How to get your kids off their screens and learn English?

(This article is for parents with kids aged 3-7)

Are you tired of seeing your kids consume digital junk food?

Are you fed up with nagging them to spend their time doing things that will help them?

Well, in this article we’re going to discuss some of the best ways to get your kids off the screens and learning English in a positive way. So, just keep reading and feel yourself get smarter and stronger with every new thing that you learn!

Ok, let’s face it, times have changed…

We live in a digital world and it’s inevitable that your kids are going to be interacting with the world online. We’ve opened Pandora’s box and there’s no going back now.

We can’t simply lock our kids in their rooms and confiscate their mobile phones, laptops or other digital devices. We can’t just cover their eyes with masks to stop them from seeing digital devices (although it would be nice if the solution was that easy!)

Digital devices are here to stay. So what can we do about it?

How do we get them off their gadgets and doing useful things with their time? And how do we do it in a fun way? Well, keep reading to find out some great ways to get them learning English and having fun at the same time.    

1. Keep them moving

Kids are full of energy, and they never seem to get tired (even though this can be exhausting for parents! Ages 3 to 6 are the most physically active years in children. So, it is useless trying to keep them quiet and still.

So, why not make the most of their (hyper)-active natures to help them practice English through games. A simple game to get them learning and using their bodies is “Simon says.”  In this game, you can teach them action words, names of things, numerals, word order, and even how to give directions.

2. Play games in English

Kids love to play! And kids love games! I’ve never met a kid who doesn’t like games. (I’ve met tons of adults who don’t like to play but that’s probably because they had boring childhoods where their parents forced them ‘learning’ instead of ‘play while learning’). Trying playing any game in English and watch your kid’s face light up!

Try monopoly in English or scrabble or card games. Anything will work.  

3. Bring out their creativity

A good place to start when learning a language is the building blocks of that language – the alphabet. There are alphabet songs readily available online and these are a great way to expose your kids to the proper pronunciation of letters.

But just remember that young kids learn best when they “touch and feel” the alphabet. Get them to form letters and words with paints, play dough, fuzzy wires, alphabet magnets, or even cutting paper into smaller pieces and pasting them to form letters or words.

This is a great way to make the alphabet real for them! Providing them with toxic-free/child-friendly art materials is definitely a worthwhile investment. 

4. Take them outdoors

Kids love being outdoors. So take them for a walk around the neighborhood and get them to name things in English. Get them naming things that are red or blue or green. Get them to names things that are moving. Get them to use adjectives like “small”, “large” etc. Or even get them to name things that start with a particular letter by playing the game “I spy with my little eye something beginning with…M”. 

Take them to the beach or get them to draw letters or numbers on the sand or even. Or just take them out the back and get them to make letters with fallen twigs or branches. Exploring the outdoors is a great way to break up screen time and expose your kids to the world around them in English.

5. Bring out their musicality

Kids love music! So if nursery rhymes are not in your playlist, then you’re missing a secret ingredient in English language learning. Kids never get tired of listening to and singing nursery rhymes even when there are played over and over again. By just listening to these rhymes, they’ll start learning the verses. And who knows, your kid might even become the next Idol in the process. And you can retire! (Oh, how I wish…)

6. Read them stories

Kids love listening to stories. And reading them stories is a great way to defeat the lure of gadgets. Studies show that reading stories to kids has so many advantages for them. For one, it is a special time when you bond with your child in the world of imagination. Humans have been telling stories for tens of thousands of years. It’s in our DNA. When you read stories to your kids, you continue this tradition and make them readers for life.

Summary

We have just shared with you 6 great ways to get your kids off their screens and get them learning English instead. We hope you enjoyed this article.

Do you want your child to speak English with confidence and fluency?

So many children in Indonesia lack confidence when they speak English. They are worried about making mistakes and are embarrassed to speak in front of others. This is because they have been taught English the wrong way!

At IELC, we teach English the right way so your child can express themselves with confidence and fluency. Whether it’s online or on campus, we create a positive learning environment where your child will feel warm and welcome, where they can learn and have fun at the same time.

The best English course for kids in Indonesia 

With so many courses available, it can we confusing to know which course to choose.

With an average rating of 4.9 out of 5.0 stars on Google, IELC is the highest ranked best English language course in Indonesia.

We teach English the right way so that your child can gain confidence and fluency.

With these skills, they can unlock their potential and fulfill their dreams!

Our experienced teachers guide your child along every step of the learning process

to ensure the best learning outcome.  

As Indonesia’s #1 English Campus, we offer great courses for kids, teens and adults:

• Online courses for kids
• Online courses for teens
• Online courses for adults
• On Campus courses for kids
• On Campus courses for teens
• On Campus courses for adults
• Online and On Campus IELTS courses 
• Online and On Campus TOEFL courses 

Whether it’s Online or On Campus, we will help your child gain the skills they need for their future. Contact us to start your child’s journey towards confidence and fluency today!

Sincerely,

Anthony McCormick

IELC Managing Director