We were on a family holiday in Jordan and were lucky enough to spend time at a campsite in the Wadi Rum. The views were spectacular.

The camp owner joined us. He brought his son, who wasn’t much younger than mine at the time (almost four). At first, I felt happy. My son and the owner’s son were the only children there, and it was great that they had each other for company.

But each child spoke a different language. They were socially incompatible.

What a shame. I said as much to my wife.

‘It won’t be a problem,’ she said.

Sure enough, within minutes, my son and his new friend were running around the camp, climbing and jumping and otherwise having a blast.

‘Play,’ my wife said, ‘is a universal language.’

How right she was.

It reminds me that words are one tool in our communication toolkit. So much of what we say is mirrored in what we do: in our actions, our choices and our body language.

And it’s important to remember that our children pay attention to everything.

So, speak a language that makes them smile, a language not just of words but of actions too.

If you don’t know where to start, then try playing.