Your only child is not quiet for a moment at home. It tells you in detail what happened throughout the day, what mischief the house pet did, why he didn't finish his tiffin. Episodes of cartoons may even be acted out with dialogue! But going to the parent-teacher meeting of the school and listening, your Ekratti spoke only one or two words throughout the day, did not mix with anyone, ate tiffin sitting in a corner. Do not be surprised then? (Parenting Tips) The question will arise in your mind – Why does the same child talk so much at home, but is so quiet at school?

Maybe you are thinking, the child is shy. Actually it is not true. The clinical name for this behavior of speaking fluently in private but remaining completely silent at school or in certain social situations is 'selective mutism'. It is a problem to worry or anxiety.

Such a child may talk naturally, even very animatedly, to family members. But speaking at school, with strangers, or in certain social situations can become extremely difficult for them. Most importantly, the child does not stop talking on purpose. Not being able to speak out is often a 'freeze response' caused by anxiety.

Why is the problem not easily caught?

The big problem with 'selective mutism' is that these children don't cause any trouble. They are calm, polite and follow the rules. As a result, their silence is often mistaken for normal introversion. But this silence can sometimes have a big impact on a child's daily life. Situations such as not being able to ask a teacher for help, not being able to express one's needs, or not being able to ask permission to go to the toilet may also arise.

But this problem is not complicated. With appropriate clinical support and treatment the child will become completely normal. So if your child speaks very fluently at home but remains silent all the time at school, don't ignore it. Rather than trying to force him to talk, it's best to talk to a pediatrician or mental health professional. Because it's not a child's personality problem—it's an anxiety problem, for which the right help and treatment can be effective.