After School
When children come home from school, parents can ask:
“How was your day?”
“What did you learn today?”
“Did you play with your friends?”
“What was your favorite part of the day?”
“Are you tired?”
At first, children may answer with only one or two words. Parents can help them expand their answers gradually.
For example:
Parent: “How was your day?”
Child: “Good!”
Parent: “That’s wonderful! What made your day good?”
Child: “I played with my friends.”
Parent: “That sounds fun! What did you play?”
This kind of conversation helps children practice speaking while sharing their real experiences.
Before Bedtime
Bedtime is a peaceful time to review the day and practice English.
Parents can say:
“It’s time to get ready for bed.”
“Put on your pajamas, please.”
“Let’s brush your teeth.”
“Which story would you like to read?”
“What made you happy today?”
“What did you learn today?”
“Good night, sweetheart. Sleep well!”
These expressions can become familiar parts of a child’s daily routine.
5. Make English Fun Through Games
Games are one of the most effective ways to make English learning enjoyable for children.
When children play, they often repeat words and sentences without feeling that they are studying.
One simple game is called “Simon Says.”
Parents can give instructions such as:
“Simon says, touch your nose.”
“Simon says, clap your hands.”
“Simon says, jump three times.”
“Simon says, turn around.”
“Simon says, close your eyes.”
Children should follow the instructions only when the sentence begins with “Simon says.”
This game helps children practice listening comprehension and learn action verbs.
Another useful game is “What Is Missing?”
Parents place several objects on a table, such as a pencil, a book, a toy car, a ball, and a teddy bear.
First, parents ask children to name the objects. Then, children close their eyes while parents remove one object.
When children open their eyes, parents ask, “What is missing?”
Children try to remember the missing object and answer, “The ball is missing!”
Parents can also play “I Spy.”
For example, a parent says, “I spy something red.”
The child looks around the room and guesses, “Is it the red car?”
The parent replies, “Yes, it is!” or “No, try again!”
As children improve, parents can make the clues more challenging.
“I spy something small and blue.”
“I spy something under the table.”
“I spy something you use for writing.”
These games develop vocabulary, concentration, memory, and listening skills.
Parents can also organize a treasure hunt at home. They can give simple instructions such as “Go to the bedroom,” “Look under the pillow,” and “Find something yellow.”
Children learn English while moving around, solving problems, and having fun.
6. Encourage Children to Speak English Every Day
Speaking is an important part of language learning. Children need opportunities to use English, not just memorize words and grammar rules.
Parents can begin with simple expressions that children can use in everyday conversations.
For example:
“Hello!”
“How are you?”
“I’m fine, thank you.”
“What’s your name?”
“My name is Anna.”
“How old are you?”
“I’m seven years old.”
“What is your favorite color?”
“My favorite color is blue.”
“What do you like to do?”
“I like drawing and reading books.”
Parents can practice these conversations through role-playing.
One day, the parent can pretend to be a new friend. The next day, they can pretend to be a shopkeeper, a teacher, or a restaurant waiter.
For example, they can practice a conversation at a restaurant.
Parent: “Good afternoon! What would you like to eat?”
Child: “I’d like a hamburger, please.”
Parent: “Would you like something to drink?”
Child: “I’d like some orange juice, please.”
Parent: “Of course! Here you are.”
Child: “Thank you!”
Through role-playing, children learn practical expressions and become more comfortable using English in different situations.
Parents should also ask open-ended questions when their children are ready.
“What do you think about this story?”
“Why do you like this animal?”
“What would you do if you found a lost puppy?”
“How can we help someone who is sad?”
These questions encourage children to express their thoughts and develop their communication skills.
However, parents should adjust the difficulty of their questions to their children’s language levels. Beginners may need simple questions and examples before they can answer independently.
7. Teach English Through Stories and Books
Reading English books with children is a wonderful way to develop vocabulary, listening skills, imagination, and comprehension.
Parents should choose books that are appropriate for their children’s ages and abilities.
For young beginners, picture books with colorful illustrations and short sentences are often a good choice.
Before reading, parents can look at the cover with their children and ask:
“What can you see?”
“Who is this?”
“What do you think the story is about?”
During reading, parents can point to pictures and explain important words through context.
For example, if the story shows a rabbit running through a forest, parents can say:
“Look! The rabbit is running.”
“Where is the rabbit going?”
“Is the rabbit happy or scared?”
After reading, parents can ask simple comprehension questions.
“Who is your favorite character?”
“What happened in the story?”
“Where did the rabbit go?”
“Why did the character feel sad?”
“What would you do if you were the character?”
Parents do not need to translate every sentence into their children’s native language. Instead, they can use pictures, gestures, and simple explanations to help children understand the main ideas.
Reading the same book several times can also be helpful. Children often enjoy familiar stories and gradually begin recognizing repeated words and expressions.
Eventually, parents can encourage children to retell the story using their own words.
At first, children may use short sentences or mix English with their native language. That is acceptable. Parents can gradually introduce useful English expressions and help children build longer sentences.
8. Use Songs and Educational Videos
Songs and educational videos can make English learning more engaging, especially for young children.
Songs often contain repetition, rhythm, and simple vocabulary. These features can help children remember words and phrases.