Target Word™ - The Hanen Program® for Parents of Children who are Late Talkers
If your child is under the age of 30 months and you’ve noticed that he frequently communicates messages and ideas to you, but does not use as many words as other children his age, the Target Word Program may be able to help.
This program was specifically designed for groups of parents of children under the age of 30 months who are using few words or who, by the age of 24 months, are not using several two-word combinations. These children understand what they are told, have good play and turn-taking skills, and have no trouble learning everyday routines. But when it comes to using words, their vocabulary is limited.
A child is considered a late talker if he or she:
has an expressive vocabulary of fewer than 24 words and is between 18 and 20 months; OR
has an expressive vocabulary of fewer than 40 words and is between 21 and 24 months; OR
has an expressive vocabulary of fewer than 100 words and is between 24 and 30 months; OR
has limited word combinations by 24 months; AND
has relatively good skills in his or her other areas of development (understanding, play, social, motor and cognitive skills); AND
has some risk factors, such as limited use of gestures, limited use of different speech sounds, or a family history of language delay
If you’re the parent of a child who is a late talker, the Target Word Program can show you ways to naturally create opportunities for your child to use words during everyday routines and activities.
You’ll learn:
how to respond when your child communicates without using words
how to turn everyday activities into opportunities for language-learning
how to introduce new words and ideas into playtime and other activities
how to join in you child's play and favorite activities in ways that help your child use new words
how to set up activities so your child can learn new words