Mumbling 8 year old - is it a phase?

[nunheadmum]

My eldest who's 8 has recently started mumbling all the time. I'm having to ask her to repeat herself several times on many occasions. It sounds like her tongue just got too big for her mouth or her brain is going faster than her mouth can keep up with! Is it just a phase they go through or the start of the general next stage? I'm presuming it's not physical but...? It's driving me mad already and it's only been going on for a week or so!

[AnnaCBH]

Have you had her hearing checked recently? her voice will appear louder to her. If she's developing a stammer, then that's something to approach entirely differently, could it be that something is going on at school friendship wise? she might be having a confidence wobble.

[nunheadmum]

No no stammer. It could well be a confidence thing - she's very shy. We're really struggling on that front as she's letting herself get more and more dependent on a couple of friends. At least if I know it's not a general thing that most kids go through, it helps to know it's worth trying to deal with - whereas general phases we're usually happy to ride out.

Now, how to get a shy 8 year old to come out of herself more - that's a much bigger question!

[pripolla]

A friend with a shy 6 year old signed her up for drama lessons, she's seen a lot of improvement.

May not work if she's too shy, but maybe worth trying?

[nunheadmum]

She does drama at a school lunchtime club which she loves. But while the class teacher says she really comes out of herself when they do drama, at the performances, she takes the smallest part possible and does the minimum required in terms of performing.

I've tried offering her other classes - possibly combining drama with dance/singing which she also loves - but she doesn't want to try them without a close friend. (Which slightly negates the reasoning of learning to mix with others more and also means friends parents have to shell out too.)

I wonder if private 1-1 lessons might help as I suspect that being the quiet, well behaved one, she doesn't get the attention in the class that others do. (Which she is happy with but she could maybe benefit from being challenged more.) Has anyone tried that approach at all?

[MusicoSouth]

I have a couple of students who have had both speech impairments (which I appreciate your daughter doesn't have) and extreme shyness, and 1 to 1 singing lessons have really helped. Expanding their comfort zones and taking risks in a safe environment with a teacher they trust has really helped develop confidence with both students. I've found with my own daughter that drama does help, but there is always the issue that the more reserved performers get overlooked. Another option you could consider would be a shared singing lesson - so a lesson with one other close friend, which would give her moral support but ensure she still gets brought out of herself and they both get plenty of attention.

If you're interested in exploring any of these ideas, I have some lovely local singing teachers who are gentle, fun and encouraging, and who'd be delighted to teach her.

Whatever route you choose to take, wishing you all the best.

Emma

www.musicosouth.co.uk

emma@musicosouth.co.uk