How to teach English to children through different activities

If you need English language tools to teach your kids English at home, you've come to the right place. Your enthusiasm sparks your child's interest in learning English (establishing a routine, reading stories, singing songs, etc.).

Home is where learning begins with English language tools

Teaching English at home with English language tools helps young children to regularly take the basic steps of their learning, to become familiar with the English language or to complete the lessons they may already be attending. Some parents worry that their English is not perfect. In our experience, the participation and enthusiasm of the parents is the first and most important condition for encouraging the child to learn English!

Below are some English language tools to make your job easier:

Routine

Establishing a routine or choosing a specific time devoted to English at home can help make it a habit. It is by repeating the same expressions or the same English songs that you will establish this routine and indicate to your child that it is time to devote himself to English. Opt for brief sessions (no more than 15 minutes for very young children), varied and fun, so that your child remains focused and interested.

Work little but often! Regular use of English throughout the day, at the scheduled time, helps diversify learning. Maybe you could try reading a story in English when you go to bed or even singing a song together when it's time for a bath? If you need ideas, check out what 'English Corner' looks like in the Sanghera family.

stories

Reading stories illustrated with simple pictures and bright colors is a great way to introduce your child to English and to explore this language while sharing an intimate moment.

Children like to listen to stories they know well. They will enjoy hearing the same stories over and over again, but at the same time it is an ideal way to review vocabulary and sentence structure in a familiar and enjoyable setting. Start by adopting an interactive approach and encouraging your child by asking easy questions about the images, for example: "Where is the blue dog?" Through repetition, children will gradually become comfortable enough to participate when they recognize certain parts of the story.

Reading or listening to stories stimulates the imagination of young children, but at the same time it allows them to develop listening skills which are essential for the assimilation of certain English grammatical forms.

Songs and nursery rhymes

Singing songs and rhymes to or with your child is a simple and enjoyable way to reproduce certain repetitive elements of the English language naturally and spontaneously. As well as being fun, nursery rhymes and songs give children who sing them a low-key practice of stress, rhythm and intonation in English.

After listening to a song several times, children naturally begin to hum or sing it. Using a visual aid, such as an animated video or a puppet, can enhance understanding.

Technology

The apps represent an engaging, immersive and interactive approach for anyone learning English, regardless of age, and can easily be used to complement language skill acquisition. On a mobile device or tablet, young children have access to activities that make them practice vocabulary, calculation and phonics. They can also follow stories and participate in interactive games. If you relate these activities to what your child is learning or interested in, these apps will only increase their interest and enthusiasm for learning English.

To practice and review numbers, colors, shapes, food, animals, classroom objects, toys, etc., why not check out the 'Learning Time with Timmy' app?

By watching and listening to short extracts of cartoons or your child's favorite programs in English at home, you expose him to an English-speaking linguistic environment. This allows him to listen to the pronunciation of new or familiar words, all through a familiar cartoon.

Games and flashcards

Games offer the opportunity to continue learning, in a lively, fun and interesting way. Flashcards can be used in many games such as Memory, Snap and Kim's Game. If you are creative, you can very easily make these sheets yourself or download them, ready to use, from Learn English Kids. Watch the Elliot family play the 'Memory Game' using mnemonic cards, or check out the huge range of interactive games on the Learn English Kids website.

Vocabulary and expressions

When you teach your child English at home, try to focus on topics that interest him and on expressions and vocabulary that he knows and uses in his mother tongue when he is at nursery or at school.

To begin to approach the vocabulary you can start with the following topics:

• Food and drinks
• Toys
• Numbers 1-10, 10-20, etc.
• Colors
• Clothes
• Animals (farm animals, wild animals, pets)
• Shapes
• Simple adjectives: emotions, temperatures, size, etc.

Remember that different children are interested in different things, and take advantage of that. You may find that your child wants to know the English words relating to Batman or Legos. Thus, children will learn English while having fun.

Communicate with your child's teacher

If your child is taking an English class, try to discuss the course content regularly with their teacher. They will probably be able to give you an overview of the themes, songs, stories and vocabulary covered in class. This will allow you to harmonize what he learns in class and at home and reinforce his learning.