Talk Together Online was created for families with toddlers who want to learn specific strategies to support their child using words, in the comfort of their own home. This 8-week course is inspired by our in person classes, but is designed for parents to watch on their own to gain new ideas for how to use communication strategies with their children.
Each week includes:
- An informative and concise video introduction of a research-based communication strategy or topic.
- Demonstrations in at least three daily routines and/or toddler friendly activities.
- Answers to questions that typically come up around that week's topic.
- Downloadable handouts to highlight key points.
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A downloadable guide for creating an individualized plan to use with your child right away.
Hi! We are Erin & Kate.
We are speech and language pathologists who specialize in working with toddlers and their families in a variety of early childhood settings. We began teaching our in person Talk Together classes in January 2019, and have loved sharing and discussing ideas with families. Inspired by these classes, we created a streamlined, on-demand version to share with you.
FAQs
Is Talk Together Online a good fit for me and my child?
Talk Together Online is designed for families with toddlers who are late talkers. Late talkers seem to understand what people say to them, enjoy interacting with familiar people, and use fewer words than their same-aged peers. We consider the class to be a good fit if the following apply:
- My child is between the ages of 12-36 months
- My child seems to understand most of what I say to him/her (e.g., can follow directions and understand basic questions)
- I'm able to gain my child's attention and interact with him/her
- My child finds ways to communicate without words (e.g., pointing, showing, clapping, raising arms to be picked up, nodding or shaking head)
- I feel that my child is "behind" with expressive language milestones*
- I would like ideas for supporting my child's language development at home
*Please see the Language Milestones available under the "Resources" tab at www.iwspeech.com
https://www.iwspeech.com/resources
One or more of the items on the checklist does not apply to me. Should I still enroll in Talk Together Online?
The strategies presented in Talk Together Online are most effective when parents are able to gain their toddler's attention, their toddler appears to understand what they are saying, and their toddler is able to communicate using some nonverbal forms (e.g., using sign language, using gestures such as pointing/shaking head for "no"). If your child has difficulty responding to you, interacting with you, paying attention to you, and/or difficulty using nonverbal forms of communication, we recommend discussing these concerns with your child's pediatrician. If you are unsure if Talk Together Online is a good fit for you and your toddler, please feel free to email us at: [email protected]
I'm concerned that my child might need speech therapy. Should I still enroll in Talk Together Online?
Talk Together Online is meant to be a supplemental program for families who want to learn more about communication strategies that they can incorporate in their everyday lives. We recommend that parents who have concerns about their child's speech or language development contact a speech-language pathologist to determine if an evaluation is appropriate. If your child is under three years of age, regional centers provide no or low cost speech and language evaluations to determine if a child is eligible for therapy. You can contact your child's pediatrician for a referral to you local regional center. If your child is three years old or older, you can contact your local school district to ask about a speech and language evaluation. Talk Together Online does not replace individualized speech therapy but can supplement your child's current program and/or help support your child's speech and language development while you're waiting for therapy to begin.
How long is the course?
Talk Together Online is an 8-week on-demand video course. Each week's lesson includes 4-5 videos, ranging from approximately 2-10 minutes each. In addition to the video content, you will be creating a Plan for the Week based on ideas from that week's content and customizing the plan to your child. Parents typically spend 5-10 minutes creating their Plan for the Week.
Can I watch all of the videos at once?
Videos become available every 7 days. The best way to benefit from the material presented in Talk Together Online is to watch the videos as soon as they become available, so that you will have a full week to focus on that week's content. Your toddler will benefit from plenty of repetition, so applying the strategies from each week one at a time is recommended.
How long will I have access to the course?
You will have access to the full course for an additional 8 weeks, following the end of Week 8 (16 weeks in total). During the first week, you will have access to the Introductory Video and the content for Week 1. During the second week, you will have continued access to the Introductory video, Week 1, and you will gain access to Week 2. Each week, a new lesson will become available.
How will I know when the next lesson is available?
Lessons become available every 7 days. You may log into your Teachable account anytime to access the current lessons. You will also receive an email each week when a new lesson is available.