Today when dropping Nana off, I noticed one of her classmates had on some cute cowboy boots. I exclaimed over them and asked if she thought I could fit them. She shyly shook her head no, with a slight grin on her face. Silly grownup. How funny is it that an big person would want to wear her little shoes?
I started going around the room, “Ooh look at those Hello Kitty shoes, do you think I could fit those.” The next girl grinned, and gave me an extended, “noooo.” Then all the children started gathering around showing me their shoes so I could comment on them. “What about those with the Spiderman, can I wear those? Oooh, those light up, will my big toe fit?” With each question, more children joined in until eventually my questions were met with a loud chorus of “NOOO!” and a whole bunch of giggles.
Finally, after commenting on everyone’s shoes and getting no one to pony up, I exclaimed in faux exasperation, “all of these cute shoes and no one wants to let me borrow them.” Nana exclaimed, “You can wear mine, Mommy.”
That’s my girl! I knew she would have my back. Since her shoes are cuter than mine, I counting down the years to take her up on that offer.
Complicated Melodi 
I used the same technique for ages with a little girl I was teaching that wouldn’t speak in class. It was always met with a grin and later a giggle that I wanted to borrow her shoes. In time I got a giggling Noooooo, and later we would chat about where she got her shoes.