How should I deal with my three-year-old stuttering (please read the rest)?

Question

I adore my 3-yr-old and would never purposely do anything that would make fun of him or anything like that. That's not what this is about.

For months, my 3-year-old has called me "Daddy-ah-Momma" and my husband "Momma-ah-Daddy" (meaning he would start talking before thinking about who he's talking to). It was a correction.

All of a sudden, he stopped doing it. He no longer messes up and starts to call me "Daddy" and my husband "Momma". Instead, the very day he stopped doing that, he started stuttering. And I'm not talking about even your moderate case of stuttering. After trying to get one word out for several seconds, I started counting. I counted seventeen "Ca"'s to say "Can I have a drink?" (after I started counting, at least ten before that). He even stops to take in a long breath and keep going.

I think he's just doing it to be funny. Should we just ignore it, or should we try to get him to stop, based on our belief that it's not a true stuttering problem?

LOL I like the ice-cream idea, but he only does it when he initiates a sentence (meaning, he would just say "YEAH!!!!")

And he is pretty sure he's a hilarious little guy. And usually he is. But yes, he does love to play jokes, be silly, etc. And to top it all off, he's one of those kids who, even when you're annoyed with him, he's got this "I know I'm cute" look that is infuriating because.... well, because he is. :-)

Answer 1

Hi. My daughter used to do this, too. Her ped called it something else rather than stuttering; I just can't remember the term. It's when the child repeats the first sound of the sentence over and over until the rest of the thought comes out. Just be patient and listen to him; most likely it's just a phase that will be outgrown. If not, your public school system should have a speech evaluation available free of charge.

Answer 2

If you think he's doing it to be funny, ignore it or it may become a habit. My guess is that he's not doing it to be funny. Don't tell him to slow down or repeat. He will only become more aware and begin to feel frustrated. Children who start off speaking without speech interruptions usually do not all of a sudden start stuttering. I'm a preschool teacher and I've seen this with children several times. In one case there was a huge change or stress in the child's life (new baby coming). She started stuttering for about 4 months and then it stopped. In many other cases I felt it coincided with a growth spurt. Their bodies are just growing and learning too fast for them and it takes time to catch up. Their mind is thinking of words much faster than they can get them out. If there aren't any big changes or stress in your child's life, it's most likely a growth spurt that your child is going through. Don't finish his sentences for him because it will only cause frustration on his part. Pretend like you don't notice. Give it some time yet if he doesn't improve in a few months, talk with your pediatrician. Check out the Stuttering Foundation of America web site at http://www.stutteringhelp.org and read their tips on helping the child who stutters. Relax and good luck!

Answer 3

My daughter started to do almost the same thing when she was four. I asked her nursery school teacher to keep an eye on it too. She said it happpens a lot in younger kids. It's almost as if their brains are moving faster than their mouths. She grew out of it. I would just tell her to stop, take a deap breath, and start over. I also talked to the pediatrician too. He said the same thing, and to just keep an eye on it. She only does it now once in a great while. Just keep an eye on him. Good luck.

Answer 4

Its a difficult thing. If it is a real stutter it could be a phase and he grows out of it. Or he is acting. Maybe try to test him by asking him real quick if he wants ice cream and see if this or something similar, draws a nice speech out of him. Good luck!

Answer 5

If you think that hes doing it to be funny, tell him that its not funny and to think about his sentence until it is complete or nearly complete before he speaks. Is he a comic in other areas too? Or is this his only 'joke'?

Answer 6

my son went through a phase of it. i think he got it from another child in day care.
We just kept telling him take your time etc.
we never teased him never made fun of him and it left after a few months.

Answer 7

ignore it. what ever you do dont punish him for it. If you laugh about it he will keep it up. so I would do nothing. it will go away.