Stuttering Children, Teachers And School

Did you know that more than 3 million Americans stutter? According to the Stuttering Foundation of America, four times as many males stutter as females. And while the causes of stuttering are unknown, progress is being made in its prevention.

While these statistics inform us, they fall short in comforting the child at school who endures shame and ridicule because of a stuttering problem, or the teacher who is concerned for the child but unsure how to help.

To address these issues, the Stuttering Foundation has personalized its message to teachers in a new publication, “The Child Who Stutters at School: Notes to the Teacher.”

The free brochure (also available in Spanish) answers teachers’ questions about students who stutter: “Should I call on them in class or will this make the stuttering worse? Should I require them to read aloud? How should I handle teasing by other students?” It suggests how a teacher can discuss stuttering with a child and when to involve a speech therapist.

The literature explains the difference between speech disfluencies and stuttering. For the most part, speech disfluencies among preschool children (such as repetitions and prolonged sounds) are normal and self-correcting.

However, if the child continues them in elementary school, a speech therapist may be beneficial, especially if the child grows frustrated. Without help, stuttering could adversely affect classroom performance.

Brochures addressed to parents of stutterers are also available. To order, call (800) 992-9392.

Attention, American Girl Fans

You know who you are. You have read every book in the “Felicity” series. You own a club cap and read The American Girls News cover-to-cover.

And you’ve probably heard the buzz about a new American Girl doll on the scene.

Now it’s official. The Pleasant Co. introduces Josephina, the newest character in The American Girls Collection.

For the uninitiated, the collection was founded in 1986 by Pleasant Rowland to give girls 7 to 12 years old a taste of American history through fictional characters.

There are six dolls in the collection, dressed in period costumes and set in specific eras of American history from the Colonial days to post-World War II. The recently released Josephina books explore events that shaped America’s Southwest in the 1800s.

The dolls, clothing and books are intended to bring alive the past through the eyes of the fictional heroine, with a focus on family, school, holidays and adventures. The stories highlight virtues such as kindness, courage and resourcefulness.

To be sure, these dolls are pricey, and the result of savvy marketing. (While the books are available in bookstores and gift shops, the dolls and accessories are available only from the Pleasant Co. catalog.)

Yet there is something admirable about the careful research behind each doll, dress and story to ensure historical accuracy of the characters and settings.

Josephina and the first two books in her series are available now, and the remaining books are due in late fall. Spanish versions will be released simultaneously. For a free American Girl Catalog, call (800) 845-0005.

The Family Track is a weekly column of notes and information for families. Send items to Lynn Gibson, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax (509) 459-5098.

, DataTimes MEMO: The Family Track is a weekly column of notes and information for families. Send items to Lynn Gibson, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax (509) 459-5098.