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2 yr old doesn't talk in school
Hello Sir/madam,
My Son is 2 yrs & 2 months old..he has started going to preschool just a month ago..He is very active playful and chatty at home..He is very comfortable with all the members of his home and also with few kids who he is familiar with..he just doesn't talk to strangers or with people he doesn't see frequently....his school teacher shared only 1 concern with me that he doesn't utter a word and just uses gestures to ask and tell..otherwise she said that he is very active and plays with other kids, does all the class activities enthusiastically..but he just doesn't talk in the class to anybody & not even with his classmates....on the contrary he is completely different at home..at 2 years of age he speaks proper sentences at home and repeats almost everything after us..i am Panicking that these signs points towards selective mutism as i have read on google..plss i need ur opinion if is it too soon to make any judgments?? Should we give him more time? How can we encourage??
Answers (11)
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Give him some time...he should be fine.
If the problem persists then you can connect with an expert Psychologist.
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I have been working as a Homeopathic Psychiatrist for the last 17 years. you can contact me through an online appointment for further assistance
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Thanks for reaching out. You are worried about your son not talking to anyone in school. He is only two years old, he could be shy. Give it some time and he will open up and interact with classmates at school. I suggest to consult a psychiatrist and explain about your son not talking to anyone in school.
Get an assessment done by psychiatrist first and then consult a child psychologist.
Try to not worry too much about your son, he is very young and it is natural for two year old to feel shy. With time he might interact with classmates in school.
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Consult a psychiatrist and child psychologist
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I understand your concern, but it's important to remember that every child develops at their own pace. Selective mutism is a social anxiety disorder where a child is consistently unable to speak in certain social situations, despite speaking in other situations, such as at home. However, one isolated behavior, especially in a new and unfamiliar environment like preschool, might not necessarily indicate selective mutism.
Given that your son is comfortable speaking at home and with familiar people, it's a positive sign. It's possible that he's simply taking his time to adjust to the new environment and the people at his preschool.
Be Patient: It's crucial to be patient and give him time to adjust. It's only been a month since he started preschool, and it's common for children to take some time to warm up to new surroundings and people.
Positive Reinforcement: Praise and positive reinforcement can go a long way. Whenever he does interact with his classmates or teachers, even if it's nonverbal, offer lots of praise and encouragement. Positive reinforcement can boost his confidence and make him more comfortable.
Playdates: Arrange playdates with his classmates outside of school. Familiarity with his peers in a different, more relaxed setting might help him open up more at school.
Speak with the Teacher: Stay in regular communication with his teacher. Teachers often have strategies to encourage shy children to participate. They might have specific activities or methods that work well with your son.
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Remember, children develop social skills at different rates, and what your son is experiencing might be just a phase. Keep providing a supportive and encouraging environment both at home and at school, and give him time to adjust. If your concerns persist, seeking advice from a child Psychologist.
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Hi, Consult a clinical psychologist for professional help.You consult a pediatrician also.
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He is just 2 yrs 2 months! It’s too early to judge him or even for his teachers to share concern as he has just started going to back pre school. Kids are anxious when they are separated from parents when they start going to school or pre school. Every child is different! It may take him some time to settle down, so give him that time, even a couple of months if needed. It’s very evident that he doesn’t have speech issues as he is talking at home, so just stop worrying and let him explore things at his own pace :)
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Wait for 2-3 months and consult a psychological counsellor, if he still doesn’t open up at pre school
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Encourage him to talk at home and check what he did at the school every day. Tell his teachers to give him his time and pay more attention towards him if needed
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Selective mutism is anxiety-related and from what you have explained about your son's activities in the class (he does all activities enthusiastically), he does not appear to be having any evident anxiety. It is possible that you are reading too much into the information that you are getting from the internet. I am also of the opinion that it is too early for you to start worrying about your child's behaviour at school. However, I would suggest you to get your child assessed by a speech therapist to understand if there is anything to worry about in his speech development. I somehow get a feeling that he will start communicating well in the class sooner than later.
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Get an assessment made by a speech therapist, if required.
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Hey! I suggest you also ask fellow students about the class environment to know more. And then Consult a psychologist for further evaluation.
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Don't panic and consult psychologist
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Please consult with psychologist for evaluation.
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counseling
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connect
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Ms. Simran Sharma
Psychologist
1 yrs exp
Kolkata
At your son's age, his reluctance to speak in certain situations is not uncommon and does not necessarily indicate selective mutism. It's advisable to exercise patience and allow him more time to adjust to the new preschool environment. Encourage him gently and positively, but avoid pressure. If his behavior persists and becomes a significant concern, consider consulting a child psychologist for a professional assessment and guidance. Remember, every child develops at their own pace, and professional support, if needed, can be valuable in addressing any underlying issues.
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Mr. Gunjan Maithil
Psychologist
13 yrs exp
Bangalore
Hi.. Please take Parent Counselling.
Here the child is as such not facing any issues. He is performing well at school and doing great at home. He is not causing any problem to other kids or his teachers. Instead, he is 'playing with other kids' and 'doing his daily class activities enthusiastically'. He is just choosing to remain silent as he has not yet formed closer bonds with anyone where he feels safe enough to share his thoughts and feelings. Kids (2 year old) brain is different from an adult brain (32 year old). It is more emotive and less thoughtful. They respond based more on how they feel and less based on what they think.
If a kid remains mute till the age of 4-5 than it is a cause of concern but it doesn't necessarily mean that s/he is suffering from a condition. One has to look around the overall environment and clinical history (personal/family) to make an understanding and suggest ways to resolve.
Parents, teachers can encourage him to share his feelings by 'modelling the desired behaviour', without making him compelled to demonstrate the desired response. If other kids are talking he is already under enough peer pressure to talk. Just help him overcome his inhibition without making him feel bad about himself.
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Consult a Psychologist.
Parent Counselling is required.
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Mr. Gunjan Maithil
Senior Psychologist
Cell: nine six seven one three zero three one three four
Website: https://gunjanmaithil.wixsite.com/therapy
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Ms. Varsha P Mathur
Psychologist
19 yrs exp
Gurgaon
I can understand your panic and concerns. Your child is very young and as you mention he takes time to open up to strangers. It has only been a month of preschool and it might be helpful to give him time to feel comfortable in the new environment.
You may also want to informally check with other parents how their child is finding this class and school.
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If the concern persists you can consult a child psychologist or speech therapist
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