The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-05-08
gpYOUR CHILDREN
By Olive Roberts Batton
3ls55 5s E5a szSNSz: 4s =

A mother has asked me about stammering. She is greatly dis tressed about her three-year-oid boy who looks up at her so pitt fully after an attempt at words and says, "Mother, I can't talk"
 She despairs of curing him be- cause 1t runs in the family, and asks me if can give her any ad- vice that will help ever so little.
 What can I say, what can l do, except give the general informa- ton about plenty of rest, plenty of fresh air, not too much excite ment, and great deal of happi- ness? Of course, she has heard all this before. And, she has heard their adventurous fourth year (af- cause their excited thoughts get ahead of their tongues Naturally they get over it in time unless the habit is deepened and set by per- petual reference to it in the fam fly.
 Seek Able Advice.
 I read a treatise on starnmering not long ago and when I was through I had learned something about glands, nerves, and co-ordi- nation, but was not one stop ahead of where I started as far as cure was concerned.
 There are research centers where cures are being studied and work ed out with more or less success. There are people who go about and conduct classes for stammer- CTS who do much good. Whether they work permanent cures or not I cannot say.
 If I had a child whom I felt was in for life of inhibited speech, I should write to the medical cen- ter of the nearest large city, and get first-hand advice about whom to consult. Such a course might result in. treatment at a hospital, or merely in a course of procedure at home to be carried out patient ly.
 Spare Child Embarrassment But I first would be sure that it was right advice and not too ex- perimental, and that it was in the hands of doctor who really knew all that can be known about this perp!exing affiiction.
 One thing I should do, having this in my family. That is to pre- vent the little soul from seeing how unhappy and worried I was about it. I would campaign among my friends and his playmates to treat it as a matter of course and not add self-consciousness and em- barrassment to make him still more unhappy.
 I should have him accept it as a matter of course. As tactfully and carefully as I could I would have him speak slowly. Many children outgrow it. They do so more quickly if they are not re- minded of it. And they must not see that their parents are distress ed.
 There Arc Worse Affections.
 It is a cross to bear, Iknow, but after my visit to large Chil- dren's hospital three days ago where som many of the little suf- fers will never be out of bed, ol will go through life hopelessly crippled, I feel that there are suct | really heavy crosses for some par. | ents, that the cross of stamm erine is something to be borne withou | lament.
 There is nothing wrong witt trying exercises of safe "cures for stammering if the mothe knows of anyone nearby who ha some really useful Knowledge. Blu | she must approach any such hell | with a philosophic mind. If it fails she might try the other plan suggested is she car manage it. If everything fails she has then a direct duty. And that is to see that the child is as happy as possible and that she cultivate happiness and acceptancetin her. self.