Ten Things To Do - Selective Mutism - Happy Learners Things To Do - Selective Mutism.pdf ·...
Transcript of Ten Things To Do - Selective Mutism - Happy Learners Things To Do - Selective Mutism.pdf ·...
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© Stephen Norwood – Happy Learners Info
Furtherthingstodo:• Empathisewiththechild.Olderchildrenandteenagersare
morelikelytotrustsomeonewhoempathiseswiththenatureoftheirphobiaandanxieties.
• Modelgettingthingswrongandlaughing.Showthechildthatweallmakemistakesandthatwecanoftenjustlaughthemaway.
• Encourageandsupportthechildtotrylotsofdifferentactivitiestobroadentheirexperiencesandbuildconfidenceintheirownabilities.
• Ensureallstaffincludingsupplystaffareawareofthechild’sneeds.Apoorlyinformedmemberofstaffcanunwittinglycauseagreatdealofdamagetothechild’sprogress.
TENTHINGSTODOGUIDES
Thesearedesignedtoprovideabriefintroductiononly.Furtheradviceandresourcescanbe
foundonthewebsite:
happylearners.info
TEN THINGS TO DO
to support
Selective Mutism
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Donotforcethechildtospeak.Anypressuretotalkcanbecatastrophicforachildwhoisstrugglingwithmanagingtheirphobiaoftalking.Insteadallowanyformofcommunicationthatthechildiswillingtouse.
Haveakeyworker.Establishatrustingrelationshipwiththechildbyhavinganadultwhocanmeetwiththemregularlyatleastonceaday.
Encouragenon-verbalresponses.Childrenwithselectivemutismmaybewillingtonodorshaketheirheadsinresponsetoclosedquestions.Keyworkerscanhelpencouragethisandteachthisexplicitlyinsafe1-1interactions.
Encouragesoundmaking.Activitiesthatinvolveclappingintime,playingamusicalinstrumentinresponsetoothersandanimalsoundmakingcanoftenworkwithselectivemutechildren.
Giveindirectinvitationstospeak.Usestatementsaboutyourselfthatinvitearesponsesuchas‘Myfavouriteice-creamflavourisvanilla.’andmoreexplicitlyutteroutloudponderancesofwhatthechildmightsay;‘Iwonderwhatyourfavouriteice-creamis?’
Buildindailytimeforclasschants,rhymesandactions.Provideregularopportunitiesforwholeclassandlargegroupsingingoffamiliarsongs.Donotdrawanyattentiontotheselectivemutechildregardlessofwhethertheyjoininornot.
Usesoundrecorders.Somechildrencanbenefitfrombeingabletorehearse,recordandre-recordthemselvesasanalternativetospeakinginfrontofothers.Initiallythisshouldbedonejustforthemtohear.Onceconfidentinusingsoundrecordingsgraduallyincreaseaudience.
Partnerwithfriends.Childrenwithselectivemutismareoftenmorepreparedtoengageincommunicationtasksifpartneredwithafriendtheytrust.Extendtoincludeathirdlesswellknownchildaddedtothepairing.
Mentoringyoungerchildren.Byworkingwithyoungerchildrentheselectivemutechildisplacedinasociallydominantcontextwheretheyarelesslikelytoexperienceanxietyoverspeaking.
Progressveryslowly.Itisextremelyimportantnottobuildonsuccessestooquickly.Consolidateandreinforceeverystepforwardanddonotassumethatthechildhasovercometheiranxietyofspeakinginthatcontext.Gradualdesensitisationofaphobiatakesalongtime!
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