Activities and Games for Families Navigating Selective Mutism

Help your child develop their brave talking skills through engaging activities for the family

When it comes to helping your child practice their brave talking skills, play is a great distraction. These games and activities for selective mutism families can help children with selective mutism (SM) practice speaking up in new social situations while also having fun. Brave talking, or speaking in a safe situation with plenty of positive reinforcement, lets an individual with SM benefit from repeated practice across different settings. Even as a child gains more confidence, it’s important to communicate at their level to foster growth. As these selective mutism therapy games show, brave talking doesn’t have to be scary.

Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder that makes it difficult for a child to speak in certain social situations. A child with selective mutism is not defiant, willful, or untreatable—and many learn to manage their anxiety and overcome the disorder through targeted therapy and practice. Understanding what selective mutism is and isn’t can help inform your interactions and treatment choices and determine which activities your child is ready for. 

Here, you’ll find a list of selective mutism games and activities to encourage your child’s voice.

Play Bravery Bingo

Help your child develop their speaking skills by turning practice into a game. Download Bravery Bingo cards from our resource library and challenge your child to step outside of their comfort zone while working toward Bingo and a prize they’re excited about. Choose between a blank card where you and your child decide which speaking tasks to fill the card with based on their age and communication goals or a pre-filled card option for both younger and older children with selective mutism.

Play “Would You Rather”

Would you rather learn to fly or turn invisible? Would you rather visit space or the bottom of the ocean? In the conversational game “Would You Rather,” you offer two options and then discuss the choices. It’s a great way to engage in goofy, low-stakes conversations with a child with SM and incorporates forced-choice questions. Plus, you just need your imagination and your voice! Let your child know you love hearing their questions and answers. Try playing this game first in a small group setting with peers your child is comfortable with.

Join a Summer Camp

You can find selective mutism camps geared towards your child’s specific needs. These camps offer games, activities, and incentives to encourage brave talking and are staffed by professionals familiar with selective mutism best practices. Plus, your child can bond with other kids while making summer memories. If a selective mutism camp is not available in your area, you can still find a local summer camp that can work for your child. Try these tips on how to talk to educators about selective mutism to help educate a child’s counselor or teacher on how best to foster interaction with your child.

Find a Library Reading Group

Your public library is a great resource for social activities at your child’s age group. Try attending a library storytime event. These activities can be a low-pressure introduction for children with selective mutism because they can listen to the books being read aloud while they get comfortable with their surroundings. From there, they have the opportunity to build up to participation in small reading groups that offer some discussion about the book. You can also practice reading out loud at home together. Reading books about selective mutism that speak to your child’s specific experiences and can help them learn to name, recognize, and communicate their feelings and experiences.

Start a Lemonade Stand

 A lemonade stand is a perfect way to encourage interactions with neighbors while also building business skills. Help your child buy supplies, make signs, set prices, and construct their stand. Before opening, practice things like counting change, talking to customers, and saying “please” and “thank you.” Consider involving a friend or relative your child feels comfortable with as their business partner—and inviting some familiar faces to visit the stand. After each interaction, let your new entrepreneur know you’re proud of them. Afterward, you can even make a special trip to the store where they can spend their earnings on whatever they choose.

Play “Guess Who?”

 In this board game, players each receive a board with the faces of different characters. They take turns asking questions and eliminating options until they can guess the other player’s character. This is a great game for a child with selective mutism to play with friends they are comfortable speaking with because they cannot resort to pointing or nodding. Forced questions are a natural part of gameplay, and in order to join, your child must speak up.

Write and Perform a Play

 Your child can collaborate on a theatrical production with friends or family members with whom they are comfortable. The team can work together on a script, sets, costumes, and even invitations. Working with others takes the pressure off your child’s shoulders. Invite a small audience of people your child already knows. Depending on your child’s comfort level, they may want to film the production to share with friends or family, especially if having a small group present adds anxiety. At the end of the performance, give a standing ovation! Let your child know they are a star!

Order Food in Public

 Let your child know you’re going out for a special treat. Let them pick their favorite restaurant or takeout window, and tell them on the way over that they are in charge of ordering their own meal. After looking at the menu, help your child practice speaking their order in advance, or, depending on their communication level, help write down their order and have them read it aloud when the time comes. Avoid the urge to speak up for them. After they order, offer subtle praise for their brave talking.

Practice Going to School

Whether your child is starting school for the first time or getting ready to head into a new classroom after summer break, help them get ready for the upcoming change by practicing before the big day arrives. Before the school year begins, have your child start with their morning routine. Wake up on time, pack a backpack, eat breakfast, and head to school to play on the playground. You can also set up a one-on-one meeting with their teacher, so your child can talk with them in a calm and encouraging environment before the first day. All of these activities can help alleviate some of your child’s anxieties about a new school year.

Incorporating these selective mutism games and activities will help develop the brave talking skills your child needs to thrive. Looking for more advice on supporting a child with SM? Read our tips on how to best help a child with selective mutism, and for more resources, find a selective mutism support group or join the Selective Mutism Association.