Developed in partnership with Education Services Australia

The Australian Curriculum sets the goal for what all students should learn as they progress through their school life. Skills in the Year 5-6 curriculum include:

• choosing verbs and adjectives to express ideas.

It’s easy to help your child practise this skill as part of everyday life – just use these simple ideas.

Keep it formal

When we talk to people we don’t know, we often need to speak more formally, particularly when we want to be taken seriously. You can give your child practice with formal language by turning everyday conversations into role plays. Put on a funny voice, exaggerate your language, and enjoy your child’s creativity as they respond in kind.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• use exaggerated formal language to remind your child to do something:
  
  Excuse me sir, I believe it is time for your daily dental hygiene routine. Do you require any assistance?
• at dinner time, pretend you are the waiter in a posh restaurant:
  
  Good evening madam, welcome to the Luxury Family Restaurant. For dinner this evening we are offering an entrée of freshly prepared salad sticks and dip, followed by our homemade lasagna. May I take your drinks order?
• when you need to get everyone out of the house, speak as if you are an announcer at the airport:
  
  Ladies and gentlemen, this is an announcement for all passengers on flight 999 to Primary School. Your flight is ready for immediate departure. Would all remaining passengers please board the aircraft now.

Your child will probably soon spot opportunities to start their own role plays with you. So don’t be surprised if you go into their bedroom to be met with a polite Excuse me sir, this is a restricted zone for authorised personnel only. Do you have your identity card?

Go online

For online reinforcement, Beach safety: video campaign will give your child practice at:

• comparing formal and informal language.

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