If you’re a parent who’s concerned about your child’s language development, or you’re a professional who supports families of children with language delays/disorders, the It Takes Two to Talk® guidebook can help.
This practical guide from the It Takes Two to Talk parent program shows parents how they can use research-based techniques during everyday interactions with their child in order to promote their child’s language development.
The guidebook is based on research that shows that:
- Children learn language best during enjoyable, everyday interactions with the important people in their lives
- Parents are their child’s most important language teachers – when parents learn how to use specific interaction strategies during everyday interactions with their child, their child’s language improves
- The earlier children with language delays receive support, the more their language skills will benefit.
By using It Takes Two to Talk, parents turn everyday interactions and routines – bath-time, play time, grocery shopping – into rich opportunities to build their child’s language while connecting and having fun together. When used as a key component of a child’s early language intervention, It Takes Two to Talk transforms the intervention into a natural, ongoing process with greater impact for the child and the whole family.
What Parents Learn:
It Takes Two to Talk helps parents:
- Recognise their child’s stage and style of communication
- Identify what motivates their child to interact with them so they’ll know how to get conversations started
- Adjust everyday routines to encourage their child to take turns and keep interactions going
- Follow their child’s lead to build the child’s confidence and encourage them to communicate
- Fine-tune the way they talk to help the child understand the world around them and learn how to express themselves
- Tweak the way they play and read books with their child to help them learn language
Highlights:
- Checklists and goal charts to identify the child’s stage of communication and choose appropriate goals
- Clear, research-based strategies for building communication into everyday life, from routines like mealtime and bath time to activities like playtime, book sharing and singing songs together
- Guidance for facilitating language at four different communication stages
- Illustrated examples of parents using the strategies during everyday interactions
Benefits for Parents and Professionals:
Parents:
It Takes Two to Talk helps you make the most of your role as your child’s most important language teacher. You learn research-based interaction techniques that you can add to any of the daily activities and conversations you already have together. Using these techniques not only provides the best possible opportunities to build your child’s language skills – it also strengthens your relationship by helping you connect and have more fun together. Using It Takes Two to Talk with the support of your child’s SLT (Speech & Language Therapist) will have the greatest impact, as you can discuss your child’s language goals together and identify the It Takes Two to Talk strategies that will be most helpful. As your child progresses through It Takes Two to Talk’s Four Stages of Communication, you can return to the guidebook for ideas to promote your child’s language at their new stage and to help them gain the skill to move to the next one.
Professionals:
If you’re an SLP or other professional who believes in the importance of involving parents in early language intervention, It Takes Two to Talk can be a beneficial addition to your clinical toolbox.
By incorporating the guidebook into your sessions with parents, or using it as a supplement for home programming, you can:
- Help parents understand the power they have to help their child and give them the confidence to play a leading role
- Engage parents in identifying and understanding their child’s current communication
- Involve parents in the goal-setting process with helpful checklists and goal charts
- Support parents to help their child initiate interactions, take turns in enjoyable, extended interactions and increase their expressive and receptive language skills
- Explain complex concepts using simple language and clear examples
