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7 Must-Do Things For A Parent of A Child With Selective Mutism: Actionable Tips and Resources to Consider.
Selective mutism is manageable, even though at times it seems like an overwhelming and slowly-dragging endeavor, lacking the final destination. Most of the time it surely seems to consume all of us, my child in particular – and this is when the realization of having to deal with selective mutism, an anxiety disorder, becomes even more real. Luckily, some days feel like we are over it as if selective mutism has been gone forever as if it never happened. Having witnessed how much progress can be done with early detection, treatment therapy, strategic school accommodations, and medication, I’m sure more optimistic now to believe my daughter’s therapist’s words, “She will…
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6 Things You Can Do Right Now To Help Your Child With Selective Mutism.
This post will answer many of your questions such as: Apart from that, I will give you 6 actionable steps you can start incorporating in your day-to-day functioning now to help your child with selective mutism. To skip to the section about 5 actionable steps, click here. How Does Selective Mutism Work? In our family’s more than 3-year-journey with selective mutism disorder, we have learned that selective mutism is not only difficult to spot and recognize, but it is also difficult to manage and address. What does selective mutism mean? Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder that impacts a child’s ability to speak in many social settings and at times…
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Selective Mutism IEP/504 Goals, Choice of Therapy, Activities & How to Normalize Anxiety for an Anxious Child.
In this post, learn about: Selective Mutism IEP Goals are Very Unique for Each Child and Each Family Circumstances. Before I share with you everything I learned about selective mutism IEP (504) goals and how to craft them, let me burst your bubble: You are probably tired and overwhelmed dealing with selective mutism and school issues. I dare to ask is it because you expect too much from the educational system that is not built to handle unique and rare conditions such as selective mutism? Or are you expecting too much from an anxious child and are not willing to accept the longer and slower pace of recovery from selective…
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Reading Comprehension Worksheets: The Basics of Text Comprehension to Teach.
Why Reading Comprehension is Hard. Download this free sample of the reading comprehension worksheets to use with creating a summary. Elementary school students usually have a hard time responding to literature and being engaged in reading comprehension activities. This may be explained by a couple of reasons: Students who are still learning to decode put a lot of effort and attentional resources into reading the letters and words. It goes without saying that thinking beyond the code of text for emerging and beginner readers is often hard. Understanding the text beyond the code (letters, words, sentences) requires metacognition, or thinking about their own thinking. Elementary students just start developing their…
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What Are My Strengths? Individual & Group Activities for Social-Emotional Education in “My Strengths” Journal.
“What are my strengths?” is one of the most important questions to ask yourself because the answer to it may determine your life trajectory. Seemingly complicated for a child to answer, the question is worth asking. A simple response “I’m good at riding a bike” can not only be a reassurance of one’s strength in one particular area, but it may really push learners in your classroom to see the best sides of themselves and focus on interests and skills learner might have previously dismissed as ordinary and boring, thus reinforcing skill building, practicing and raising one’s self-image. How can you make sure every learner in a classroom or your…
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Outer Space Coloring Pages and Other Coloring Worksheets for Kids.
Printable outer space coloring pages. Outer space coloring pages have been a hit in my little teacher shop. I don’t know what exactly makes space so attractive for kids, but once there is a coloring worksheet fresh off the print with some bright crayons on the table, children’s imagination runs free and the exploration of planets, aliens, starts, aquanauts, and space shuttles begins. Space coloring sheets keep kids busy in my house as well. My 2nd grader and a toddler can spend good 40 minutes trying out all the colors while carefully filling in all the shapes on the giant space coloring sheet that I print for about $3 at…
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Routines For School: How To Help a Reluctant & Anxious Child Thrive in Daily Routines and Reading.
The article will talk about the best routines for school that will work for any child, especially for a child with selective mutism. You will find an example of a daily schedule free printable for your child. Routines for School: Daily Schedule Routine. Every young learner thrives in predictable routines for school and regular procedures. It is especially true for a child with selective mutism. Predictability in routines for school reduces the unknown – the cause of anxiety for a child with selective mutism. Therefore, planned and familiar schedules and expectations can help the child with selective mutism function comfortably and more efficiently in school and at home. While routines…
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Selective Mutism Classroom Accommodations: What You Need To Know About 504 and IEP.
In this post, you will learn about: Why you need an IEP or 504 plan to give your child the best selective mutism classroom accommodations. Which plan (504 or IEP) is best for selective mutism classroom accommodations. What parents need to know about IEP and 504. How to make selective mutism classroom accommodations actionable. You need an IEP or 504 plan to give your child the best selective mutism classroom accommodations. Selective mutism anxiety disorder impacts a child in many different areas: thinking remembering learning communicating hearing mental health social relationships At home, the child with selective mutism experiences anxiety which manifests in many exhausting behaviors to both the child…
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Selective Mutism Myths: Most Common Concerns Addressed.
In this article, you will read about the 7 most common selective mutism myths. 1. Selective mutism will stay with my child forever. It is the question that you and I and every parent mostly likely already asked, “Will selective mutism be there forever?” The answer (that you probably know) is NO; it will NOT be there forever. Sigh…(I cried my first time hearing that answer; skeptical, fearful but hopeful). With the early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, MOST children can overcome selective mutism. Yet, the battle with selective mutism is not only about the child affected. Like most families, my family, with all its members, has been affected by selective…
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70 Selective Mutism Symptoms and 3 Diagnostic Criteria.
This post will talk about: 70 Selective mutism symptoms and behaviors. 3 Diagnostic criteria for selective mutism. Indicators that are not consistent with selective mutism. To anyone unaware of selective mutism (as I was four years ago), it’s almost impossible to see the signs and symptoms of this anxiety disorder in a child. In our situation, my toddler was clingy, sometimes moody, and even bossy. She was also a picky eater and hated her hair being brushed, tugged, or any attempt of mine to put her hair in ponytails. Before my child was diagnosed with selective mutism, nothing directly pointed to my daughter having a selective mutism anxiety disorder. What was…
