Dear Parents of Children with Selective Mutism, Teachers, and Professionals: We will be having a couple of more meetings at out office in May to discuss this very important stage of your children's lives: The end of the school year, summer plans, and making future plans for the Fall. We were able to work with several families over the last couple of weeks and I would like to offer more opportunities for the parents and professionals that could not attend out last two meetings. Please, bring a teacher or a staff person from your school for this very important meeting.  MEETINGS WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY NIGHTS, 6:30 P.M. All these three transitions are anxiety provoking for children with S.M., and I will give you some examples of situations that may need to be approached before the occasion arises:

1. "End of the Year" Graduation, Parties, Presentations: Children with S.M. may be "graduating" from Kindergarten, or from preschool. Many children with S.M. become very nervous as they anticipate participating in "graduation" activities, such as singing, going to a "stage" and receiving a diploma, and wearing an uncomfortable "graduating hat" on these occasions. Make sure you are aware if your child is anxious about any preparations for the end of the year at school, and talk to your child, to the teachers, and maybe you can develop some strategies to help your child feel more comfortable with the activities as you work as a team with teachers, professionals, and with your child as well. 

2. Summer plans: Choosing a camp, finding new play mates, taking trips to meet family members, going to unknown places. 

3. Plans for next academic year: This is the right time to make plans for the next academic year, when you still have contact with school personnel, and when you can make plans to start interventions right before school starts, and not after the first days of school. We will offer some clues on this topic as well in our next S.M. Parent Educational Meeting in our office.

Please, call our office at 954-341-4441 for information on the May meeting, and make sure you register early for this event because space is limited. Each family is welcome to bring a teacher to the meeting as well. Looking forward to seeing you there, Sincerely, Vera Joffe, Ph.D. WE will have a meeting in the beginning of May, and one on May 17 AND MAY 24THth, 2011, at 6:30 pm to 8 P.m. at Dr. Joffe's office.