Making learning fun is a great way to motivate kids. If your children are learning English and you want to help them to develop their skills, here are some tips.
Make up songs and rhymes
Making up songs and rhymes is a brilliant way to help children to learn new words and remember information. Encourage your kids to create their own songs and poems. They can be creative and they’ll also learn new words and phrases along the way. If your kids love music, you can use songs they know as a backing track. If they know the tune, they can swap the song lyrics for their own lines. You could also play along with musical instruments or combine English classes with exercise and make up a dance too.
Being creative is really fun for young children and it can also help them to learn better. Try to focus on words they have learnt or subjects they’re doing at school when making up your songs. You could help them to write a new song about the planets, for example, or a rhyme about farm or zoo animals.
Play games
Learning through play is one of the best techniques for children. Kids learn from playing with toys from a very early age. As they get older, you can try new activities. Playing word games and doing puzzles will help your child to learn words and understand how to use them. It’s also an excellent way to make new friends and have fun with other children and parents.
There are lots of card and board games you can buy from stores or websites. You can also play games online with your kids.
Use different methods
Every child is different. Most respond better to some learning methods than others. As your child gets older, it’s helpful to try different techniques. See how they respond and vary learning methods to make education fun and interesting. Read books, practice writing and use online platforms and printables. Do practical activities, play games and be creative. Once you know how your child learns best, you can focus on the activities that they enjoy most.
Make learning practical
Many of us learn through reading, writing and sitting in class listening to teachers and writing notes in exercise books. These methods can be beneficial, but it’s also a good idea to make learning practical. If you’re reading and learning about nature, why not go on a walk in the forest? You can write a list of words to take with you and cross them off when you spot a tree, a bird or a squirrel, or make a treasure hunt. Seeing things in real life creates a deeper learning experience. It can also help children to connect words with objects. You can do this for all subjects. Visit a zoo to see animals and learn how to describe them. Go to a museum to learn about dinosaurs or ancient kings and queens. Take a trip to the beach to see the waves and find sea creatures in the rock pools.
Encourage socialization
Socializing with other people is one of the best ways to learn a different language. Children learn rapidly when they talk to new friends and spend time with people who are speaking English. Your kids will build relationships at school, but you can also be sociable in your community and make friends online. Try to get involved in after-school activities, clubs and local events, and get to know your neighbors. Arrange playdates with other kids and ask about activities you can do at school. When you spend a lot of time talking to other people in a different language, you learn how to speak naturally and you can often pick up words much faster than just reading and going to classes.
Reading and storytime
Most kids love to listen to stories. Reading stories, making up your own stories and listening to other people read are great ways to learn English. Buy or borrow books from stores and libraries and make time for reading every day. Write down any words that you don’t recognize or understand and look them up. Reading introduces us to new vocabulary and it can also help children to learn how to write and form sentences. Storytime is a fun way to make new friends at school or in the local community. It’s also a good way for children and their parents to bond and enjoy time together.
Watching TV
Many children enjoy watching TV. TV can be a valuable educational resource, especially when kids are learning a new language. There’s a huge range of programs available from cartoons to educational shows for young children. If you don’t know much about the kinds of shows that are on TV, you can ask teachers and other parents for advice and recommendations. Curling up in front of the TV can help children to relax at the end of a busy day, but it’s also a way to help them learn. If they’re watching a show in English, they’ll be learning all the time while having fun. You can also look for family-friendly movies. Using subtitles can help children to understand the plot and translate words from their first language into English.
Learning any language can be difficult, but children often learn really quickly. One of the best ways to help kids to develop language skills is to make learning fun. There are lots of things you can do to make learning English enjoyable. Play games, make up your own songs and rhymes, and use different teaching methods. Explore new activities, get out and about and combine practical learning with reading and writing. Enjoy storytime together, watch TV in English and encourage your child to socialize with others. Arranging playdates, getting involved in school activities and getting to know families in the area can help you and your kids make friends. It will also help your child to learn quickly. Use online resources and ask neighbors, friends and teachers for recommendations.
