This post is all about selective mutism activities you can do with your child at home, in therapy, or at school.
Things I wish I knew when i was younger. Important lessons on my philosophy of life and humanity. Author - Mommywarrior77
Children with selective mutism can be successful in the classroom with accommodations designed by a Speech Language Pathologist.
Naturally introverted, selectively extroverted. Introvert Quotes, shy people quotes, introvert sayings, im an introvert quotes, being an introvert quotes.
Selective mutism is the inability to talk in social settings despite being able to talk normally in a comfortable setting. Most often, this happens when children begin going to school. They may have normal speaking habits at home, but they cannot interact with their teachers and classmates when they get to school. The level of communication your child can perform will depend on the severity and particular symptoms of their selective mutism.
As parents we see the struggles our children face every day. We know our children best and see things that others don’t usually see. We know their personal inner battles that they need to ove…
Since first writing about Selective Mutism and my son's struggle with this anxiety disorder, I have received several encouraging messages and comments. Some have asked how he is progressing this school year, so I wanted to give an update and share a few picture books that we have enjoyed reading that are perfect for the SM child and their friends who may not understand this "shy" child and their inability to speak aloud. Plus, October is Selective Mutism awareness month, so I thought now is a good time for another post on S.M. First, my five year old has made tremendous progress these last three years and is now whispering to almost all his teachers this year in kindergarten! This is his third year at his school where he attended the 3 and 4 year old preschool classes. So, he feels very comfortable, the faculty is familiar to him, and several of his friends from previous years are in his class. Although he is interacting more with other students, I still have not seen nor heard him initiate conversation with his peers. To witness him first hand, participate in class to answer questions (in a loud whisper) is a blessing and makes me want to cry happy tears! What is the secret to his progress? I'm not really sure... My family and his teachers have prayed for him, we have trusted that God would equip me, my husband, and his teachers to best know how to work with him, and the faculty at his school (where I also teach) has embraced him, loved on him, and has been so patient with him. Removing the pressure to speak aloud is critical to S.M. children. So is treating them like any other student and making sure that they are included in all activities, even if the teachers knows they may not participate. My son loves to read, and I found a few picture books that deal with quiet, shy characters. These books can help the S.M. child realize that they are not alone with their silence (my child verbalized last year that he thought he was the only one in the world that didn't talk at school...awww!). Additionally, they can help other children understand that shy, mute children are different, but are more like them than they might think! Danny, the Duck With No Quack by Malachy Doyle - This sweet picture book was a gift to my son from my teacher-friend who read the book and thought of him. Danny never has a word to say, and the other barn yard animals do not understand why he is so scared to talk. One day he leaves to find a story to tell and has a big adventure and quacks about it! My son enjoyed the gorgeous illustrations and the lesson that he will be able to talk to his friends in his own time. A Home For Bird by Philip C. Stead- I stumbled upon this beautiful picture book a few weeks ago at the library. Vernon, the toad, finds a new friend, a small bird, who is silent. Vernon does not understand why his new friend is so shy and quiet. Vernon says, "Bird is shy, but is also a good listener." The book's message reinforces the message that we can be thoughtful friends to our quiet, shy friends! Below are picture books written specifically for children with Selective Mutism. I have not read them, but will be purchasing them for my son. Click the pictures to read the product descriptions on Amazon. If you are a parent or teacher of a child with Selective Mutism, I hope that these book recommendations will be helpful to you! If you have other books you would recommend, please leave a comment!
What a student's silence is really saying.
This post is all about selective mutism activities you can do with your child at home, in therapy, or at school.
Visit the post for more.
Selective Mutism is a mental health condition that most commonly affects children, in which the child can only speak in specific situations.
