What Do I Do When My Child Stutters?

Keep reading to unveil Denise's TOP tips for the families of children who experience stuttering/disfluency…

1. Get on the Child's Level & Be Mindful of Body Language

Lower your positioning to meet the child at his or her eye gaze; you want to be face-to-face while making eye contact. Smile & bring your warm expression as you listen. These things show your interest in the conversation, as well as the importance held in what your child is saying. This will help build confidence!

2. Be Patient

Count to 2 in your head before responding. A child may need an extra moment or two to get his or her words out. Your pausing after the communication reinforces that there is no rush to "get the speech out," or for the child to respond quickly in the next communicative turn. It may feel unnatural at first, but count it out & then respond!

3. Don't ask the child to repeat, "slow down," or "take a breath."

While these responses generally comes from the best of intentions, they prove to be counter-productive. Instead, use tip #2 and then maybe ask a clarifying question.

4. Allow the child to finish his/her OWN sentence.

Refrain from finishing the child's sentence, or speaking FOR the child. We don't want to make the assumption that we know what the child is wanting to say. Take turns to speak & let the child complete his/her conversational turn.

5. Educate siblings, family members, teachers, and anyone else  regularly a part of your child's life!

Share with loved one's about the importance of creating a relaxed environment for communication using the strategies & tips above!

Final Thoughts:

A calm, matter-of-fact response to a child's disfluency is where we begin. We want the child to feel good about him or herself, even if the disfluent speech patterns continue. Our goal is always to have healthy, appropriate attitudes towards communication.

Was this helpful? I sure hope so! Get started implementing these strategies today and watch the difference they can make! If you have any questions or need more personalized support, don't hesitate to reach out to Denise at Three Points Therapy. Together, we can make a breakthrough for your child's fluency!