How we learn interviews Elaine Weitzman, Executive Director of The Hanen Centre, in a blog post that explores different views on the relatively new practice of teaching sign language to hearing infants before they can speak. Some parents have embraced the strategy, claiming that sign language reduces frustration and encourages learning by providing their young children with the means to communicate. The Hanen Centre stresses the importance of parents fostering their children’s language development by having frequent, language-rich interactions with them in everyday situations. The research bears this out as the most important factor in children’s early language development.
"Your child is almost two years old and not talking. You’re worried but not sure what to do. Most of your friends and family tell you not to worry: “He’ll talk when he’s ready”, but you can’t let it go."
Maria Lianos' 18-month old son "wasn't saying much" and she was understandably concerned - especially when she noticed his frustration at not being able to express himself. Find out about the Lianos family's experience with an It Takes Two to Talk Program and the effect it had on their son in her blog on the parenting website, amotherworld.com.
Recently we heard a heartwarming story about the innovative use of It Takes Two to Talk resources by an army family at Fort Benning in Georgia, USA. The father, a Major in the army, was deployed in Iraq on his tour of duty. Meanwhile, back home in Georgia, his wife grew concerned about the communication development of their young son.
A few months ago I was invited to an information session about the “Hanen-It Takes Two to Talk” program. Being a mum to a beautiful three and a half year old girl with Global Developmental Delay, I was definitely interested as my daughter spoke only a few, unclear words. Like many of the parents at this information session, a look of despair came over my face when I learnt of the commitment needed to undertake this program and in my head I was saying “This goes on for how many weeks!” Little did I know of what was really in store.