What can enhance the child's self-image with selective mutism?

Enhancing a child's self-image with selective mutism is effectively supported by providing control and predictability in social situations. When children feel they have a degree of control over their environment and interactions, they are more likely to engage and become comfortable with speaking. Predictable social settings help reduce anxiety by allowing children to anticipate what will happen next, making them feel safer and more secure. This sense of predictability can gradually encourage children to open up and communicate, boosting their confidence and self-esteem over time.

In contrast, completely avoiding social interactions fails to challenge the child's anxiety and can reinforce their silence, leading to a decreased self-image. Ignoring anxiety issues also neglects the core of the problem, making it difficult for the child to develop coping strategies or overcome their mutism. Finally, freestyle communication strategies may lack structure or expectation, potentially overwhelming the child or creating additional anxiety, rather than fostering a secure environment conducive to building confidence.