Hi! Thanks so much for doing an AMA. I'm a dance teacher and I have a 4-year-old student with selective mutism. After about 10 weeks of class (45 minutes a week), I noticed that she has started to make some noises. For example, we do freeze-dance at the end of class and when I prompt them to "dance like their favorite animal," she will make tiny meowing sounds.
Do you think it's possible for someone with selective mutism to move from making these non-English noises to eventually speaking with someone?
Also, are there any tips you have for reaching out to a student with selective mutism? My student is so bright and clearly knows all the answers to my questions, and I try to focus on her nonverbal cues and acknowledge her response, but I feel like I'm not doing all I can.
newtonsfirst2 karma
Hi! Thanks so much for doing an AMA. I'm a dance teacher and I have a 4-year-old student with selective mutism. After about 10 weeks of class (45 minutes a week), I noticed that she has started to make some noises. For example, we do freeze-dance at the end of class and when I prompt them to "dance like their favorite animal," she will make tiny meowing sounds.
Do you think it's possible for someone with selective mutism to move from making these non-English noises to eventually speaking with someone?
Also, are there any tips you have for reaching out to a student with selective mutism? My student is so bright and clearly knows all the answers to my questions, and I try to focus on her nonverbal cues and acknowledge her response, but I feel like I'm not doing all I can.
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