New Group Skills Programs for Children and Families Annie's Centre is offering a new range of skills groups for children and their families! Please feel free to contact us about any of the following group programs or feel free to register for any of our groups online. All the groups are conducted by our multidisciplinary team. Many are run by both an Occupational Therapist and a Speech Pathologist so that families have access to two experienced health professionals within the one program!
Keys to Communication
A language development program for parents, based on the Hanen Program,
"It Takes Two To Talk")
This program has been designed for parents and carers with children aged 0-5 years with specific language learning difficulties. Each session of the 8 week course is 2 hours duration.
The following topics and practical strategies will be presented by a Speech Pathologist and Psychologist during the 8 week course. Week 1: Allow your child to lead.
Observe, Wait and Listen to your child so you can encourage your child to lead. You will become aware of how and why your child communicates and how your responses can confirm his attempts and encourage him to communicate more.
Week 2: Adapt to share the moment.
You increase your sensitivity to your child's unique communication style and learn to adapt your behaviour so that you both take turns and create more opportunities for your child to learn.
Week 3: Add Language & Experience.
You learn about how to talk to your child in ways that will foster understanding and use of language.
Week 4: Play the 3a Way.
You learn how play can be a rich source for every aspect of your child's development. You also learn how to plan games, with and without toys to create opportunities for language learning.
Week 5: Review and Information Sharing
How are you going with using the strategies at home? Have you noticed any changes? This session will be devoted to sharing information and resources, talking about other services that are available within the community and addressing any other child development topics of interest.
Week 6: Moving Forward with Music.
You learn how music can be one of the most successful ways to have fun with your child while encouraging conversations and language.
Week 7: Sharing Books.
You learn how to share books as a powerful way to enrich your child's language. Bring you child's favourite books to this session.
Week 8: Creating Art Together.
Explore various art materials and ways to encourage communication while creating with your child. During this session you will be encouraged to reflect on what you have learnt about yourself and your child as Communicative Partners. We will highlight the conversational strategies that are important for you to continue with at home and brainstorm ideas to assist you to keep on keeping on!
register for this program online.
 Communicating for Life An 8-week program for children aged 5-12 years focusing on the use of communication skills in daily activities. Sessions will last 1½ hours and will cover a range of daily communication skills including: - Manners
- Giving Directions & Following Instructions
- Self Care and Protective Behaviours (2 sessions)
- School Rules & Expectations
- Shopping Skills
- Telephone Skills
Each child will have the program tailored to their specific needs despite being in a group situation. At the end of each session parents will be provided with ideas and activities that can be continued at home in order to maintain and improve upon the skills learnt. A summary report will be available on request and will include recommendations for ongoing development and support. Each child will receive a certificate for their participation. All work books, materials and catering will be provided. register for this program online
| Write On! An 8-week program for children 5-8 years old focusing on the foundations of handwriting such as pre-writing shapes, letter recognition and letter formation. Sessions will last for 1 hour and will contain at least one component from the following seven categories that impact upon handwriting: - Sensory Processing
- Posture, Bilateral Co-ordination skills, Motor Planning, Body Awareness, Reflex Maturity
- Eye-hand Co-ordination, Occular Motor Control, Postural Adjustment, Auditory Language skills
- Hand Strength
- Visual Perceptual skills
- Pencil Control
- Letter Recognition and Formation
Each child will have the program tailored to their specific needs despite being in a group situation. At the end of the program parents and teachers will be provided with ideas and activities that can be continued at home and at school in order to maintain and improve upon the skills learnt. Each child will be provided with a work book where activities and worksheets can be completed each week. In addition, each child will have a pre and post assessment administered in order to determine their individual skill level for handwriting. register for this program online.
