Stuttering: For Kids, By Kids Premieres

Kids who stutter have a lot to say, and friends can show them how in Stuttering: For Kids, By Kids, a new DVD that premiered at the Friends: The Association of Young People Who Stutter convention in San Francisco.

Many children who stutter have never met anyone else who struggles with the same disability. But in this new video from The Stuttering Foundation, they hear other kids who recount how they handle challenges such as teasing, speaking out in class, and teaching others about stuttering.

Because the DVD is for kids themselves, the annual gathering of Friends, a nonprofit which runs support groups nationwide, was a natural venue at which to premiere the 12-minute film.

Swish, a lively and engaging animated basketball character designed by students at Purdue University, narrates the video. The children who star range in age from first-grade to high school, and they offer frank and sometimes different views of stuttering.

For example, Matthew, age 10, says about his stuttering, “It’s no big deal;” but Kate, age 9, worries about her speech, what is going to happen next and whether or not she’ll stutter.

Arianne, age 14, says, “It’s not a big deal because it isn’t about who I am as a person.”

Kids who previewed the video at the Friends conference in July had some pretty frank opinions too, enthusiastically casting themselves in the role of “film critics.”

What we want you to do is tell us your opinion,” said Lisa Scott Trautman, co-producer, in introducing the video to a roomful of 5-11 year olds.

Can we give it a rating?” asked one 10-year-old. “With a good rating, some movies make like $300 million.” Since The Stuttering Foundation is a nonprofit organization that makes its publications available at or below cost, that’s not likely. However, one thing that is true about the film is that, “people should treat you like everyone else,” said Linnea, age 8.

I liked the basketball [Swish]. It was the best part,” said Danielle, age 9.

While the ratings systems were a bit erratic, ranging from “2 thumbs up” to “A++++” to “3 stars,” one primary message from the video came through strong and consistent on everyone’s critique: “it’s okay to stutter.”

Well, my best advice for kids who stutter would be probably that they’re not alone and that there is a ton of other kids out there who stutter,” says Naomi, in the video.

“Anyone interested in helping kids learn more about stuttering will want to see this tape,” said SLP Joe Donaher of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “The children featured are a perfect example of how to openly and honestly handle stuttering.”

"We hope that families, friends, and teachers of kids who stutter will learn from the video too, added Jane Fraser, SFA president.

Stuttering: For Kids, By Kids is available in VHS or DVD free of charge to all public libraries. For more information, call 1-800-992-9392 or visit our online store.