03/09/2026
More Than Words® is coming to CHATTERBOX this October
You already know your child better than anyone. We’ll help you turn everyday moments into opportunities for communication.
This October, CHATTERBOX will be offering More Than Words® – The Hanen Program® for Parents of Autistic Children or Children Who May Benefit from Social Communication Support.
Designed for parents and caregivers of young children aged 1–5 years, More Than Words® is an evidence-based programme that helps families support their child's social communication through the everyday moments they already share.
At breakfast. Getting dressed. Playing with a favourite toy. In the car. At bath time.
These ordinary moments offer countless opportunities for communication, interaction and connection.
What is More Than Words®?
More Than Words® is a parent programme, led by a Hanen-certified Speech and Language Therapist.
Rather than asking parents to become therapists at home, it helps them better understand how their own child communicates and gives them practical strategies that fit naturally into everyday family life.
The approach is individualised and strengths-based. Parents learn to build on their child's interests, strengths and preferences, encourage longer back-and-forth interactions, support understanding and social communication and create more opportunities for enjoyable connection.
Importantly, there isn't one strategy that every family is expected to use in exactly the same way. The individual coaching sessions allow strategies and communication goals to be personalised to each child and family.
What will parents learn?
Across the programme, parents will learn practical strategies to help them understand how and why their child communicates, recognise what motivates their child to interact, follow their child's lead, make interactions last longer, support understanding, build play and social communication skills and set meaningful communication goals for their child.
The emphasis throughout is on using these strategies during real, everyday routines and play, so supporting communication becomes a natural part of family life rather than another activity to fit into an already busy week.
Small-group learning with individual support.
More Than Words® combines the support and shared experience of a small parent group with personalised one-to-one coaching.
The full programme includes eight interactive 2½-hour small-group parent workshops, an individual baseline consultation and video before the first workshop and three individual video-coaching sessions with your child during the programme.
During the individual sessions, parents are video-recorded interacting naturally with their child. The video is then used to reflect together on what is working, recognise the child's communication and provide personalised coaching and feedback.
The programme will be limited to just 6–8 families, creating plenty of opportunity for discussion, questions and individual support. The group also provides something that can be difficult to replicate in individual therapy: the chance to meet other parents, exchange experiences and learn alongside families who understand some of the same joys and challenges.
Start with our complimentary orientation
The first step is a complimentary 2½-hour orientation session at CHATTERBOX on Wednesday, 7 October 2026.
The orientation gives interested parents the opportunity to learn more about More Than Words®, understand what the programme involves, ask questions and decide whether it feels right for their family before committing to the full programme.
There is no obligation to enrol after attending the orientation.
Families who decide to join will then complete their individual baseline consultation and video between 8 and 13 October, before the first parent workshop.
The eight weekly workshops will begin on Wednesday, 14 October, with the final workshop on Wednesday, 2 December.
Interested?
If you have a young autistic child, or a child aged 1–5 who may benefit from support with social communication, we'd love to welcome you to the complimentary orientation and tell you more.
Complimentary Orientation: Wednesday, 7 October 2026 5.00p.m.
Full programme begins: Wednesday, 14 October 2026
Places: Limited to 6–8 families
Location: CHATTERBOX, 218 South Church Street, GT
To register your interest:
949 7065 | 926 1693
[email protected]
Because communication doesn't only happen in therapy.
It happens all day, every day.