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If your child stutters, you want practical ways to help at home while supporting their confidence and communication skills. This guide offers evidence-based exercises and strategies that parents can incorporate into their daily routines, along with information on professional treatment options and school support services.
Exercises you can do at home
Small, steady routines reduce conflict and help children know what comes next. Some of the most effective at-home activities include:
Daily special talk time
Set aside 10–15 minutes daily for child-led play where you model a slower speaking rate. This reduces pressure and creates a safe space for natural communication.
How to set up special talk time:
- Choose a time: Pick the same time every day when everyone is relaxed
- Follow interests: Let your child choose the activity completely
- Model pace: Speak 20-30% slower than your usual rate
- No corrections: Avoid any feedback about speech during this time
- Build gradually: Start with 5 minutes and increase to 15 minutes over several weeks
When your child does notice stuttering moments, gentle acknowledgment helps normalize the experience. Use simple phrases like “Sometimes words feel bumpy” or “That was smooth talking” rather than corrections or lengthy explanations.
Turn-taking games for fluency
Board games and structured conversation activities help reduce time pressure and build natural speech rhythms.
- Start simple: Use games like 20 Questions with natural pauses
- Model waiting: Show how to pause before speaking your turn
- Use props: Pass a ball or a stick to signal whose turn it is
- Build patience: Celebrate waiting and good listening during games
- Make routine: Practice turn-taking during meals and car rides
Rhythm and syllable activities
Gentle clapping, tapping, or singing activities help establish a steady speech rhythm when framed as a playful activity. Syllable-timed rhythm play reduces stuttering by training speech pacing.
- Start with songs: Clap syllables to favorite children’s songs
- Add movement: March or walk to the beat while talking
- Use instruments: Tap drums or shake shakers with speech sounds
- Keep playful: Frame as music time, not speech practice
- Practice daily: Include 5-10 minutes of rhythm play in routines
These home activities complement professional programs well.
Professional Stuttering Therapy Programs
Stuttering treatment combines therapy, skill-building, and family support delivered by qualified professionals. Some of the main treatment options include:
The Lidcombe Program
This parent-led approach involves structured conversations with praise for smooth speech and gentle acknowledgment of stuttering moments.
Lidcombe reduced severity compared to counseling-only controls in controlled studies. Parents learn specific techniques during weekly sessions with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and then practice them daily at home.
Core components usually include:
- Skill practice: Daily 10-15 minute structured parent-child sessions
- Smooth praise: Learning to say “That was smooth talking” at the right moments
- Gentle noting: Acknowledging stuttering with “That was a little bumpy.”
- Stage progression: Moving through severity rating levels as fluency improves
- Family sessions: Weekly SLP visits to guide parents and adjust techniques
Westmead / Syllable-Timed Speech (STS)
This program teaches rhythmic timing combined with daily severity ratings. Syllable-timed speech improves fluency with rhythm-based pacing techniques. Children learn to speak in a rhythm similar to a metronome beat.
Core components usually include:
- Rhythm training: Learning syllable-by-syllable speech pacing in therapy sessions
- Daily ratings: Parents track stuttering severity on a 1-9 scale each day
- Speed building: Gradually increasing speech rate as fluency stabilizes
- Parent coaching: SLP teaches parents how to support rhythm practice at home
- Structured practice: Daily home activities using rhythm and timing exercises
Palin Parent–Child Interaction (PCI)
This approach focuses on reducing communicative demands and allowing the child to lead. Palin PCI reduces parental communicative demands to support fluency through child-led conversations. Parents learn to adjust their communication style rather than focusing directly on the child’s speech.
Core components usually include:
- Family sessions: Weekly coaching to adjust interaction style and support progress
- Assessment sessions: SLP observes family communication patterns over 2-3 visits
- Parent training: Learning to wait, follow the child’s lead, and listen more
- Communication changes: Reducing questions, commands, and time pressure at home
- Turn-taking practice: Modeling natural conversation flow during daily activities
School-Age Fluency-Shaping Tools
For older children, therapists teach specific techniques to promote smooth speech initiation and flow.
Easy onset, light articulatory contacts, and continuous phonation are recommended fluency-shaping methods. These techniques help children develop smoother speech patterns.
