- 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
Why Choose More Than Words®
►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 learn how to tweak the activities that you’re doing with your child already and turn them into productive and enjoyable learning opportunities.
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”
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.
►A companion guidebook you can keep coming back to
The More Than Words parent guidebook is used throughout the program to reinforce what you’ve learned and to provide you with fresh new ideas for interacting with your child to improve his skills.
Even after completing the program, you can keep coming back to this guidebook to remind you of what you have learned and to get new ideas and support as your child progresses and new goals are set.
To learn more about More Than Words parent resources, and how they may also be used outside of a Hanen Program®, click on the link below:
►A chance to connect with other parents
One of the greatest benefits of the More Than Words Program is the opportunity it provides to connect with other parents. When you feel like no one understands what you’re going through, you can often feel isolated and alone in your struggle. At the More Than Words Program, you’ll meet other parents in the same situations. You will have opportunities to share experiences with other parents, gain insight from their experiences, and make new friends who really understand what you’re feeling.
►An evidence-based and reputable program
Like all of Hanen's programs, More Than Words has been 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.
Hanen’s unique approach in involving parents in their child’s intervention has made it a world-renowned leader in early childhood communication development. Over its 35 year history, over 25,000 speech-language pathologists around the world have been trained in the Hanen approach. You can rest assured that a Hanen Program® is a program of outstanding quality that has helped thousands of parents just like you.
For a detailed research summary and empirical evidence, click on the link below:
What to Expect at the More Than Words® Program
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
Give Your Child a Head Start
The More Than Words Program has empowered hundreds of parents around the world to improve the lives of their children with autism. Here’s what one parent had to say:
“My son has made incredible strides due to your program. He has surprised a lot of people. What I really love about the program is that we are taught to work with our children. After all, an SLP may see them once a week, but we are with them around the clock, so if we can help with their speech it is actually a more beneficial situation for the children. Your course is invaluable and a must-do for parents, relatives and friends. I am forever grateful”
– Debra, mother of 4-year-old Anthony
To give your child a head start at developing his communication skills, click here to find an upcoming More Than Words Program in your area.