Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Playground
  • Surfacing
  • Parks
  • Athletics
  • Aquatics
  • Play
Home
  • Playground
  • Surfacing
  • Parks
  • Athletics
  • Aquatics
  • Play
  • Build a Sandbox
  • The Play Value Of Sand
  • With Community Helpers the Play Lady Receives the Fred Rodgers Helpers Award
  • Keeping the Fun in Fundraising
  • See Accessibility Through the Eyes of a Child
  • Outdoor Play for Children with Intellectual Disabilities on Playgrounds

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Play
  3. Parenting
  4. 4 Ways to Ease Anxiety for Your Child in Speech Therapy

4 Ways to Ease Anxiety for Your Child in Speech Therapy

Parenting
May 07, 2019
PGP Contributor
By Tilda Moore on
  • facebook-f
  • twitter
  • envelope
  • print
1361
Boy with hands over face.

Image by Anita S. from Pixabay

Your child is starting speech therapy and that comes with a lot of questions — from both you and your child. As a parent, you might be wondering how soon you’ll see results. Your child might feel a bit anxious, uncertain of what he might have to do in the session. Either way, you both are feeling unsettled by not knowing what to expect.

While the techniques used in speech therapy — along with the outcomes — vary depending on each individual’s needs, you can take some steps to inspire confidence and comfort. Are you considering speech therapy for your child? Here are some ways to manage the experience.

Explain as much as you can ahead of time

Fear and anxiety come from situations where we face an unknown outcome. This can be especially hard for children, who are still learning and figuring out the world around them. Be as transparent about speech therapy as possible, transforming it from an unknown to a known. Watch videos on YouTube that show exercises often conducted in speech therapy sessions. Explain to your child why the doctor thinks he needs speech therapy and how it might help with his vocal challenges. Most importantly, gives your child space to share how he is feeling and ask questions about the future.

Explore ways to help reduce anxiety

Taking a little extra time to help manage anxiety could help your child succeed faster in speech therapy. You can teach deep breathing techniques to help lower heart rate and blood pressure, which can ease anxious feelings. You can also talk to your doctor about trying CBD oils. Research, while anecdotal, continues to show that CBD has a positive impact on mental health, including reducing the symptoms of anxiety in children. It’s even been shown to help children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis with speech development. Talk to your doctor before exploring CBD oils as a treatment. If he or she gives the green light, consider buying CBD gummies, which have a more palatable taste for kids.

Build rapport with your child’s speech therapist

Getting your child to and from speech therapy will likely be a strain on your time. You may find yourself having to zip around trying to get to and from work, school, home, extracurriculars, and other activities. However, try as best you can to slow down and spend some time getting to know your child’s speech therapist. The more you know each other, the better you can communicate about your child’s needs, his ongoing progress and how you and your family can help at home. When you put in the effort and time to build rapport with the speech therapist, you become more involved in the healing journey your child is on.

Encourage your child’s teachers and friends to help

Your child’s best chance for speech success is to have his whole network rooting for him to succeed. Talk to his teachers about his progress in speech therapy and what exercises he is working on. Invite your child to open up to his friends, giving them the opportunity to notice and praise his progress. It truly does take a village to raise a child, so tapping into a community of support is a great way to help your child feel comfortable and confident in his hard work. When your child feels encouraged and supported by people he trusts, he might feel less stigmatized by the condition that is leading him into speech therapy.

 

Speech therapy can help your child move through the physical and mental challenges tied to speech issues. Speech therapy can be incredibly successful, especially when started young. Help ease your child’s anxiety by providing comfort and confidence-building support.

PGP Contributor
Tilda Moore
Published 4 years ago
Last updated 9 months ago
1361
2
min read
A- A+
  • facebook-f
  • twitter
  • envelope
  • print

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

More About Parenting

Active children on scooters
Oct 15, 2019
Parenting

Best Ways to Keep Your Child Active

Krista Harper
Nov 01, 2002
Parenting

Hands on Jonesboro

Playground Magazine
Sep 01, 2005
Parenting

Getting Adults Involved in Child’s Play

Playground Magazine
Mar 01, 2002
Parenting

What to Tell the Children

Playground Magazine
Children on a playground
Apr 30, 2019
Parenting

5 Tips How To Teach A Child Make Friends On Playground

Michael Gorman
Campfire Cookout
Mar 11, 2019
Parenting

7 Fun Family-Oriented Activities to Do This Weekend

Kacey Mya
Oct 30, 2013
Parenting

Fran Wallach's Induction into the NRPA's Robert W. Crawford Hall of Fame

Peggy Payne
Dec 01, 2006
Parenting

Don’t Pencil Play In Carve it out of your schedule

Playground Magazine
Aug 15, 2016
Parenting

Congress Is Looking To Help Lower The Cost Of Healthy, Active Lifestyles

Phit Act
Giving Meaningful Praise
Apr 20, 2020
Parenting

Giving Meaningful Praise

David Hoang
Child working on a computer
Nov 29, 2018
Parenting

Learning & Laughing: Fun Online Activities for Kids on Rainy Days

Tilda Moore
A child's paint-covered hands
May 21, 2019
Parenting

7 Important Reasons Your Child Should Be Creating Art

Kacey Mya

Parenting Professionals

There are currently no professionals listed here.
Home

Follow Us

Play and playground news and information since 2001

  • instagram
  • facebook-f
  • twitter
  • pinterest
  • linkedin

Company

  • Playground Magazine
  • Contributors
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Copyright © 2001 - 2023 Playground Professionals, LLC

Footer menu

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Terms and conditions