Activities to help child who stutters?

[MistyFying]

Hoping one of our resident speechies can help me out here....

My friend's 5 year old has just started stuttering. She's accessed some speech therapy (which improved it but has now ended) and is really, really wanting some "at-home" activities and games to help him. I've heard about the "Mr Bumpy" and "Mr smooth" program... does anyone have any good games or other strategies I can pass on to her please?

[MantaRay]

DS1 has seeing a speechie for a stutter. Some of the things we have been taught to do when he's having a bad patch are anything rythmic, like singing or talking in time to marching, or games with short repetitive sentences - eg I have a red block. I have a green block etc or I see a book etc. Then make them longer, so I see a book on the table. Then I see a red book on the table etc.

HTH.

[MistyFying]

Thanks Mel... I will pass those on

[monnie]

Hey MF

I'd really encourage her to ring the Speechie she previously saw and ask for a review appointment.

Let the speechie know that the stutter has returned (which it can, especially when kids are have a developmental burst or are under stress - tired, etc.). Also encourage your friend to highlight to the Speechie how distressed she is about it and really wants some help.

Sometimes just a one-off session is enough to put everybody back on track again!

If they are unable to offer a review appointment, ask them for a 'home programme' which should contain a whole lot of suggestions that should help.

Like MantaRay said, take it back to basics. Play games that only require one word responses...and if it's 'smooth', do lots of praise. Once she feels he is coping at a one word level, take it to a two word level and praise all the smooth talking...then go onto short sentences, etc.

Card games are often really easy to modify to help with this.

Keep the practice to short bursts of 5-10 minutes and try not to focus on the stuttering out of the practice sessions. The idea is that the child starts to gain mastery over their bumpy talking within the practice sessions first and then you can focus more on the stutter at other times...otherwise, it can all be a little overwhelming.

Hope that helps!

[MistyFying]

Thanks Monnie I'll pass that on to my friend too.