My Child Is Starting to Stutter: What Should Parents Do?

It can feel alarming when a young child suddenly begins repeating words, getting stuck, or struggling to get their message out. Many parents wonder: Is this normal? Should we wait? Do we need help?

Understanding what to do when stuttering-like disfluencies first appear can make a meaningful difference in a child’s long-term communication confidence and success.

When Stuttering-Like Disfluencies Begin

Childhood stuttering often appears between ages 2 to 5, a time of rapid language growth. During this stage, speech changes can sometimes happen quickly and unexpectedly.

Parents may notice:

• Repeating sounds or words
• Prolonging sounds (“sssssun”)
• Moments where speech seems stuck or blocked
• Sudden onset after previously fluent speech

Some children begin with simple repetitions that later evolve into prolongations or blocks. Others may appear to develop more noticeable stuttering suddenly without earlier warning signs. Both patterns are considered typical for childhood onset stuttering.

Should Parents “Wait and See”?

Families are often told to take a wait-and-see approach. While well intentioned, this strategy is not always reliable.

Stuttering readiness cannot be predicted simply by waiting. Research and clinical experience consistently show that early support leads to better outcomes, particularly before negative emotions or avoidance behaviors develop.

Early intervention helps reduce the risk of:

• Frustration or anxiety about speaking
• Avoidance of communication situations
• Negative beliefs about talking

If concerns arise, the best course of action is clear, seek an evaluation from a speech-language pathologist (SLP) who has experience in stuttering.

What Happens When You See a Speech-Language Pathologist?

Early stuttering therapy for young children typically follows two main approaches and is individualized based on the child and their family. 

1. Indirect Therapy: Coaching Parents

For many young children, therapy begins indirectly by supporting the communication environment at home rather than working directly on the child’s speech.

The SLP guides parents in strategies that naturally support fluency, such as:

• Slowing their own rate of speech
• Using natural pauses during conversation
• Reducing time pressure and speaking demands
• Creating relaxed turn-taking conversations
• Using indirect prompts instead of direct questioning
  
  • Example:
    
    • Instead of: “What did you do at school?”
    • Try: “I wonder what you did at school today…”
• Recasting or rephrasing a child’s message
  
  • Child: “I want truck.”
  • Parent: “Oh, you want the big truck!”

This approach allows communication to remain successful even when speech gets stuck, while also supporting language growth and confidence.

Indirect therapy often involves around 4 to 6 sessions, giving families practical tools to use daily.

2. Direct Therapy: Supporting the Child

If a child continues to show risk factors or needs additional support, therapy may move toward a more direct approach.

Direct therapy focuses on:

• Teaching child-friendly speech strategies
• Exploring different ways speech can be produced
• Increasing awareness and control of speech movements
• Building communication confidence

Importantly, therapy does not present fluency as the only goal or suggest that stuttering is “bad.” Instead, children learn that there are many effective ways to communicate.

The focus becomes helping the child grow into a confident, flexible communicator, whether speech is perfectly fluent or not.

Why Early Action Matters

Early intervention is not about fixing a child. It is about supporting communication before frustration, avoidance, or negative feelings take hold.

When families seek help early:

• Parents feel empowered instead of worried
• Children experience less pressure around speaking
• Communication remains positive and successful
• Long-term outcomes improve