The Raising Socially Anxious Children Blog

admin July 19th, 2009

I just came across this magnificent opportunity for children who suffer from selective mutism. It is a great chance for kids to engage and feel a sense of belonging. If you know anyone in the New York State area what a great thing. Check out the full details at the Selective Mutism website.

Camp Brave Buddies is a one-week summer day camp
and simulated classroom for 4-6 year old children diagnosed
with Selective Mutism (SM). SM is an anxiety problem in
children who are typically quite socially engaged and
talkative in their home situations, but who have very
significant difficulties communicating verbally in school,
usually with both teachers and peers, as well as in other
public situations, such as ballet, gym, sports, or religious
classes. Most of these children are quite happy to go to
school and activities but dread having to verbally
communicate with others outside of their “safe” zones. They
learn to get by with nods and gestures and cannot fully
participate in the joy of conversation and the give-and-take of
friendship. Some children with SM are also even hesitant to
participate non-verbally, making even the simplest of typical
tasks, such as Show & Tell, quite scary. The start of each
school year brings fear for children with SM about how they
will get by, once again relying on gestures, and not being able
to get the words to come out.

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