How can I help a child who displays mutism?
Q: I have a child in my class who never speaks publicly and I do know what to do about this.
A: In my time as a teacher, I have dealt with two children and two adults who were elected mutes; that is, they had decided not to speak again in public although they maintained a whispered relationship with
one or both parents. This is a serious psychological condition, which deserves full exploration, and this is not the place to do so. However, as I go around the country, I meet many teachers who can see this condition developing and certainly the sooner you can catch it, the more likelihood you have of preventing it from developing into a serious condition. If I suspect a child is chronically shy early on in Nursery, Reception or Year One, I find puppets are incredibly helpful; I tend to hold little puppet chats with two or three children at a time, as children will speak naturally to puppets. Once a rapport has established with a puppet, I will then explain what we may be discussing in the circle, ask the child to give his idea or answer to the puppet and ask if he would like the puppet to say this for him in the circle. 1 will tuck the puppet through the child's arm and the puppet will talk for him; for example, 'Peter would like to say...'. When the child is used to this approach I will then let go of the pre-circle chat and get the puppet to whisper the question during the circle, so the child gets used to whispering to the puppet and being seen to respond. After a few weeks of this I'll move some distance from the child, who must then whisper across other children; thus confidence can be built up in slow, small steps. Another approach is to ask a child to select a friend to speak in his stead or to write down a response and give it to another child to read out.
If none of these ideas works, don't despair. It is very important to play physical games with the whole class through which the child can relate to others. If that child holds on to a parachute alongside twenty-nine others and 'rows a boat' with them in a magical land, then this is a symbolic action of teamwork. Through games and activities, he can learn to share, take turns, listen and to have fun. Words are only one form of expression. There are good books around on mutism.
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