EP59 of the Unspoken Words Podcast features a live chat with parents at August 2025 CommuniCamp.

In the episode, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum and three participating parents discuss strategies for a positive start to the school year, navigating the bathroom issue at school, what to do when your child refuses to go to school and more.

Strategies for Positive Start to School Year

Episode 59 begins with Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum advising three parents on how to best prepare their children with selective mutism for the upcoming new school year. The key – Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum emphasizes – is staying upbeat and positive while avoiding projecting parental anxiety onto the child. 

Also in this clip, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum provides practical strategies; including visiting the school in advance, walking the halls to create a roadmap, connecting with potential peer buddies, establishing morning routines early, and working with teachers to ensure proper accommodations are in place for a smooth transition.

Every Child’s Needs at School are Different

Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum and the three participating guest parents continue their discussion as they dive into how partners or fathers may handle school drop-offs more easily than mothers who tend to show anxiety more openly.

Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum also addresses one of the parent panelist’s concerns about bathroom issues when a 504 plan isn’t yet in place. More on this topic in a second!

Dr. E emphasizes the critical importance of staff training before the school year begins, explaining that schools need to understand that “comfort and connection precede communication” and that progress happens through small groups, buddy systems, and personalized strategies rather than expecting children to speak in large group settings.

Navigating the Bathroom at School

In this part of the episode, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum addresses bathroom challenges for children with selective mutism, discussing accommodations like private bathrooms, prompting schedules, and gradual exposure, while emphasizing that accidents must be avoided as they can be humiliating. 

Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum then explains how progress happens through small groups, buddy systems, and “big shot roles” where children can showcase their strengths, stressing that building confidence starts at home through chores, responsibilities, and visual schedules that help children feel accomplished and successful.

Effective Ways to Encourage Communication at School

In the fourth chapter of the episode, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum emphasizes the importance of hope and belief in a child’s progress, sharing how one parent’s child went from being non-verbal and crying at age three to being responsive and sometimes taking initiative at school. 

Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum explains that praise should focus on comfort rather than talking, that children typically begin verbalizing over tasks rather than in casual conversation, and stresses the need for regular check-ins with teachers through weekly then monthly school reports to monitor progress and adjust strategies accordingly.

What to Do When Your Child Refuses to Go to School

Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum and the three parent guests wrap up their chat by addressing what to do when children refuse to go to school – also known as School Refusal.

Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum suggests strategies like creating exciting things to look forward to, using reward systems, meeting friends at the school’s entrance, and providing detailed daily schedules since children with selective mutism thrive on knowing “what, when, where, and how.” 

The key to remember here is that every exposure is a learning opportunity. Parents must analyze what worked or didn’t work in each situation so they can adjust their approach and help their child continue to make progress.