How parents can make the biggest difference in helping their child communicate

As a parent of a child with autism, you know your child best. You know that he has special strengths, abilities and interests.  You’re also aware of the people, places and things that make him comfortable, as well as those things to which he is most sensitive.  As for your child, he will be most at ease – and therefore most open to communicating – around the people with whom he has a strong bond and in the environments with which he is most familiar.

This puts you, the parent, in the best possible position to encourage your child to learn new communication skills.  Studies have shown that when parents interact with their children in specific ways that motivate, encourage and support their child’s communication, they can make a significant difference to their child’s overall social and communication development.

Every moment of your child’s life provides an opportunity for you to help him learn to communicate. By taking advantage of the everyday routines and activities you’re already doing with your child, you can help him learn many important skills that will make connecting with others and making friends much easier.

Take a look at these helpful articles for tips and ideas for encouraging communication in children with autism:

Using the research to help parents

The Hanen Centre has developed a number of research-based programs and resources especially for parents of children on the autism spectrum. Our speech-language pathologists have simplified the research on what helps children with autism communicate by “translating” it into practical communication strategies that parents can easily use with their children during everyday routines and activities.

Here are just a few of the research findings which guided the development of Hanen programs and resources for parents of children with autism:

• Learning happens naturally – Children learn to communicate best during everyday conversations and activities with their parents and other important adults.
  

• The first step in intervention is to get children to pay attention to the person they are interacting with.
  

• Children with autism learn and communicate best when they know what to expect, so adding structure to everyday routines is crucial. 
  

• Children who are involved in conversations about the thoughts and feelings of others start to tune in to what other people are thinking (often referred to as having a “theory-of-mind”).  This kind of thinking is central to a child’s ability to have successful interpersonal relationships.
  

• With the right vocabulary, children not only talk differently, but they also begin to think differently. They begin to see the importance of listening to other people’s ideas and perspectives.

Hanen offers the following programs and resources for parents of children with autism:
 

More Than Words® guidebook and Companion DVD

These resources equip parents with easy-to-use strategies for building their child’s communication and social skills during everyday routines and play. Parents learn how to increase their child’s understanding of language, encourage better social communication, and help him engage in extended back-and-forth interactions with others.
Learn more.
 

More Than Words® Program for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder  

The More Than Words Program allows parents to learn More Than Words strategies during a series of small group learning sessions and individual consultations with a Hanen Certified Speech-Language Pathologist. The program provides a comprehensive and personalized learning experience for each family participating in the program. 
Learn more.

TalkAbility™ guidebook: People skills for verbal children on the autism spectrum 

For parents of verbal children with high-functioning autism, including Asperger Syndrome, the TalkAbility™ guidebook shows you how to use your child’s unique interests to help him build stronger social skills. Parents learn how they can help their child develop empathy and consider the perspectives of others in order to have more meaningful conversations and make friends more easily. 
Learn more.

The TalkAbility™ Program for Parents of Verbal Children on the Autism Spectrum  

Led by a Hanen Certified Speech-Language Pathologist, the TalkAbility Program allows small groups of parents to learn strategies through the use of activities and group discussions, as well as individual consultations with the SLP. The program provides a comprehensive and personalized learning experience for each family participating in the program.
Learn more.


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