– Praise your child for joining in and interacting with others, even when this is non-verbal. Acknowledge and praise all interactions with communication partners such as passing toys, nodding/shaking their head and pointing.
– Concentrate on having fun with your child. This will reduce the pressure on your child to speak. Enjoying interactions with other people will reduce anxiety around talking to people.
– Follow your child’s lead when they are ready to speak. Reassure them that they will be able to speak when they’re ready. Don’t punish your child for not speaking.
– Don’t beg or bribe your child to speak. It is important to not let your child know that you are anxious.
– Discuss your concerns with school staff. If they are also concerned, it might be worth referring your child to your schools allocated therapist, or making a private referral on our home page if you’d like to be seen within 3 weeks.