I am a seasoned adult who stutters and I must say I am very good at stuttering. I’ve had a lot of practice. I work part time for the National Stuttering Association as a Programming Coordinator, which means I develop most of the virtual events that are available for young people and adults. I majored in Social Work in college and earned my BSW degree.
My message for children who stutter: Own it. Be bold. Stuttering doesn’t mean we have to be quiet. Let your voice be heard just the way it is and take however long it takes to speak your truth.
My message for parents of kids who stutter: They’ll be OK. There are so many wonderful resources available today for kids and parents about stuttering that simply were not available for many of us more seasoned voices. Talk to your kids openly about stuttering so that it feels normal and safe. Kids can do hard things.