Selective Mutism Association

📅 Save the Date!📅 The Selective Mutism Association Annual Conference is coming to Boston on September 25–26. ✨ Registration opens soon, stay tuned!✨

We’re hosting a webinar designed for parents of children with selective mutism on Thursday, March 26. Join us to learn strategies, insights, and ways to better support your child. 💛 Register: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regist…

📚 March Reading Month Author Spotlight 📚 Meet the author behind this powerful story, written by someone who experienced selective mutism as a child. 💛 Because sometimes the most powerful moment is realizing someone understands. 🌼

Kindness creates safe spaces. 💚 For children with selective mutism, patience, understanding, and encouragement can make all the difference. This St. Patrick’s Day, let’s spread kindness everywhere we go. 🍀

Big feelings aren’t bad feelings. 💛 When emotions are ignored, they grow louder. When emotions are named, they feel safer and smaller. “I feel sad.” “I feel angry.” “I feel nervous.” Name it to tame it. 🌈

Selective mutism is often misunderstood. It isn’t defiance. It isn’t stubbornness. And it isn’t a choice. It’s anxiety and with understanding, patience, and the right support, children can build confidence and find their voice. 💛 The more we know, the better we can support.

📚 March Reading Month Author Spotlight 📚 Meet Chelsea Gamache, author of I Am Brave. 💛 Because bravery doesn’t mean being loud. It means showing up, even when it’s hard. 🌼 #MarchReadingMonth #SelectiveMutism #AnxietyInChildren #IAmBrave

Monday is just another day full of potential 💛 For children with selective mutism, even small steps, a whisper, a nod, a brave moment, are worth celebrating. Progress doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful. We see you. You’ve got this. 🌈✨

Pressure doesn’t build confidence, safety does. 💛 When supporting a child with selective mutism, small shifts make a big difference. Give time. Model calm. Celebrate effort. A nod. A whisper. Eye contact. These moments matter.

It’s a beautiful Friday to practice courage in small ways. 💛 Whether that’s a nod, a whisper, or simply showing up, every step counts. Wishing our selective mutism community a gentle, brave, and beautiful day. 🌼

New Research Spotlight 📚 SM can be identified in very young children, and early parent-centered intervention is key. This open-access review explains why SM is best understood as an anxiety disorder and highlights effective approaches . Read more: drive.google.com/drive/folders/…

💛 SMA Virtual Parent Support Group 💛 📅 March 25, 2026 🕗 8:00 PM ET Connect with parents across the country navigating selective mutism. Share experiences, find encouragement, and know you’re not alone. Register: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regist…

🎉 March Reading Month Author Spotlight 🎉 We’re kicking off our first author reading in this special series with Ashvy Shah, author of My Voice Is Missing.

As we head into a new week, here’s something to sit with: Where might I be rescuing out of love… and where could I shift toward support instead? This week, maybe the goal isn’t “more.” Maybe it’s one thoughtful shift.

SPACE, developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at Yale, helps parents reduce anxiety accommodations while showing acceptance and confidence. Learn more in *Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD* or through SMA’s SPACE webinar.

Students spend 35–40 hours a week at school, making it one of the most important places to practice brave speaking. Brave practice doesn’t have to mean adding something extra. It can be built into everyday school moments. Small, consistent steps lead to meaningful progress. 💛

New research is exploring the long-term impact of childhood selective mutism and your story could help shape future support. Researchers seek: • Adults (18–25) who experienced SM • Parents • Lived experience voices 📧 s4110411@lsbu.ac.uk Your voice matters 💛

Want to learn more about SM but aren't ready to make the jump to the SMA Membership? Then, our online resource library is the perfect place to start.

Fri-yay, we made it! 💗 To every brave glance, nod, whisper, or moment of connection this week… it counts. Progress doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.

Wondering what a selective mutism evaluation really involves? It’s more than a checklist. A trained professional looks at your child’s history, environment, stressors, and communication patterns to ensure the right diagnosis and support. 💛