It Takes Two to Talk^® Resources for Parents

The Hanen Centre designed the It Takes Two to Talk® guidebook and companion DVD specifically for parents of children with language delays.

If your child is on a waiting list for speech and language services, or if you’re looking for ways to build communication into the everyday activities you do with your child, It Takes Two to Talk can show you how to make every second count in the early years of your child’s life. With the right tools and strategies, you can build your child’s communication skills naturally throughout your day together. 

How It Takes Two to Talk^® Resources Help You

It Takes Two to Talk resources aim to make you your child’s best language teacher. Step by step, these resources show you exactly what you need to do to help your child learn.

Why Choose It Takes Two to Talk^®

►Practical ideas you can use in everyday situations

Using It Takes Two to Talk doesn’t mean you’ll have to carve out new time in your day to implement the strategies. The guidebook and DVD make use of the everyday activities you’re already doing with your child, so that nothing ever feels forced or unnatural.

Equipped with simple tips and practical strategies, you’ll be able to easily tweak the way you interact with your child to create productive and enjoyable learning opportunities. You’ll be connecting with your child and having fun while you watch his language grow.

Here’s an example of a simple, yet powerful It Takes Two to Talk strategy that can be used during any daily activity with your child:

OWL to Let Your Child Lead

Observe
Wait
Listen

Click on the link below to view sample pages from the guidebook explaining the OWL strategy with examples:

►Easy-to-use resources

The It Takes Two to Talk parent guidebook and companion DVD work together to offer you a comprehensive, step-by-step learning experience. While the guidebook outlines all the important information and strategies you’ll need, the companion DVD allows you to see those strategies in action by watching real-life videos of parents and their children. This makes it easy to “see” what works and what doesn’t.

Step 1: Read Chapter 1: Learn More about Your Child’s Communication

In this chapter of the It Takes Two to Talk guidebook, you’ll learn more about your child’s communication skills and easily “zero in” on your child’s stage of communication development so that you’ll better understand his needs and abilities and have an idea of what to expect from him next.

Click on the link below to view sample pages from the guidebook explaining the characteristics of a child at the Communicator stage:

Step 2: Watch the corresponding chapter on the Companion DVD

The It Takes Two to Talk companion DVD shows you real-life video examples of children at each stage of communication development so that you can easily “see” your child on the DVD and identify his stage of communication. 

Click on the link below to view a video clip from the companion DVD of a child at the Communicator Stage.

After you’ve figured out your child’s stage of communication, you would continue with the rest of the chapters in the same step-by-step fashion, first reading about the strategies in the guidebook, and then viewing examples on the DVD of real parents using those strategies with their children. The It Takes Two to Talk guidebook and companion DVD are straightforward, user-friendly tools that help you learn the strategies easily and get started helping your child right away.

►A companion guidebook and DVD you can keep coming back to

It Takes Two to Talk resources are not something you’ll use once and never come back to. The guidebook and DVD will provide you with ongoing support as your child’s language development progresses. If your child has advanced from the Communicator stage to the First Words User stage, for example, you can return to the resources for helpful tips for building your child’s language skills at his new stage.

You can also show the guidebook to your child’s speech-language pathologist so he/she can help you choose activities to supplement home programming.

►Evidence-based strategies

When looking for advice for helping your child communicate, you want to make sure you’re trusting sources that are reputable and research-based.

The strategies you’ll learn from the It Takes Two to Talk resources are drawn from It Takes Two to Talk – The Hanen Program® for Parents of Children with Language Delays. It Takes Two to Talk strategies have been shown in clinical practice to have positive effects on the communication skills development of children.

Click on the link below for a detailed research summary and empirical evidence.

What the experts say…

“Parents and professionals will find It Takes Two to Talk a unique and invaluable resource to promote the communicative development of children with language delays. Rarely do we see a guide that provides information so thoroughly grounded in current research yet so well organized and accessible. Supported by creative illustrations, readers easily find their way from principles to applications in everyday family activities. The Hanen Centre’s deep knowledge of the field and of families is apparent in every chapter.”

- Michael J. Guralnick, Ph.D.
Director, Center on Human Development and Disability
Professor of Psychology and Pediatrics, University of Washington