Core components usually include:
- Transfer practice: Using techniques in real-world speaking situations
- Easy onset training: Gentle starts to speech sounds in therapy sessions
- Light contact practice: Reducing mouth and throat tension during speech
- Continuous flow: Maintaining smooth airflow between words and phrases
- Breath coordination: Connecting breathing patterns with speech rhythm
Stuttering-Modification Techniques
These approaches help children manage stuttering moments with less struggle and tension. Cancellations, pull-outs, and preparatory sets reduce struggle and avoidance. Children learn to stutter more easily rather than trying to eliminate stuttering. Core components usually include:
- Relaxation techniques: Reducing overall body and speech tension
- Cancellation training: Learning to pause after stuttering, then repeat the word smoothly
- Pull-out practice: Easing out of stuttering moments gently during speech
- Preparatory sets: Anticipating difficult words and preparing to say them smoothly
- Voluntary stuttering: Practicing easy, relaxed stuttering to reduce fear
Program comparison grid
Families often wonder which program best suits their child. The choice depends on age, severity, and family preferences:
| Program | Age focus | Parent role | Session frequency | Key technique |
| Lidcombe | 2-6 years | High – daily practice | Weekly SLP visits | Praise/acknowledgment |
| Westmead/STS | 3-6 years | Moderate – home rhythm | Bi-weekly visits | Syllable timing |
| Palin PCI | 2-7 years | High – communication style | Weekly coaching | Reduced demands |
Myth vs. fact about stuttering in children
- Myth: Stuttering is caused by nervousness. Fact: Stuttering has neurological and genetic components
- Myth: Children should be told to slow down. Fact: Rate changes should be modeled, not demanded
- Myth: Stuttering always resolves by school age. Fact: 1% of adults continue to stutter
- Myth: Punishment reduces stuttering. Fact: Pressure typically increases stuttering frequency
How to prevent stuttering from getting worse
Some of the most effective prevention strategies include:
Create a calm communication environment
Slower family conversations and reduced time pressure help prevent stuttering from increasing. Steady home routines support the development of speech fluency.
- Slow your rate: Model speaking 20-30% slower during family conversations
- Add wait time: Count to 3 before responding to give processing time
- Reduce questions: Ask fewer rapid-fire questions during busy times
- Create calm times: Establish quiet talking periods without distractions
- Listen fully: Let your child finish thoughts without interrupting
Build daily routines that support speech
Consistent schedules and healthy habits create the foundation for better communication. Regular sleep, meals, and activities reduce overall stress on the speech system.
- Sleep routines: Same bedtime and wake time support attention and emotion
- Balanced meals: Regular, nutritious eating prevents energy crashes
- Screen limits: Reduce late-night technology to protect rest and reduce stimulation
- Active outlets: Include daily exercise or movement for stress relief
- Family time: Schedule regular one-on-one time for relaxed conversation
When to see a doctor for stuttering
ENT/audiology referral is warranted if stuttering accompanies hearing issues, regression, or neurological concerns. Medical evaluation may be beneficial when stuttering occurs in conjunction with other symptoms or developmental changes.
Games and activities to build speaking confidence
Building speaking confidence through low-pressure practice helps reduce avoidance and builds resilience. Some of the most effective confidence-building approaches include:
Practice speaking through play
Fun role-play, confidence-building games, and peer support help children practice talking in safe settings. These activities make speaking feel natural and take away some of the pressure.
- Act out books: Perform favorite scenes from well-known stories
- Start with puppets: Let puppets do the talking to reduce direct pressure
- Try character voices: Read stories using different silly voices together
- Play pretend: Set up restaurant, store, or school scenarios for practice
- Record stories: Make family videos or audio recordings of favorite tales
Build up speaking confidence gradually
Start with comfortable audiences and gradually build to more challenging speaking situations. This progression helps children develop confidence without overwhelming them.
- Level 1 – Family: Practice with parents and siblings in comfortable settings
- Level 2 – Friends: Small group activities with close friends who are supportive
- Level 3 – Classroom: Participate in show-and-tell or small group discussions
- Level 4 – Performance: School talent shows or larger group presentations
- Level 5 – Community: Speaking at community events or unfamiliar audiences
Match activities to your child’s current comfort level and celebrate each step forward without rushing to the next level.
