I have received specialized speech therapy certification in the treatment of young children with language delays through using the It Takes Two To Talk Program created by The Hanen Center. This program emphasizes the importance of parent involvement, as well as incorporating language-building strategies into play and everyday routines. As a speech therapist, this program will help parents:

• Recognize their child’s stage and style of communication and what motivates her/him to interact

• Set communication and language goals (collaboratively with the SLP) and adjust goals as needed 

• Follow their child’s lead to facilitate increased participation in extended interactions 

• Add fine-tuned language to interactions to increase expressive and receptive language skills 

• Adapt the way they play and read books with their child to facilitate the child's active participation in the activity, as well as to build language skills