Turning Little Books into Big Conversations
April 27, 2026
Book reading can become more than story time. Learn five simple ways to turn books into back-and-forth conversations that build your child’s vocabulary, understanding and connection with you.
“My Child Isn’t Progressing!” – Helping Parents Refocus on Interactions First
April 24, 2026
“My child isn’t progressing, even though I talk to him all the time!” What should we do when parents tell us this? This article unpacks why it’s essential to help parents prioritize back-and-forth interactions with their child first before focusing on language input, and what you can do to help them change their perspectives.
What Do Children Say About Their Favourite Books?
April 22, 2026
Which books are best for supporting your child’s early language and literacy skills? Find out what children said in a recent study about their preferences when choosing and sharing books.
Unplug and Connect: A Parent’s Guide to Children’s Screen Use
March 13, 2026
Between checking messages and scrolling social media, we’re talking less with our children and it’s affecting their language development. The good news? Small changes make a big difference. Learn simple strategies to reduce “technoference” and create more opportunities to support your child’s language development.
School Readiness Tip: Follow the Child’s Lead in Conversations
October 27, 2025
Following the child’s lead means letting the child start the conversation and responding with genuine interest to what they say and do. This helps create more meaningful back-and-forth interactions, which are key to building strong language skills. Here are some fun things to try throughout the day.
Turn Reading into a Conversation with Oh No, GEORGE!
July 11, 2025
What’s the difference between reading to your child and reading with your child? Find out why reading with your child has a far greater impact on their early literacy development, and learn some strategies you can easily apply the next time you curl up with your child to read.
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.