Why Interaction Matters
October 23, 2024
Studies show that back-and-forth interactions between an adult and a child actually change a child’s brain and lead to better language outcomes. In this video, The Hanen Centre’s Executive Director, Elaine Weitzman, talks about what the research says about the power of high-quality interactions, and describes the critical ingredients that make these interactions possible. In Part 2 of this video, we show you the difference Hanen strategies can make to help your interactions with young children blossom into beautiful conversations – where the best language learning takes place!
Turn Book Reading into a Conversation with Not a Box
March 14, 2024
Did you know that engaging your child in a conversation about a story greatly increases the likelihood they’ll understand it? Read on for some tips to turn book reading into a conversation with the fun book, Not a Box.
School Readiness Tip: Keep the Conversation Going
November 14, 2023
The best interactions with children happen during conversations that naturally continue when you follow the child’s lead. To follow the child’s lead, make a comment or ask a question related to what they have communicated. Then pause to give them a chance to respond. Keep this going back and forth! Here are some fun ways to keep conversations going and build language with young children.
School Readiness Tip: Follow the Child’s Lead in Conversations
October 16, 2023
Follow the child’s lead means letting children start the conversation and then responding with interest to what they have said or communicated. When you wait (without speaking) to give children an opportunity to start a conversation, they may communicate with sounds, gestures or words. Child-led conversations motivate children to communicate, support their language development, and are associated with later academic success. Here are some fun things to try throughout the day.
School Readiness Tip: Find Times to Talk Throughout the Day
September 15, 2023
The best way to build a child’s language is to have conversations whenever you’re together. Children who have more conversations with adults develop better language skills and are more successful at school. Here are some fun ideas for you to try.
Turn Book Reading into a Conversation with Little Messy Marcy Su
May 12, 2023
Children’s early literacy skills blossom when adults read with them, rather than to them. What’s the distinction? Read on to find out, and to learn some specific techniques you can use with your child to turn book reading into a conversation.
Encourage Conversations with Wordless Books!
February 14, 2023
Have you ever read a book to your child that has no words? It might sound odd, but wordless children’s books are actually great tools to build both early language and literacy skills. Use these five tips to make the most of wordless books, and check out our book suggestions.
Light Up Your Child’s Brain with Books!
September 08, 2022
As children head back to school, many parents wonder what they can do to help their child succeed in the classroom. Well, there’s one simple activity that can make a huge difference – enjoy books together! Here are some tips for reading with your child that can lay the foundation for language and literacy success.
Turning Book Reading into a Conversation with Don’t Push the Button
July 19, 2022
One of the best ways to build early literacy skills is to add conversation to book reading. When you read with a child instead of just to them, you give them many more opportunities to understand the story and build their critical thinking skills. Here are a few tips to turn book reading a conversation with a fun, interactive book.