Does your child stutter or often have disfluent speech? There are a few changes that you as the parent can make to decrease disfluencies and increase your child’s communicative success!
- Tip #1: Speak slowly.
- If you speak in a slow and relaxed manner, your child naturally will try to match your conversational style and slow their own speech. This is more effective than specifically telling your child to “slow down”.
- Tip #2: Pause Frequently.
- Wait a few seconds after your child finishes speaking before you begin to speak. This will slow the conversation down and, in turn, slow your child’s rate of speech down.
- Tip #3: Ask fewer questions.
- Instead, comment on what your child has said. It is okay to ask your child a question, just try to limit them to 1 at a time and give them plenty of time to answer.
- Tip #4: Use body language.
- Make it clear that you are listening to what your child is saying rather than how they are saying it. Do this by using body language and facial expressions. Be sure to look engaged and interested in what they are telling you. Do not grimace or look uncomfortable when your child has disfluency.
- Tip #4: Give your undivided attention.
- Spend 5-10 minutes each day with your child without any outside distractions. This one-on-one time with your child can build their confidence with communication!
- Tip #5: Take turns to talk and listen.
- Have the entire family make a greater effort to take turns talking. Children who stutter often find it easier to talk when there are fewer interruptions.
- Tip #6: Educate others.
- Teach family, friends, strangers about what stuttering is. When people understand stuttering and how it impacts your child they will be more accepting and understanding.
Try to actively make changes in how you communicate with your child using these simple tips. Always communicate to your child that you accept the way they talk and try not to critique or reprimand your child when they get stuck on a disfluency.
Do you have more questions about stuttering? Give us a call!
Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center has locations in the Iowa City, IA area and Des Moines, IA area. We provide individual speech-language therapy and tutoring as well as offering small group academic programs. At Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center our passion is to help kids achieve effective communication skills and gain academic success. Contact us for more information on how we can help your child succeed.
info@enrichmenttherapies.com
740 Community Drive, Unit A
North Liberty, IA 52317
319-626-2553
infodm@enrichmenttherapies.com
5530 West Pkwy, Suite 300
Johnston, IA 50131
515-419-4270
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