- Remain calm and don’t let your child pick up on your anxiety.
- Don’t make your child repeat what they have said, repeat back what they have said and give a correct model.
- Slow down your speech when talking to make your child feel less rushed, they will speak more slowly back to you.
- Don’t finish off or correct your child.
- Speak in short, clear sentences and reduce the expectation for them to produce long complicated sentences.
- When speaking show lots of eye contact so they know that they have your attention and do not feel rushed.
- Praise fluent speech “That was really smooth talking – well done”
- Give your child time to express themselves and try to ensure they are not interrupted, help all family members learn to take turns in talking and listening.
- Reduce distractions such as the T.V when your child is talking to you.
- Reduce the number of direct questions to reduce possible pressure
- Try keeping to set routines, frequent changes and a more frantic lifestyle may increase dysfluency.
- Your child’s dysfluency may increase before and during periods of excitement such as birthdays, holidays and Christmas or if they are tired
Top tips for young children who stammer