…
Through the years I have had a few students with selective mutism. When I met my first student with S.M., I thought she was just very shy. For this post, I will call her Sally but that is not her real name. But, after a couple of weeks of school, it was clear that there was more going on that a case of shyness. That is when I asked for a meeting with Sally's parents to get their insight into what was happening. Her parents told me that she would only talk to the people in her immediate family and one neighbor. She wouldn't even speak to her grandparents or cousins. After observations and meetings with her pediatrician, counselor, speech pathologist, she was officially diagnosed as having selective mutism. Luckily, Sally's parents were very open to ideas and happy to try anything that we suggested. Sally's mom would send me something to school on a weekly basis. Sometimes it was a bag of cookies that Sally and her mom had baked together. Other times Sally's mom let her pick out a packet of stickers to donate to our class. Sally's job was to hand the item(s) to me. We set the following goals: 1st: Hand the item to the teacher without mom standing beside her. I said thank you but did not ask her any questions about the item. 2nd: Hand the item to the teacher while looking at the teacher. I said thank you but did not ask her any questions about the item. 3rd: Hand the item to the teacher and say you're welcome. I said thank you but did not ask her any questions about the item. 4th: Hand the item to the teacher while looking at the teacher and say you're welcome. I said thank you but did not ask her any questions about the item. 5th: Hand the item to the teacher while looking at the teacher and say you're welcome. Answer teacher's question with one word. I said thank you and then asked her a question that could be answered with one word - usually a yes/no question. 6th: Hand the item to the teacher while looking at the teacher and say you're welcome. Answer teacher's question with 2 or more words. I said thank you and then asked her a question that required a few more details. Once again, Sally's parents provided extra support to help her build relationships with her classmates. Sally and her mom loved to bake. Usually students only brought treats for their birthday. I gave her mom permission to send in treats more frequently. When Sally passed out the treats to her classmates, she was concentrating on the actual process of passing out, and less about her anxiety about communicating with her classmates. We set goals for this too. 1st: Pass out treats without teacher support. 2nd: Pass out treat and make eye contact with classmates. 3rd: Pass out treat, make eye contact with classmates, and smile when student says thank you. 4th: Pass out treat, make eye contact with classmates, and say you're welcome when classmate says thank you. Sally received weekly support from our school counselor. Our counselor let Sally choose a buddy come with her. She and the buddy played games in the counselor's office. In the beginning, Sally would only smile and shake her head for yes or no. But, over time she slowly began to whisper to the counselor and her buddy. I think it helped that there was only one buddy and they were in a quiet office so she felt more comfortable. By the end of the year, she was able to invite 3 buddies to go with her. As you can imagine she became very popular because she got to pick her buddy(ies). Word quickly spread that if Sally chose you, you got to go play games. Students wanted to sit by her at lunch and invited her to play games with them at recess. There are different reasons why a student may have S.M. Sometimes it is an anxiety issue. Click HERE to read more about this topic. Interested in reading more posts? Click on the pictures below.
Visit the post for more.
Selective mutism is a persistent failure to speak in specific social situations (e.g. at school), despite speaking fluently in familiar situations.Children with selective mutism can appear socially withdrawn, oppositional, perfectionistic, or have an increased degree of emotional or sensory sensitivity.Early intervention leads to better outcomes and reduces negative effects on social development, educational progress, and
In this post, hear Sarah's story about living selective mutism and childood anxiety. Encouragement and 5 tips for parents.
Lucy Parker, 5, from Chelmsford Essex, chats away non-stop at home, but every morning, when she walks to school she undergoes a striking transformation and stops talking completely.
Selective Mutism is a mental health condition that most commonly affects children, in which the child can only speak in specific situations.
…
I'm not antisocial, I'm selectively social - Sticker .: Made 100% with durable vinyl that comes with strong 3M glue for decorations that last. Perfect for spicing up indoor decor (not waterproof). .: All stickers are 0.004" (4mm) thick and come with a stylish glossy finish.
Often, we describe art as an escape from reality but we forget that art is the reality and whether you are an artist or an observer, art fills the void that resides deep inside you with a plethora of…
Family physicians often encounter patients with acute knee trauma. Radiographs of injured knees are commonly ordered, even though fractures are found in only 6 percent of such patients and emergency department physicians can usually discriminate clinically between fracture and nonfracture. Decision rules have been developed to reduce the unnecessary use of radiologic studies in patients with acute knee injury. The Ottawa knee rules and the Pittsburgh decision rules are the latest guidelines for the selective use of radiographs in knee trauma. Application of these rules may lead to a more efficient evaluation of knee injuries and a reduction in health costs without an increase in adverse outcomes.
How a Korean term helps me reconcile my moments of discipline and sloth
Selective mutism in adults is an anxiety disorder in which people can’t speak in specific situations. Know its symptoms, causes, & treatments.
Our Treatment Approach Social Communication Anxiety Treatment® (S-CAT®) is the evidenced-based philosophy of treatment developed by Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum and implemented only at the SMart Center. Dr. Shipon-Blum's S-CAT® treatment method has been studied by the Selective Mutism Research Institute (SMRI). The S-CAT® program is effective for children, teens, and
…
Eugenics is the now-discredited practice of “improving” the human race and reducing the impact of hereditary disease by mating people with desirable traits.
Selective Mutism is a childhood anxiety disorder characterized by an inability to speak and communicate in select social settings, such as school.