Help your child manage stuttering at school
Kids can build confidence by learning practical ways to handle tough speaking situations. Some helpful approaches include:
Teach self-advocacy skills
Parents can make speaking practice easier by rehearsing everyday scenarios at home. This way, your child feel more prepared and confident before they face them in the real world.
- Role-play scenarios: Try ordering food, making phone calls, or asking questions
- Write key points: Jot down notes together before important conversations
- Practice explanations: Rehearse simple ways to explain stuttering to others
- Build comfort: Start with family practice, then add trusted friends
- Build relationships: Encourage your teen to talk with trusted teachers early
- Celebrate efforts: Praise brave speaking attempts, not just smooth outcomes
School help for children who stutter
It can feel daunting to ask for changes at school, but support is available, and parents have rights. Some of the most effective ways to get school support include:
Formal school accommodations
Stuttering qualifies as a speech-language impairment under IDEA, with accommodations including extra time and reduced speaking pressure. Parents can request specific supports that help their child participate fully in classroom activities.
- Document concerns: Keep records of how stuttering affects school participation
- Contact the school counselor: Schedule a meeting to discuss your child’s needs
- Request evaluation: Ask for a speech-language assessment if not already done
- Suggest accommodations: Propose specific supports based on your child’s needs
- Follow up regularly: Schedule check-ins to see how accommodations are working
Common accommodations that help:
- Extended response time: Allow extra time to formulate responses
- Reduced oral reading: Limit round-robin reading demands
- Alternative assessments: Written reports instead of oral presentations
- Safe speaking environment: Reduced interruptions during speech
- Presentation modifications: Visual aids and advanced practice time
Work with teachers on daily support
Teachers can help by not interrupting, allowing extra time, modeling acceptance, and reducing performance pressure. Parents can educate teachers about simple classroom strategies.
- Share information: Provide a simple fact sheet about childhood stuttering
- Suggest strategies: Recommend wait time, eye contact, and patience
- Model acceptance: Show teachers how to respond calmly to stuttering
- Focus on content: Emphasize ideas and participation over speech fluency
- Communicate regularly: Set up a system for ongoing updates and adjustments
FAQs about exercises for children who stutter
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2020). Clinical report: Stuttering in children and adolescents. Pediatrics, 146(4), e20200216. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-0216
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2022). Advocacy resources for families. Retrieved from https://www.asha.org/advocacy/
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2023). Childhood fluency disorders practice portal. Retrieved from https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2023). Educational strategies for fluency disorders. Retrieved from https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2023). Stuttering practice portal – childhood fluency disorders. Retrieved from https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/
- Blomgren, M. (2013). Stuttering treatment approaches: A review. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7, 576. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00576
- Constantino, C., et al. (2022). Mobile apps for stuttering therapy: A review. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 74, 105879. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfludis.2022.105879
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- Leclercq, A., Waelkens, V., Roelant, E., Allegaert, M., Verhaegen, I., Claes, K., Dauvister, E., Snijders, S., Eggers, K., Moyse, A., & Van Eerdenbrugh, S. (2024). Treatment for preschool-age children who stutter: Protocol of a randomised, non-inferiority parallel group pragmatic trial with Mini-KIDS, social cognitive behaviour treatment and the Lidcombe Program (TreatPaCS). PLOS ONE, 19, e0304212. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304212
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2022). Stuttering: Causes and treatment. Retrieved from https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/stuttering
- National Stuttering Association. (2023). Family resources. Retrieved from https://westutter.org/resources/
- Onslow, M., & Millard, S. (2012). Palin Parent-Child Interaction and the Lidcombe Program: Clarifying some issues. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 37(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfludis.2011.10.002
- Packman, A., & Onslow, M. (2012). Investigating optimal intervention intensity with the Lidcombe Program of early stuttering intervention. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 14(5), 467–470. https://doi.org/10.3109/17549507.2012.689861
- Shehata, W., Hasan, S. M., & Boshnaq, M. H. (2023). Effect of use of Lidcombe Program on degree of stuttering severity. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcad069.269
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