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Speech & Language Disabilities
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Give whole, unhurried attention
to the girl who has difficulty speaking. Don’t talk for her,
but give help when needed. Keep your manner encouraging rather
than correcting. When necessary, ask questions that require
short answers or a nod or shake of the head.
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Encourage her to speak more.
Practically any speech improvement, of whatever sort she is
going to achieve, she will have to achieve while she is speaking
and through the act of speaking.
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Encourage the girl to talk about
her stuttering and her feelings, if she perceives it as a
problem.
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See to it that each girl has as
much feeling of success as possible in speaking. Find out as
much as possible about the kinds of speaking the girl does with
little or no stuttering. Speaking or reading in unison is an
activity that most people who stutter can participate in with
success.
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Help the girl to develop a more
realistic attitude toward her stuttering. Stutterers tend to
exaggerate the amount of stuttering they do, and the seriousness
of the consequences.
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Help the girl develop a
realistically good opinion of herself. It is beneficial to a
person who stutters to give due attention and thought to her
achievements and attractive characteristics.
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Encourage the girl to enjoy
learning and to cultivate worthwhile interests. One of the
major problems of many adults who stutter is that of adjusting
to the world of serious work and the responsibilities of earning
a living.
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Do not react emotionally to the
girl’s stuttering. Do not interrupt or hurry her. Look at her,
as you would at any individual, when she speaks.
Important:
These guidelines are not meant to be all inclusive, and cannot address
the unique experience and needs of every girl. Parents will be your best
resource. Please ask about strengths, challenges, strategies, and any
other information that will help a girl have a successful Girl Scout experience!
Guidelines compiled and shared by Carol Lee Spages,
Girl Scouts: Lenni-Lenape Council, Inc.
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