Miranda, like most children, uses non-verbal communication eloquently. The more serious the problem, the more likely it is that a child will act out her hurts, her worries, and her problems rather than tell you. When children are infants, parents soon learn to interpret their cries, their wriggles and squirms. Without verbal language, we know how to read what they want. When they start to speak we let this skill lapse - but we still need it.
Children are observers of the scene and react to stimuli with behaviour.
The more you can read their non-verbal signals, the greater the communication. For children of all ages, non-verbal reactions to situations are typical. Parents who develop the ability to watch and to listen will learn the most about their children. Then comes the hard part. If she wants to talk, your job is to keep quiet and listen.