How to Help a Preschooler Struggling With Stuttering

In her article entitled “Teaching Tips to Help Children Who Stutter,” Bright Hub’s Alyssa Ast points out that the condition is not only hard on the children who stutter, but also on the elementary school teachers who seek to impart knowledge and skills. This is just as true for the preschool teacher, especially since the premier time for stuttering appears to be the age range between two and five. 

While reading aloud is not yet a factor for the child, the inability to get through retelling a situation or occurrence can create fodder for kids intent on teasing children with problems. Before long, the preschool teacher may be working just as hard at accommodating the child who stutters as they are at disciplining those children, who display improper and unkind behavior.

Recognize stuttering as opposed to repetitiveness

Stuttering is defined as the threefold or more frequent repetition of sounds or entire words that translate into five or more occurrences per 100 spoken words. ₍₂₎ Facial movements incongruent with those displayed during normal speech patterns may also be present. Quite obviously, this condition warrants professional diagnosis and potentially also speech therapy. A discussion with the parents or caregivers is a must.

Police personal reactions to stuttering

It is not uncommon for a grown up to be embarrassed for the stuttering child. Frowning and looking away are two very ordinary reactions to a persistent stutter. Unfortunately, they communicate disapproval to an already sensitive child. Instead, work hard at affecting a genuine smile and resist the temptation of finishing the child’s words or sentences in an effort to move along. Discourage this behavior in the child’s peers as well.

Asses the mode of addressing the child

Even though preschool teachers are well versed at interacting with youngsters just coming out of toddler-hood, it is a good idea to focus on shortening and simplifying the way they address a stuttering student. In addition, slowing down just slightly can make a huge difference in the child’s ability to process the words and then formulate a response before beginning to speak.

It goes without saying that the preschooler’s budding sense of self worth takes a beating when they stutter. Adding insult to injury, a preschool teacher not well versed in the condition may not know what to do to help the child. On the flip-side, a teacher may be instrumental in bringing stuttering to a parent’s attention. It is a well known fact that preschool intervention has the potential to cure early childhood stuttering, while later intercession may merely decrease its severity.

1. http://www.howtocurestuttering.com/stutteringcuresarticles/early-childhood-stuttering.php
2. http://www.prevent-stuttering.com/Warnings.html