing if he will be called on allows the child time to worry and tension to build making it even more difficult for him to respond orally.

4. Explain to the whole class that you want them to take their time and think through their answers, not just respond quickly.

5. Don't tell the child who stutters to slow down or "relax".

6. Don't complete words or sentences for the child.

7. Emphasize the importance of listening when others are speaking. It is much easier for everyone, especially the child who stutters, when distractions and interruptions are kept to a minimum.

8. Maintain a relaxed and accepting attitude, speaking in an unhurried way with appropriate pauses.

9. Expect the same quality of work from the child who stutters as you do fro all students.

10. Assure students you are listening to the content of the message and not just how it is said.

11. Maintain a strict no teasing rule in your classroom that addresses teasing for any reason. Don't single out teasing of the stuttering child as any different than any other form of teasing. Teasing is not allowed.

12. Reading aloud may pose problems. Many children who stutter can read fluently when they read with a buddy. Try choral reading or buddy reading with all children in the class until the child gains experience with reading aloud.

The full brochure, The Child Who Stutters at School: Notes to the Teacher is available from The Stuttering Foundation. Call toll-free 1-800-992-9392 or visit their web site at www.stutteringhelp.org to download the brochure.

The Stuttering Foundation, located in Memphis, TN is a nonprofit organization that offers books and DVDs on stuttering, including a new DVD, Stuttering: Straight Talk for Teachers, available free online with video streaming. Source: The Stuttering Foundation http://www.stutteringhelp.org/Default.aspx?tabid=147