One important way to engage children during interactions is to:

Encouraging direct engagement and conversation is essential for fostering early literacy in children. This approach allows children to actively participate in interactions, thus promoting language development and comprehension skills. When adults engage in conversations with children, using a variety of prompts and questions, it helps to build their vocabulary and encourages them to express themselves more freely. It also allows for a richer exchange of ideas and experiences, which is vital for cognitive and social development. Direct engagement stimulates critical thinking and nurtures a child's curiosity about the world, making literacy a part of their everyday lives rather than a disconnected skill.

In contrast, other approaches, such as limiting conversation to simple phrases, can stifle a child’s ability to communicate effectively and explore language. Exclusively relying on written communication does not cater to the natural way young children learn language, which is through spoken interaction and observation. Ignoring a child’s attempts to communicate can lead to frustration and hinder their confidence and motivation to express themselves. Active engagement fosters a supportive learning environment that is crucial for early literacy success.