Social Kids An 8-week program for children aged 5-10 years old that focuses on improving and consistently using their social skills. Each session will last for 1½ hours and will cover a range of social skills including: - Attention/Concentration
- Eye Contact
- Listening
- Turn-taking
- Using Our Voices
- Identifying & Expressing Emotions
- Making Friends
Each child will have the program tailored to their specific needs despite being in a group situation. At the end of the program parents and teachers will be provided with ideas and activities that can be continued at home and at school in order to maintain and improve upon the skills learnt. Each child will be provided with a work book where activities and worksheets can be completed each week. A summary report will be available on request and will include recommendations for ongoing development and support. register for this program online
Chatterboxes An 8-week program for children 4-12 years old focusing on alternative and augmentative communication systems for everyday life. Each session will last 1 hour and will be provide opportunities to practice skills using the following communication systems: - Keyword Signing
- Compic & Boardmaker
- Switch devices
- Auditory Verbal Therapy
The program will be available both at Annie's Centre and in schools depending on the needs of the group. Each child will have the program tailored to their specific needs despite being in a group situation. At the end of the program parents and teachers will be provided with ideas and activities that can be continued at home and at preschool or school in order to maintain and improve upon skills learnt. A summary report will be available on request and will include recommendations for ongoing development and support. The program will be run in accordance with school terms. Children are welcome to continue attending during the following term. register for this program online
Spot on Kids An 8-week Early Intervention program for pre-school aged children with developmental delays and disorders and their parents. Each session will last 1½ hours and will focus on increasing social skills, language skills and play skills. This structured program will include a range of: - Large group activities such as songs and stories
- Small group activities such as language, fine motor and sensory games
- Gross motor activities
- Morning tea
Each child will have the program tailored to their specific needs despite being in a group situation. At the end of the program parents and will be provided with ideas and activities that can be continued at home in order to maintain and improve upon skills learnt. Each child's skills will be evaluated before and after the group using a comprehensive communication and motor checklist. This group will be run in accordance with school terms. Children are welcome to continue attending during the following term. register for this program online.
Ready Set Go! An 8-week program for children aged 4-6 years old who will be making or have recently made the transition from pre-school to school. This is a structured group focusing on encouraging children's communication and learning skills to help them prepare adequately for their formal school years. Each session will last
1½ hours and will include skills such as: - Telling news
- Listening, remembering and following instructions
- Concept development
- Understanding and using questions
- Co-operating and social interaction
- Gross and Fine motor skills
- Specific speech sound activities may also be included if required
Each child will have the program tailored to their specific needs despite being in a group situation. At the end of the program parents and will be provided with ideas and activities that can be continued at home in order to maintain and improve upon the skills learnt. Each child's skills will be evaluated before and after the group using a comprehensive communication and motor checklist. This group will be run in accordance with school terms. Children are welcome to continue attending during the following term. register for this program online
Fun with Senses A structured 8-week program for children of any age who have sensory processing difficulties. Each session will last 1 hour and will focus on the development of sensory processing and sensorimotor skills. Each child will have the program tailored to their specific needs as identified by individual assessment prior to the commencement of the group. This group will include activities that use the following senses: - Movement/balance
- Body awareness
- Touch
- Sight
- Sound
- Smell
- Taste
At the end of each session parents will be provided with activities to complete at home in order to increase their child's tolerance of any of the above senses. A summary report will be available on request and will include recommendations for ongoing development and support. This group will be run in accordance with school terms. Children are welcome to continue attending during the following term. register for this program online
Busy Babies Playgroup An 8-week Early Intervention program for children aged 12 months to 2 years who are experiencing difficulties reaching developmental milestones and/or have been diagnosed with a developmental disorder or disability and their parents. Each session will last 1 hour and will provide a range of play and interactive experiences in consultation with an experienced Speech Pathologist and Occupational Therapist. The program will be run in accordance with school terms. Families are welcome to continue attending during the following term. register for this program online.
Let's Get Learning! An 8 week program for children beginning primary school that focuses on consolidating early literacy and listening skills including reading and spelling skills. Phonological awareness skills are important in developing a stable letter to sound relationship, which influences the acquisition of reading and spelling. Each session will last 1½ hours and will focus on: - Listening Skills
- Classroom Listening
- Following Instructions
- Phonological Awareness
- Understanding Concepts
- Games
At the end of each session parents will be provided with ideas and activities that can be continued at home and at school in order to maintain and improve upon the skills learnt. Information for teachers will also be available on request. Each child will be provided with a work book where activities and worksheets can be completed each week. Each child's skills will be evaluated before and after the group using a comprehensive communication and motor checklist. This group will be run in accordance with school terms. register for this program online | 
