In these two studies, changes in the interactive behaviour of parents and children who had participated in It Takes Two to Talk® (experimental group) are compared with those of a matched group of parents and children in a delayed treatment control group, who were wait-listed 
for It Takes Two to Talk.

Participants

Study #1

A total of 20 preschool children (22-62 months) with developmental difficulties of different aetiologies, and their parents

Study #2

A total of 32 preschool children (14-60 months) with developmental difficulties of different aetiologies, and their parents

The It Takes Two to Talk (experimental) groups were matched with control groups who were waitlisted.

Results & Key Findings

Increased responsiveness in parents who participated in It Takes Two to Talk

Parents who participated in It Takes Two to Talk decreased their directiveness and increased their responsiveness, including use of commenting and contingent labeling. Follow-up measures used only in Study #2 found parents in the It Takes Two to Talk group maintained gains four months post-intervention.

Increased responsiveness, assertiveness and verbal turns of children who participated in It Takes Two to Talk

Children who participated in It Takes Two to Talk demonstrated an increase in their social assertiveness and joint attention when compared with children in the control group. They also showed improved ability to take turns, both verbally and non-verbally, compared to the control group.

Child-parent interactions were more balanced, frequent and longer-lasting for families who participated in It Takes Two to Talk

Interactions between parents and children were more balanced (i.e., parents took fewer turns), lasted longer and occurred more frequently for families who participated in It Takes Two to Talk. 

Improved family well-being

Parent questionnaires indicated secondary effects on family functioning. These included positive changes in the children’s behaviour and an enhanced child-parent relationship.