KurtzP_logo_kp1_700
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WHAT & HOW WE TREAT
    • What do we treat?
    • Telehealth Therapy Sessions
    • How to Pick a Therapy and a Therapist
    • Good Faith Estimate (GFE)
    • WHAT & HOW WE TREAT
  • SELECTIVE MUTISM
    • What is Selective Mutism?
    • Mighty Mouth Kids Camp
    • Selective Mutism & Social Anxiety Groups
    • SM Parent Training Groups
    • SM Learning University
    • Research on PCIT-SM
    • PCIT-SM Certified Therapists
    • Selective Mutism Resources
  • BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
    • What is Parent Training?
    • What is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy?
    • Parent Training for Child Compliance and Cooperation
    • Baby Steps: Weekly Virtual Group for Caregivers of Children Ages 0-3
    • Coping Kids Virtual Program
    • Capstone Summer Program
    • Training for Mental Health & Education Professionals
      • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Training for Mental Health Professionals
      • Teacher-Child Interaction Training (TCIT) for Educators & Schools
  • OCD & RELATED DISORDERS
  • BLOG
  • RESOURCES
    • Lunch n Learn Webinars
    • Selective Mutism Resources
    • Evidence-based treatments – “EBTs”
    • Videos
    • PCIT Tracker Programs
  • TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT
    • Lunch n Learn Webinars
    • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Training for Mental Health Professionals
    • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM) Training for Professionals
    • Within Agency Training for PCIT Therapists to Become Trainers
    • Training & Consulting for Professionals
    • Pre-Professional Training
    • Teacher-Child Interaction Training (TCIT) for Educators & Schools
    • Employment
  • CONTACT
Join Us On Social Media
KurtzP_logo_kp1_700
KurtzP_logo_kp1_700
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WHAT & HOW WE TREAT
    • What do we treat?
    • Telehealth Therapy Sessions
    • How to Pick a Therapy and a Therapist
    • Good Faith Estimate (GFE)
    • WHAT & HOW WE TREAT
  • SELECTIVE MUTISM
    • What is Selective Mutism?
    • Mighty Mouth Kids Camp
    • Selective Mutism & Social Anxiety Groups
    • SM Parent Training Groups
    • SM Learning University
    • Research on PCIT-SM
    • PCIT-SM Certified Therapists
    • Selective Mutism Resources
  • BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
    • What is Parent Training?
    • What is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy?
    • Parent Training for Child Compliance and Cooperation
    • Baby Steps: Weekly Virtual Group for Caregivers of Children Ages 0-3
    • Coping Kids Virtual Program
    • Capstone Summer Program
    • Training for Mental Health & Education Professionals
      • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Training for Mental Health Professionals
      • Teacher-Child Interaction Training (TCIT) for Educators & Schools
  • OCD & RELATED DISORDERS
  • BLOG
  • RESOURCES
    • Lunch n Learn Webinars
    • Selective Mutism Resources
    • Evidence-based treatments – “EBTs”
    • Videos
    • PCIT Tracker Programs
  • TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT
    • Lunch n Learn Webinars
    • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Training for Mental Health Professionals
    • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM) Training for Professionals
    • Within Agency Training for PCIT Therapists to Become Trainers
    • Training & Consulting for Professionals
    • Pre-Professional Training
    • Teacher-Child Interaction Training (TCIT) for Educators & Schools
    • Employment
  • CONTACT

Educating students in the classroom setting about Selective Mutism

December 15, 2021
-
Posted by Leeann Fogelson, MSEd, PhD

From as early as age 2, children begin to notice similarities and differences between themselves and those around them. In the classroom setting, children are exposed to a diversity of identities, personalities, family structures, and learning styles. As educators, it is our role to encourage their curiosity regarding our differences and provide accurate and developmentally appropriate information within the classroom setting.

School age children also experience diverse mental health issues that can be noticed in the classroom. Selective mutism, an anxiety-based disorder, can be particularly noticeable and discovering that a peer is unable to speak in school is often question-provoking, which thereby makes education on the topic especially crucial. Selective mutism not only impacts a child’s ability to engage with academic material but also their ability to interact with their peers– as educators, it is important to have the tools to explain why this may be, and how students can be a support to a peer with selective mutism.

Below are a few ideas on how you can explain selective mutism to your students:

    1. Read books!
      • Read books not only about selective mutism, but also about experiences and identities of other children in the classroom (e.g., books about race, different family structures, gender expression, other mental health topics, etc.)
      • The Selective Mutism Association has a wide range of recommended books you can read to your students.
    2. Prompt for discussions about fears and worries and how to overcome them.
      • We all have things that we may be anxious about and discussing other types of worries (e.g., dogs, shots, darkness, etc.) can help contextualize selective mutism.
      • One way to do this might be having teacher/student interviews
        • Have students interview each other or the teacher on what they used to be afraid of and how they overcame it.
          • Understanding that fears and worries take time to overcome (but can always be conquered!) helps to build empathy towards the student in your classroom with selective mutism.
    3. Encourage students to openly discuss what they are working on.
      • This can be through daily check-ins or through more structured writing assignments.
        • One idea is to have students write a note to their classmates about what they are working on. For example, a child with selective mutism might write, “sometimes it’s hard for me to say ‘hi’ but I really like when you say ‘hi’ to me. I am working on my brave voice, and I will be practicing saying ‘hi’ back,” while a child who is working on sharing might write, “sometimes it’s hard for me to share my toys but I’m practicing. Thanks for playing with me at recess”
          • These skills build awareness and normalize that everyone is working on something.
    4. Have the parent of the child with selective mutism write a letter to the other parents and prompt for at home discussions regarding diversity and acceptance.
Email

Related

Other posts that you should not miss.

When Mental Health Challenges Come out of Nowhere- PANS/PANDAS Explained

February 23, 2020
There are children for whom we see signs that they are anxious or unhappy or beginning to suffer emotionally or behaviorally. We try to get help for our…
Read More →
Screenshot 2018-12-21 15.24.12
Posted by Kate Gibson, PsyD, ABPP
5 MIN READ

The Attitude of Gratitude

November 18, 2021
The season of giving thanks is right around the corner, making it the perfect time to start thinking about the role of gratitude in our daily lives. Feelings…
Read More →
Posted by Valerie Carozza, BS
4 MIN READ

Finding Positive Moments During COVID-19

May 6, 2020
The last few weeks have brought a lot of change. Among sudden change often comes anxiety and feelings of overwhelm. Add in having to essentially homeschool your children,…
Read More →
Mayer_Carly headshot
Posted by Carly Mayer, PsyD
3 MIN READ
Kurtz Psychology
  • Home
  • About Us
  • What do we treat?
  • What is Selective Mutism?
  • What is Parent Training?
  • Videos
  • Employment
  • Contact Us
Explore Next Steps
  • Mighty Mouth Kids Camp
  • Lunch n Learn Webinars
  • Selective Mutism Resources
  • Pre-Professional Training
  • What is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy?
  • What is Selective Mutism?
  • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Training for Mental Health Professionals
Recent Blog Posts
  • April 6, 2022
    Supporting Your Child’s Sleep
  • April 1, 2022
    How to Support Anxious Children in Being Brave
  • March 10, 2022
    Awareness is Prevention: Self Harm Awareness Month
©2019 Kurtz Psychology, All Rights Reserved
Facebook Instagram Twitter
Educating students in the classroom setting about Selective Mutism | Kurtz Psychology