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Expert Q&A
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| By Mindy Hudon Speech and Language Pathologist | ||
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My son says "um" a lot when talking. Any tips on getting him to stop?
Here are some tips:
- Listen to your own speech. Are you using ums and likes frequently? Try to reduce your use of fillers. (This may sound easy, but it can be a difficult habit to break). Remember, you're the best role model for your children.
- Play a game. "Let's see who can use less trash words." Kids love games and competitions and it's a great way to kick the trash word habit. If you find yourself using too many trash words, make it a family challenge!
- Try some homework: Have your children describe their classroom vocabulary and spelling words or retell stories without the use of fillers. "Tell me what this word means. Remember, no ums or likes."
- Reward your children. Positive reinforcement is much stronger then negative comments. "Wow, you did a great job describing that word. I only heard one um!" and "Nice try, I know it's hard to stop using trash words."
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