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From: Nina Reeves
Date: 06 Oct 2012
Time: 17:32:08 -0500
Remote Name: 173.173.94.35
Hi Annette; Thanks for writing. In answer to your question, I have literally hundreds of ideas of how to get parents more involved in therapy. :) It is impossible to sum them up in this forum, but I will try to list a few that are most relevant. Overall, I have found that parents WANT to be involved in therapy! Once they understand that therapy doesn't "cure" stuttering, and the SLP is not going to "fix" their child, they are eager to help in any way possible; they are just unsure what their role should be! Our job is two fold: 1. Get knowledgeable and comfortable enough with stuttering so we are comfortable dealing with parents' questions and concerns! 2. Guide parents to understand their roles. This allows them to be "mom and dad" and keeps them away from being the "tools police." My experience has taught me that parents help most by being knowledgeable about stuttering, understanding the therapy process, being a great "practice listener" and most of all...creating a safe haven for their child to talk; no matter whether he stutters or doesn't!