Practicing English at Home Playfully

"How can I support my child learning English at home?" – I hear this question from parents in Nuremberg almost every week. The good news: You don't need to be an English teacher! You just need to be creative and have fun.

After over 10 years of experience with English courses for children in Nuremberg, I've learned: The best learning outcomes happen when English becomes part of everyday life. No stress, no homework atmosphere – just natural, playful learning.

Why English at home is so important

Once a week English class is great – but not enough! Children need regular contact with the language, ideally daily. Even if it's just 10-15 minutes.

Studies show: Children who additionally hear and speak English at home learn 3x faster than children who only have English in class.

15 simple activities for at home

1. Watch English children's shows (with strategy!)

Don't just turn on Netflix – choose consciously:

• For ages 3-6: "Peppa Pig", "Bluey", "Paw Patrol"
• For ages 6-10: "The Magic School Bus", "Wild Kratts", "Octonauts"
• For ages 10+: "Avatar: The Last Airbender", "Gravity Falls"

My tip: Start with German subtitles, after a few weeks without subtitles!

2. English songs in the car

Create a playlist with English children's songs:

• "Baby Shark" (yes, really!)
• "The Wheels on the Bus"
• "Old MacDonald Had a Farm"
• "If You're Happy and You Know It"
• Disney songs ("Let It Go", "How Far I'll Go")

Sing along! Children LOVE it when parents sing along (even if you don't speak perfect English).

3. Introduce "English Day"

Once a week (e.g., Friday) speak only English at home. Not the whole day – start with 30 minutes at dinner.

Rules:

• Simple sentences are okay!
• Talking with hands and feet is allowed!
• Google Translate may be used!
• Important: Everyone laughs together about mistakes!

4. Read English picture books aloud

You don't speak perfect English? Doesn't matter! Your child hears correct English in my course in Nuremberg. At home, you're allowed to make mistakes.

Great books for beginners:

• "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle
• "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?"
• "Where's Spot?" by Eric Hill
• "Dear Zoo" by Rod Campbell

5. English cooking sessions

Cook or bake together – in English! Find a simple English recipe (e.g., Chocolate Chip Cookies) and follow the instructions.

Your child learns:

• Ingredient vocabulary (flour, sugar, eggs)
• Verbs (mix, bake, stir)
• Numbers (measurements)

6. Use English apps (but correctly!)

Top apps for children:

• Duolingo Kids: Learn vocabulary playfully (from age 6)
• ABCmouse: Comprehensive learning program (ages 3-8)
• Khan Academy Kids: Free and very good (ages 2-7)

Important: Max. 15-20 minutes per day! More doesn't help.

7. Play "I Spy" in English

"I spy with my little eye something... red!"

This classic game works perfectly in English. You practice:

• Colors
• Household objects
• Descriptions (big, small, round)

8. English YouTube channels

Recommendations from me as an English teacher in Nuremberg:

• "Super Simple Songs": Songs for little ones
• "Cocomelon": Animations with songs
• "National Geographic Kids": Educational and exciting
• "Fun Kids English": Specifically for English learning

9. English labels in the house

Stick small notes with English words on objects:

• "door" on the door
• "window" on the window
• "fridge" on the refrigerator
• "chair" on the chair

Your child sees these words daily and learns unconsciously!

10. Count when climbing stairs

So simple, but so effective! Every time when climbing stairs, count in English: "One, two, three..."

After a few weeks, your child can count to 20 – without even noticing!

11. English game nights

Play familiar board games – but in English:

• "Memory": Name the pictures in English
• "Uno": Say colors and numbers in English
• "Jenga": Everyone must say an English sentence

12. "Simon Says"

"Simon says... touch your nose!" / "Simon says... jump three times!"

Perfect for:

• Body parts (nose, ears, feet)
• Verbs (jump, run, sit, stand)
• Numbers

13. English "Show and Tell"

Once a week, your child may take a toy or book and describe it to you in English.

"This is my teddy bear. He is brown. His name is Teddy."

Simple, but extremely effective for speaking!

14. English audio stories at bedtime

Instead of German audio stories – try English ones! Even if your child doesn't understand everything, the brain gets used to the language.

Good for beginners:

• "Spot" Audio Books
• "Peppa Pig" Audio Stories
• Disney Storybooks

15. "English Treasure Hunt"

Hide small notes around the house with English words or tasks:

"Find something RED" → Child finds something red
"Count to 10" → Child counts in English
"Sing a song" → Child sings an English song

At the end, there's a small reward!

The 5 golden rules for English at home

1. Make it a habit – Better 10 minutes daily than 1 hour once a week
2. No pressure! – If your child doesn't feel like it, don't force them
3. Mistakes are okay – Yours too! Laugh about them together
4. Praise a lot – "Wow, you said 'butterfly'! Great!"
5. Combine with fun – English should never feel like "studying"

Avoid common mistakes

❌ Mistake 1: Wanting too much at once

Start small! Not 5 activities per day right away. Start with 1-2 and build up slowly.

❌ Mistake 2: Being too perfectionist

You don't need to speak perfect English! Your child learns correct pronunciation in class in Nuremberg. At home it's about fun and motivation.

❌ Mistake 3: Using English as punishment

Never say: "You have to practice English for 20 minutes now because you didn't clean up!" That ruins motivation!

❌ Mistake 4: Giving up too early

Some children need weeks before they participate. Be patient!

My conclusion as an English teacher in Nuremberg

Practicing English at home is not rocket science. It just takes a bit of creativity, patience, and willingness to be silly sometimes.

The children in my English courses in Nuremberg whose parents actively participate at home make significantly faster progress. They have more self-confidence, speak more freely, and simply have more fun with the language.

So: Try these activities! Choose 2-3 that fit your daily routine. Make English a natural part of your family life.

Your child will thank you – maybe not today, but definitely in a few years! 😊