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On October 22 each year we observe International Stuttering Awareness Day (ISAD), a day dedicated to raising awareness about stuttering and the communication journeys of millions of people around the world. Wikipedia+1
For many children, especially bilingual children, the interplay of language switching, expressive confidence and emotional regulation can be especially significant. When children stutter or hesitate to express themselves, what shows up isn’t a lack of intelligence or effort, it’s a signal that we need to create support, understanding and space for their voices to grow.
If you’re raising a bilingual child, or teaching one, you already know that they navigate two (or more) languages, cultural identities, and emotional landscapes. Now imagine adding in the additional layer of fluency challenges or a speech-disfluency like stuttering:
- A child who stutters may feel extra pressure when switching languages or being “on the spot” in the minority language.
- They may experience frustration, shame or worry about speaking, which ties directly into emotional regulation and mindfulness.
- From an SEL perspective, their voice is a key part of their identity, and supporting it means honouring both their languages and their emotional self-expression.
On ISAD, we reaffirm that every child’s voice is magnificent; whether they stutter or not, whether they mix languages or are just starting out. The goal: create families and classrooms where bilingualism, SEL and mindful communication intersect to empower children.
Here’s a combined tool you can start using at home or in your classroom right now:
Step 1: Create a short “Silence-Pause & Voice Check” when your child is about to speak in either language (or after they try) — invite them to take 3 deep breaths, close their eyes (or soften their gaze), and feel the sound they’re about to say. This mindful pause helps regulate anxiety and gives the brain a moment of calm.
Step 2: Use the Translanguaging Bridge strategy: when your child is expressing a thought or facing a word they’re struggling with, ask them to:
- Write or say the word/idea in their minority language.
- Then explain what they mean in the majority language.
- Then identify a cognate (or similar root) or shared meaning in the other language to bridge understanding.
This method helps the bilingual brain connect languages, build vocabulary across both languages, and strengthen the child’s confidence in using both languages — especially when speech is challenging.
Step 3: After the activity, affirm their effort: “Your voice matters. You used both languages and you paused mindfully — that’s brain power, emotional strength, and bilingual superpower all in one.”
Here are three highly useful products that complement these strategies. They are not just “nice to have” — they become tools that support your child’s bilingual expression, mindful voice and emotional resilience.
- I Like Myself! / ¡Me Gusta Cómo Soy! Board Book: A bilingual (English/Spanish) storybook that celebrates identity, expression and self-worth. Using this after your “Silence-Pause & Voice Check” helps anchor the message that their voice — in whichever language — is worthy and amazing. https://amzn.to/4hn0HzR
- The Mindful Dragon: A Dragon Book about Mindfulness. A Cute Children Story to Teach Kids about Mindfulness, Focus and Peace. This book guides children through mindfulness practices — ideal for that moment of pause before speaking, helping regulate anxiety, calm the mind, and prepare to express. https://amzn.to/4hn0PPR
❤️ Closing Thought
On October 22, as we honour International Stuttering Awareness Day, let’s go beyond awareness. Let’s build practices. Let’s create rituals. Let’s affirm that bilingual children, children who stutter or hesitate, children navigating multiple languages and cultures — all deserve to be heard, supported, and celebrated. Your family, classroom and home can be a place where voice, language, emotion and mindfulness come together to raise resilient, confident bilingual communicators.