Speak slowly and smoothly to the child. Therapists call this technique "indirect intervention." A child watches and mimics people he trusts, especially his parents. Telling your child to slow down usually does not help. It highlights to the child that something is wrong with the way he talks, increasing his anxiety and oftentimes intensifying the stuttering.
Talk with your child openly and lovingly about her stuttering. Some clinicians believe talking with a preschooler about her stuttering may make it worse, but others believe the child realizes she struggles with talking. By not talking about her stuttering, the child may decide it's acceptable and develop a more ingrained habit of stuttering. Tell her that you know she struggles with talking, but reassure her you will help her work through the problem.
Avoid completing a child's sentence when he stutters. Patiently listen to him and allow him to finish his sentence. If the child stutters badly, ask him to look you in the eyes so you can focus on each other. Eye contact helps relax the child and shows you care and are listening.
Involve your preschooler in conversation at the dinner table. While having a conversation, make sure other family members speak slowly and clearly. Ask your preschool-aged child questions about her day and have everyone listen intently while she speaks. Practicing conversation around the dinner table gives a child with stuttering problems a chance to listen and participate in casual conversation in an atmosphere where people will accept her stuttering.
Make an appointment with a speech therapist if the stuttering continues for more than six months or seems to be getting worse. The Stuttering Foundation reports that children having speech therapy between the ages of two and five have a high success rate from stuttering.