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  • Wait and allow the child time to start the conversation.
  • Follow the child’s lead to talk about what they are interested in.
  • Give children thinking time.  Wait for them to think about what they want to say and put their thoughts into words, without jumping in too soon to say something yourself.
  • In conversations and playful encounters with children, model language a step beyond the child’s language use. 
  • Use the child’s voicing/speech attempts to lead play and encounters.
  • For children learning English as an additional language, value non-verbal communications and those offered in home languages.
  • Without comment, observe and then mirror a child’s interesting movement or series of movements. This might lead to a nonverbal “serve and return” movement dialogue, with the child leading the “conversation”.  This can be very powerful with reluctant speakers or children not yet ready to use English.
  • Add words to what children say, e.g. child says Brush dolly hair, you say Yes, Lucy is brushing dolly’s hair.
  • Talk with children to make links between their body language and words, e.g. Your face does look cross. Has something upset you?
  • Introduce new words in the context of play and activities.
  • Use a lot of statements and comments and fewer questions to build natural conversation.  When you do ask a question, use an open question with many possible answers.
  • Show interest in the words children use to communicate and describe their experiences.
  • Expand on what children say by repeating it and adding a few more words, helping children use more complex sentences.
  • Use lively intonation and animated expression when speaking with children and reading texts.
  • Talk to the child about family life, stories from home.  Involve families in this.