The It Takes Two to Talk Program is designed specifically for parents of young children (birth to 5 years of age) who have been identified as having a language delay. In a small, personalised group setting, parents learn practical strategies to help their children learn language naturally throughout their day together.

The program teaches parents/carers how to become their child’s most important language teacher and shows them how to:

• Recognise their child’s stage and style of communication so they know which steps to take next
• Identify what motivates their child to interact so they know how to get conversations started
• Adjust everyday routines to help their child take turns and keep interactions going
• Follow their child’s lead to build confidence and encourage their child to communicate
• Add language to interactions to help their child understand language and then use it when they are ready
• Tweak the way parents/carers play and read books to help children learn language
• Change the way they speak to their child so that they’ll understand and learn new words

The program includes:

• 6-8 training sessions for parents/carers in small, personalised groups
• A pre-program consultation with the speech-language pathologist
• Three individual visits with the speech-language pathologist in which parent/carers are videotaped while practicing strategies to “see” what’s helping their child and what they can modify to help even more.

Further information about It Takes Two to Talk can be found at:

www.hanen.org > It Takes Two to Talk

Target Word is developed specifically for parents of children who are Late Talkers (that is, children who have good comprehension, motor and learning skills, but who are using fewer words than other children their age). The Target Word Program shows parents how they can help their child use words and build his expressive vocabulary during everyday routines and activities.

The program can show you ways to naturally create opportunities for your child to use words during everyday routines and activities. You’ll learn:

• how to respond when your child communicates without using words
• how to turn everyday activities into opportunities for language-learning
• how to introduce new words and ideas into playtime and other activities
• how to join in your child’s play and favourite activities in ways that help your child use new words
• how to set up activities so your child can learn new words

The program includes:

• An individual consultation with the Hanen SLP before the program begins
• Five informative, interactive sessions with a small group of parents
• Two individual consultation appointments with the Hanen SLP to discuss how to fine-tune the information for their child. Parents are videotaped interacting with their child, and the parent and SLP then review the tape together to see what’s working and what else the parent might do to help their child learn even more
• Support from other parents of children with delayed expressive language

Further information about Target Word can be found at:
hanen.org > Target Word

The Hanen I’m Ready!™ Program offers parents/carers the chance to help their child (aged 3-5 years old) develop the literacy skills they need before starting school. Parents/carer will learn how they can promote early literacy while reading, but also throughout the entire day. I’m Ready! is ideal for children who are typically developing, at risk of a language delay, or with a mild language delay.

The program includes:

• 7 training sessions including a required Orientation Session
• Simultaneous sessions where children continue to build their language and literacy skills with the help of trained support staff
• Individualised parent coaching from the program leader and support staff throughout the program

Selected sessions of the I’m Ready! Program can also be offered when parents/carers are unable to commit to attending a complete program or there is a limited amount of time for training parents. Several options are available ranging from 1 to 4 group sessions

Further information about I’m Ready can be found at:
www.hanen.org > I’m Ready

Key Word Sign (KWS) is used to encourage and support language development in children and adults with communication difficulties.

This Basic Workshop will get you started using Key Word Sign (KWS).

You will learn a vocabulary of approximately 80 signs and understand more about how to use KWS. The training can be completed in a 1-day workshop, or be done over 2 or more sessions.

Further information about Key Word Sign can be found at:
kwsa.com.au > Training