Our speech and language therapists work with children of all ages from 1 month right up to 25 years. The treatment approach for children under the age of four is different to that used with older children and young adults.
At Mable, we have developed a unique approach to the assessment and treatment of children under the age of four.
The Mable Early Language Programme is a special programme delivered online by Mable Speech and Language Therapists. The approach is designed to improve interactions between you and your child which will lead to the development of their communication skills.
Play-based interactions
At Mable, we believe learning language should be fun and child-led. This means a lot of the therapy is play-based and focuses on your child’s interests and motivators. We also know that children develop their ability to listen, understand and talk from the events and experiences that are going on around them. The best way to teach our young one’s new ideas, concepts and words is through experience and more specifically play. Many studies have demonstrated the superior learning and motivation arising from playful, as opposed to instructional, approaches to learning in children.
Parents have an essential role
Positive, nurturing and creative relationships are essential for healthy child development. Children need the company of knowledgeable, mature and emotionally balanced adults who fully understand their developmental needs. That’s where you come in! During therapy, you will work in collaboration with your therapist to set goals and to provide essential support to help your child reach their potential. Research shows us that when parents are involved in interventions, it has significant, positive effects on children’s language development.
Principles of MELP
The principles of the MELP are derived from the DIR-Floortime program and the Hanen It Takes Two to Talk. Both of these programs use the principles of observing the child and letting the child lead the interaction, and also getting down to the child’s level to maintain face-to-face interactions. The Hanen program also emphasises that parents keep their language simple, but grammatically one step ahead of their child’s development in order to stimulate the child’s zone of proximal development, while centring their language on what the child is focusing on.
If you would like to know more about the Mable Early Language Programme, and whether it would be appropriate for your child, you can book in a consultation here: Book a consultation with a speech and language therapist