1. Generalizing about a group:
* "All the kids in my class love to play they games at recess." (Here, "they" refers to the games that all the kids in the class love to play.)
2. Talking about someone whose gender they don't know:
* "The new student in my class is really nice. They always share their toys." (The child may not know if the new student is a boy or girl, so they use "they" to be inclusive.)
3. Talking about themselves, especially if they haven't yet established a strong sense of their own gender identity:
* "I want to wear a blue shirt today. It makes me feel happy. They make me feel brave too." (The child might be comfortable with "they" as a way to describe their own feelings, even if they know their gender.)
4. Using "they" as a singular pronoun for a specific person:
* "My friend is really good at drawing. They drew me a picture of a unicorn." (This is grammatically correct, though still relatively uncommon in everyday speech. Some children might pick up on this usage from adults who use it.)
Important Note:
It's important to respect how children use language. While some adults might correct a child's use of "they" based on traditional grammar rules, it's crucial to recognize that children are developing their understanding of language and gender. It's best to avoid forcing them to use a specific pronoun if they are comfortable with "they." Instead, create a safe space for them to explore their language and identity.