First of all treat her as if she can speak. Often this can be an anxiety issue so any pressure will not be productive.
During one on one I would ask yes no questions and the child taps/points the right hand for yes, left for no. This establishes to her and to others that she is a communicator. You might want to have some pictures for her to point to for going to bathroom or other simple things to support her.
I would think of a way to have all the children say the names so there is no spotlight on her as people wait for her to speak.
Give her time, half a year is not much honestly. It is very important to be very matter of fact, yes she is communicating. By treating this in a matter of fact way you can help not concretize it. Just remember that anxiety hijacks her speech, this is not wilful. The ideal is that she is seamlessly included.
Let me know if you have other questions. Before I became an child analyst I worked for many years in Early Childhood
Melissa Werner, PhD, LPC, IAAP
Jungian Psychoanalyst for Adults and Children
C G Jung Institute Zurich
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Melissa Werner
Psychoanalyst
Vestavia Hills AL
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-01-2019 07:41 AM
From: Alisha Alford
Subject: Help support a child who is silent in our room
I would really appreciate some ideas about how to support a 24 month old girl in my room who is totally silent the second she crosses the threshold, despite parental reports that she is nonstop talk outside of our room. I did overhear her in the bathroom across the hall with her mother and she speaks clearly and animatedly in multi-word phrases. I realize I cannot (and wouldn't want to) diagnose, I am looking for ideas how to support her in finding her voice and assume anyone with experience with selective mutism would have relevant suggestions.
We only meet twice a week and I have waited since September to see if she starts speaking, but no change. She seems (and her parents confirm that she tells them) to really enjoy class and I can understand what she wants and needs. She understands everything.
Some questions - we sing a morning greeting song which involves the children saying their own name - what do I do when I get to her? I usually do her last (to let her prepare), wait five seconds for an answer and then just say her name.
Any idea appreciated. Thank you.
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Alisha Alford
Teacher
Falls Church VA
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