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From: Charlie Healey
Date: 21 Oct 2008
Time: 10:40:13 -0500
Remote Name: 76.84.69.211
Helping parents accept their child's stuttering is a difficult process and not something that is easy to figure out. For some parents, the acceptance of their child's stuttering is a long process, sometimes taking years. I try to encourage parents to see the positive things that their child does and de-emphasize the focus on the stuttering. I also try to give parents an idea of how hard it is to change speaking behavior by having them write with their non-dominant hand. They quickly see how hard it is and how frustrating it is to do something unfamiliar. Having their child learn new ways of talking, feeling, and thinking is even more difficult than writing with the opposite hand. Having the parents journal and share those journals with you can also be a way for them to express feelings and thoughts about their child in a constructive way. Finally, having the parents involved in the therapy process is helpful so the child sees them as a partner in this change, rather than someone who is consistently judging them for how he/she talks.