Selective Mutism Outside of School Activity: Visiting firehouse

• Who: Amy, friends, firefighter, strangers
• Location: Local firehouse
• Environment: Amy is visiting the firehouse. The firemen there are talking about their experiences. It is loud, crowded, and most of the people there she does not know.
• Worry Level: 4
• Purpose: What is happening: One of Amy’s friends are asking about what the fireman said because they were not paying attention. However, Amy does not tell her friend what is going on right away because she does not want to attract attention. If she told her friend, Amy was afraid that others may notice her or the fireman would.
• Prepare: Before Amy goes to the firehouse, have her prepare some questions and replies.

Strategy and Scene

Plan conversation, Have Amy prepare several questions the night before Interview

• Favorite paper
• Favorite book
• Favorite food
• Favorite season and why
• About summer

As part of a Girl Scout outing plan, Amy and her friends in Girl Scout travelled outside the school to attend a lecture from the local firemen. When Amy saw the fire truck, she was stunned by how big it was. The glow, red truck towered above her head. “Good morning!” The firefighter Carlos welcomed the class. “We are your local firefighters from your area, and we are here to talk about what we do and our fancy equipment on this big truck”. The class quickly became quiet, and all were eager to hear what the firemen had to say. The firefighters discussed how they help save citizens from fires in the community, as well as teach basic procedures when you catch a fire such as stop, drop and roll. When the firefighter Carlos moved on to showing all the features of the fire truck, the entire class bustled with excitement. They showed all the loud alarms and honks that it could make, and described their tall ladder on top of the car. “This ladder can extend up to 100 feet”, he said. Amy’s friend Lee, busy with something else, didn’t hear what the fireman said. “what did he say? How long can the ladder stretch? ” the friend asked Amy. Amy, afraid to talk during the firefighter’s presentation, did not respond. The friend poked her again and repeated her question, a little louder. Again, “Hi, pay attention, I’ll tell you later.” Amy whispered to her friend. At the end of the presentation, Amy answered her question. Amy was content. She learned about fire safety and about all the wonderful features the fire truck had.

Jun Reitman and Alyssa Song    Wechat: Junwang08837 [e-mail]  SunnyMindED.org