child has a stuttering problem?

Patricia McAleer-Hamaguchi, pediatric speech-language pathologist
When your kid is in the midst of a great jump in his language skills (between ages 30 months and 5 years) it is natural that they ought to have difficulty putting his sentences together in a fluent way. His brain is like a computer, desperately trying to pull up the right words in the right order. While the computer is "searching," his mouth may go in to a "pause" (translated: repeat) mode. So it may sound like this: "Mom \. I-Mom \. I-I-want-uh-I need you-gimme dat teddy bear!" The whole word or first syllable is repeated, not the first sound. This is a traditional developmental phase that most children go through. You may notice it more when your kid is worn out, excited, or upset.
This stumbling over words is different from a true stuttering issue (also called dysfluency or disfluency), which affects only 5 percent of children and is very unusual in toddlers. If your kid is truly stuttering, they may hold out the first sound in a word, saying "s-s-s-soda," or repeat the sound, as in "Sh-sh-she nice!" They may also open his mouth to say something, but get stuck before any sound comes out. Along with this "blocking," you may even see tension in his jaw or cheeks, and they may look away or clench his fist from the stress.
Children (and adults, ) tend to stutter when they are upset, uncomfortable, angry, or even plain excited. If your kid is stuttering only at these times, and the stuttering is mild, don't be in a rush to get him evaluated. If he is struggling with blockages, however, or they has not improved within four to four months, speak to his pediatrician, or, if he is in preschool, along with his teacher. His school may be able to refer you to an early intervention program (usually coordinated through the county or public school technique) that will provide a free screening, and his doctor can refer you to a speech-language pathologist for an evaluation.
For years, it was thought that preschoolers were young to start formal speech therapy for stuttering — that it would only make them self-conscious. Most practitioners now feel, though, that a kid with a extreme stutter (usually measured in number of repeated or extended sounds and blocks) can benefit from early intervention. If exercises are introduced as fun games, even a 3-year-old can learn strategies to reduce the frequency and severity of stuttering episodes.
You can also take steps at home. Whether your kid is basically going through a traditional dysfluent stage or exhibiting a true stutter, the way in which you reply is important. Keep your voice slow, soft, and relaxed — think Mr. Rogers of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. In case you are a fast staccato talker, try to slow down so your kid doesn't feel the necessity to reply in a similar manner. Don't tell him to slow down, though — speak slowly and he'll follow your lead. Maintain eye contact and wait and see. Get on the floor and get comfortable. Smirk. In case you turn away and act hurried, your kid will feel pressure to "get it out" and this will only make it worse. In case you look frustrated, your kid will pick up on this and be even more self-conscious. There is no need at this point to let him know his stuttering is frustrating or worrisome for you