Hanen It Takes Two to Talk

Young girl with blonde hair in buns playing with summer themed jigsaw puzzle

Program Summary

Delivered by a Hanen-certified Speech Pathologist, It Takes Two to Talk® supports parents to become their child's primary language facilitator. Parents learn practical, responsive interaction and language strategies that can be used during everyday activities, play and routines.

By building on children's interests and creating meaningful interactions, parents can turn everyday moments into opportunities to support their child's language development.

The program includes:

Parent group learning sessions
Individual consultations
Video feedback and coaching
Practical language strategies for everyday life
Opportunities to connect with other parents

Program Breakdown

It Takes Two to Talk® combines group learning with individualised coaching and support.

Pre-Program Consultation
An individual meeting between the family and Speech Pathologist to:
- Discuss the child's communication and language strengths and needs
- Answer questions about the program
- Identify communication and language goals
- Record a baseline parent-child interaction
Parent Group Learning Sessions
Parents participate in interactive group sessions without their children present. Parents learn about:
- Early communication and language development
- Understanding their child's stage of communication
- Responsive interaction strategies
- Supporting language through play and everyday routines
- Encouraging back-and-forth interactions
- Supporting understanding and use of language
- Creating everyday opportunities for language learning
The program is designed to support parents to apply strategies in ways that work for their individual child, family values and everyday life.
Individual Coaching and Video Feedback
Families participate in individual consultations throughout the program.
Parents practise strategies with their child while receiving individualised feedback and coaching from the Speech Pathologist. Video feedback is used to help parents identify what is working well and explore opportunities to further support their child's language development.
Communication and language goals are reviewed and updated throughout the program.

Why It Takes Two to Talk?

Parents and caregivers play an important role in their child's language development. It Takes Two to Talk® builds family confidence and capacity by supporting parents to use effective interaction and language strategies during the everyday moments they already share with their child.

Rather than language learning occurring only during therapy sessions, parents learn how to create meaningful language-learning opportunities throughout everyday life.

It Takes Two to Talk® also combines parent education, practical coaching and connection with other families to provide a family-centred approach to early language intervention.

Key outcomes

Build parent confidence and skills

Parents learn to better understand their child's communication and language development and use responsive strategies to support their child's learning.

Support language development

Parents learn practical strategies to support their child's understanding of language, use of words and sentences, vocabulary development, turn-taking and interaction, and communication during play and everyday activities.

Create opportunities for learning every day

Parents learn how to use everyday routines, play, music, books and interactions as natural opportunities to support language development.

Connect families

Parents have the opportunity to learn alongside other families and connect with people who may have similar questions and experiences.

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