Training for Parents



We offer a variety of training for parents e.g.

  • Exploring Communcation Development
  • Let's Talk
  • It takes two to talk
  • More than words

For details see below:


1.  Exploring Communication Development (2 x 1 hr sessions)


During the two sessions parents will:


  • Learn the importance of communication development for all children
  • Identify key factors in the development of communication
  • Identify their role in supporting children’s communication development
  • Gain an understanding of how they can support their children’s communication development
  • Know where to find information and support on children’s communication development.

2. Let's Talk (6x 2 hour sessions)



Lets talk with Under 5's is an accredited course delivered over six two-hour workshops with an optional seventh which explores phonology.
Who is the course for?

This course is relevant to parents, carers (including child minders) and pre-school practitioners wanting some key skills and knowledge. Completion of this course can lead to exploring the issues involved in more depth by attending our Speech and Language Support for Under 5's ten week course.

What do participants receive?

  • Teaching from qualified speech and language therapists and or an experienced teacher
  • Opportunities to discuss ideas to help children learn to listen, understand and talk
  • Information about communication difficulties children can experience
  • Opportunities to meet other pre-school practitioners, parents and carers
  • Information about normal speech and language development
  • An illustrated workbook full of practical tips and ideas which provides a rich source of individualised strategies and information to support a specific child
  • Accreditation if you would like it
  • Support needed to complete the workbook to achieve accreditation at level 1 though the Open College Network.

What is taught?

  • What is communication?
  • Adult-child interaction
  • Play; the link between play and language.
  • Using words and sentence
  • Asking questions and sharing books
  • Helping children with unclear speech

The sessions are very practical, there are opportunities to:

  • Think about you child's communication
  • Try new ideas
  • Choose activities specifically for you
  • Discuss a range of issues
  • Practise using ideas at home or in the work place
  • Gain recognition for taking part in the course by recording your ideas, observations and activities in a booklet. You can gain a certificate from the Open College Network South West which is part of Plymouth University. This could help you with employment opportunities. You will be given support and encouragement to achieve this goal.


3. It Takes Two to Talk (8 weeks)


The It Takes Two to Talk Program is designed specifically for parents of children ages five and under who have been identified as having a language delay. In a small, personalized group setting, parents learn practical strategies to help their children learn language naturally throughout their day together.

The It Takes Two to Talk Program teaches you, step-by-step, how to become your child’s most important language teacher.

The It Takes Two to Talk Program includes:

  • 6-8 training sessions for parents in small, personalized groups
  • A Hanen Certified speech-language pathologist leading the program
  • A pre-program consultation for you and your child with the speech-language pathologist
  • Three individual visits for you and your child with the speech-language pathologist in which you are videotaped while practicing strategies to help your child achieve specific communication goals. You and the speech-language pathologist then watch the videotaped interaction to “see” what’s helping your child and what you can modify to help even more.
  • Why Take the It Takes Two to Talk® Program?

Here are some of the valuable things the program will teach you how to do:

  • Recognize your child’s stage and style of communication so that you know which steps to take next
  • Identify what motivates your child to interact with you so you’ll know how to get conversations started
  • Adjust everyday routines to help your child take turns and keep interactions going
  • Follow your child’s lead to build his confidence and encourage him to communicate
  • Add language to interactions with your child to help him understand language and then use it when he is ready
  • Tweak the way you play and read books with your child to help him learn language
  • Change the way you speak to your child so that he’ll understand and learn new words
read more at@ http://www.hanen.org/Hanen-Programs/Programs-For-Parents/It-Takes-Two-to-Talk-Parent-Program.aspx


4. More Than Words®  10 weeks x 2 hours— The Hanen Program® for Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder or Social Communication Difficulties

As a parent, you know how challenging it can be for your child with Autism Spectrum Disorder to interact meaningfully with others and connect with the world around him.
The More Than Words Program was designed specifically for parents of children ages 5 and under on the autism spectrum. Addressing the unique needs of these children, the program provides parents with the tools, strategies and support they need to help their children reach their full communication potential.
More Than Words does this by empowering you to help your child reach the following three goals:
  1. Improved social skills
  2. The ability to engage in back-and-forth interactions
  3. Improved understanding of language
Here are some of the valuable things you’ll learn when you attend the More Than Words Program:
  • How your child learns best and what motivates him to communicate
  • Why your child behaves in certain ways, and what you can do to either increase or reduce those behaviours
  • How to use your knowledge about your child to set realistic goals
  • How to make interactions with your child last longer and be more meaningful
  • Tips for using pictures and print to help your child’s understanding
  • Tips on how to talk so that your child understands you
  • Strategies for developing your child’s play skills
  • Ways to help your child make friends


Program Components

The More Than Words parent program includes:
  • 8 training sessions in small, personalized groups
  • A Hanen Certified speech-language pathologist leading the program
  • A pre-program consultation for you and your child with your speech-language pathologist
  • Three individual visits for you and your child with your speech-language pathologist in which you are videotaped while practicing with your child. Then you and your speech-language pathologist watch the videotaped interaction to “see” what’s helping and what you can modify to help even more


Program Resources

During the More Than Words Program, you’ll use the guidebook More Than Words: A Parent’s Guide to Building Interaction and Language Skills for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder or Social Communication Difficulties.This guidebook covers all of the strategies from the More Than Words Program and offers dozens of examples for how you can use these strategies during everyday routines and activities with your child. Even after completing the program, you can keep coming back to this guidebook to remind yourself of what you have learned and to get new ideas and support as your child progresses and new goals are set.
If you are waiting to attend a More Than Words program, you may want to purchase the guidebook in advance to give your learning a head start and to gain some practical strategies that you can start using with your child right away.


Benefits of Taking the More Than Words® Program

Practical strategies you can use in everyday situations

The More Than Words Program focuses on your natural, day-to-day life with your child. You’ll discover how to take everyday activities like meal time, story time and bath time and use them to help your child improve his communication and social skills. And you’ll have fun together while you’re doing it!
The More Than Words approach is easy to understand and easy to put into practice. With every strategy you learn, you’ll be given ample opportunity to practice and discuss it so that you won’t forget it.
Here’s an example of a strategy you’ll learn in the program:
“R.O.C.K.™ in your Routine”
R.O.C.K.
Repeat what you say and do
Offer opportunities for your child to take a turn
Cue your child to take his turn; and
Keep it fun! Keep it going!
The R.O.C.K. strategy can be used during any activity you do with your child to foster longer, more meaningful interactions and improved social skills.


An evidence-based and reputable program that’s worth your time

Like all of Hanen's programs, More Than Words was developed by expert speech-language pathologists and is grounded in extensive research. The program itself is delivered by Hanen Certified Speech-language pathologists who have completed specialized training from The Hanen Centre.
More Than Words requires a significant time commitment from parents in order to ensure the best possible learning experience. Once you’ve completed the program, however, the strategies you’ve learned will become such a natural part of the way you interact with your child that you won’t even notice you’re using them. The commitment you put in now will pay off during every interaction you have with your child.

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