If your child is a chatterbox at home but totally clams up in certain situations, she could have selective mutism(SM), an anxiety disorder that affects as many as one in 140 early-school-age kids. SM is relatively easy to cure, but it can lead to broader social anxiety when left untreated. If you're concerned about your child, ask your pediatrician for a referral to a mental-health specialist. Steven Kurtz, PH.D., a senior director at the Child Mind Institute in New York City, recommends techniques that frequently prompt kids to practice responding to situations in which they tend to freeze up. If you're planning a trip to the ice cream store, rehearse asking for a vanilla cone with sprinkles at home. Then run through the "script" a few more times before you enter the store, and be sure to praise her for being brave when she does speak up.
Credit: Parents magazine
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