Engaging Activities to Boost English Skills in Toddlers
Although English is not the mother language of many of us, it has become the most widely spoken language. One of the major reasons for this is that it connects people from all over the world belonging to different cultures, ethnicities and speaking different languages. These days, many people avail the services of spoken English classes and other corporate English training programs.
Kids are like parrots. They speak what they hear. Hence, certain interesting methods can be used to instil the habit of speaking grammatically correct English from a young age, which would, in turn, help a long way. If you keep wondering how to teach a 3-year-old kid to speak English, worry not! We have come to your aid with some easy and effective solutions. Read along to find what they are!
English is Fun
Tips on How to Teach a 3-Year-Old Kid to Speak English
We have carefully collected some simple and engaging tips for you to ensure your child picks English words and phrases with ease.
1. EPR - Enthusiasm, Patience, and Routine
It is okay if you cannot speak perfect English yourself. The first and most important thing is your enthusiasm towards the objective of teaching your child how to speak English. Your enthusiasm and encouragement will boost your child’s confidence. Patience is the key to success, in this case. You have to allow your child the time they need to start picking words. Set a daily routine for English learning sessions. Short frequent sessions of 15 minutes will prove to be more effective as children have short attention spans.
2. Make It Musical
Children are always more attracted to the audio-visual medium. Introducing your kid to a textbook may not be welcomed initially. In this case, songs and music can be of great help. Singing rhymes with your child with actions can be both fun and engaging for your little fledgeling. This will teach them the correct way to pronounce and use words. You can also show them videos of rhymes and play the Do-Re-Mi song from The Sound of Music.
3. Everyday Conversations in English
Words for Greeting
A three-year-old kid will not be able to speak in complete sentences to express their thoughts. Hence, incorporating some English words in your daily conversations will prove to be worthwhile. You can start with greeting words, such as ‘hello’, ‘good morning’, ‘bye’, and ‘good night’. These can be followed by the three magical words, ‘please’, ‘sorry,’ and ‘thank you’. You can then teach them how to form small sentences like ‘may I have an ice-cream?’ or ‘may I drink water?’ These will also teach them to frame question statements. However, remember to take it slow.
4. Play Games
Nothing is more exciting and effective than a combination of learning and fun. If your child enjoys what they learn, it won’t be long before they start speaking in proper English. There are a bunch of games you can play with your child to help them learn and retain their lessons. Pictionary, hangman, dumb charades, I spy, memory games, other online games, etc. will help them understand the meaning of words, express their thoughts and feelings, and, most importantly, build vocabulary.
5. Story Time
Read Your Child a Story
Who doesn’t love to listen to stories? Children, especially, love books that are colourful and have attractive illustrations. Establish the ritual of sitting with your infant and reading them from a book. Point to the words you read, show them pictures and ask simple questions from time to time. This will help them associate sounds and images to words. Almost every child loves bedtime stories. Reading or narrating a bedtime story to your child with voice modulation will keep them hooked to the story and also encourage them to pick words from these stories.
What Should I Start With?
A lot of you are going to face the dilemma of which topics to begin with and what will attract your child’s attention. The best approach is to let your child have exposure to a wide variety of things and then assess their interest. Let their choices guide your decision as to what you can initiate. However, we have some suggestions listed below to make it a bit easier.
Colours
Numbers (1-10 then 11-20 and so on)
Animals
Food
Adjectives (long, short, tall, small, big, etc.)
Three-letter words (mat, bat, cat, top, etc.)
Transport (bus, car, train, etc.)
Clothes
Everyday people (teacher, doctor, police officer, mother, brother, driver, etc.)
Objects around the house (pen, book, cup, glass, ball, etc.)
Conclusion
Teaching your little ones anything, let alone English, is a challenging task. It requires immense patience and a whole lot of creativity. However, these tips on how to teach a 3-year-old kid to speak English will surely make it a cakewalk for you and come in handy. You can also check out our website for some amazing stories that you can read out to your child as well as worksheets to help them learn words and count numbers.
FAQs on How to Teach a 3-Year-Old to Speak English: Step-by-Step Guide
1. What is a good first step to introduce English to a 3-year-old?
A great first step is to make English a natural part of your daily conversation. A 3-year-old learns best through imitation and exposure. Use simple, recurring phrases like "Good morning," "Let's play," or "Time for a bath" consistently. The goal is to create a low-pressure, immersive environment where they hear the language regularly, rather than conducting formal lessons.
2. What kind of topics and vocabulary are suitable for a 3-year-old learning English?
Focus on words and topics that are part of their immediate world, as this makes learning relevant and easy to grasp. Good starting points, which align with early learning syllabuses, include:
Colours: Red, blue, yellow, green
Numbers: One, two, three
Animals: Dog, cat, cow, lion
Family members: Mama, papa, baby, sister
Common objects: Ball, cup, book, chair
Simple actions: Eat, sleep, play, run
3. How can parents use daily routines to teach English naturally at home?
Integrating English into daily routines is a highly effective and natural method. During mealtime, you can name the food items in English ("Do you want an apple?"). While getting dressed, name the clothing items ("Let's wear your blue shirt"). During bath time, talk about "water," "soap," and "toys." This consistent repetition in context helps solidify their understanding without it feeling like a formal lesson.
4. What are some simple games to make learning English fun for a 3-year-old?
Games are excellent for keeping a toddler engaged and motivated. Here are a few simple ideas:
I Spy: Use simple phrases like, "I spy with my little eye, something that is red."
Picture Flashcards: Use cards with images of animals, fruits, or objects and say their English names aloud.
Simon Says: Give simple commands like, "Simon says, touch your nose." This helps them learn action words and body parts.
5. Why are songs and rhymes so effective for teaching English to toddlers?
Songs and rhymes are powerful learning tools because they combine rhythm, repetition, and melody. This combination makes new words and sentence structures highly memorable for a young child. The predictable patterns in rhymes help children anticipate what comes next, which boosts their confidence and listening skills. Furthermore, actions associated with rhymes (like in "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes") connect physical movement with language, significantly enhancing memory and comprehension.
6. What should I do if my 3-year-old mixes English with our native language? Is this normal?
Yes, this is completely normal and a positive sign of language development in a bilingual child. This process, known as 'code-switching', indicates that your child's brain is actively processing both languages. The best approach is not to correct them harshly. Instead, gently model the correct full sentence. For instance, if they say, "Mujhe 'water' do," you can respond positively with, "Oh, you want water? Here is the water."
7. For a 3-year-old, is it more important to focus on grammar rules or on conversation?
For a 3-year-old, the primary focus should always be on conversation and communication, not on explicit grammar rules. At this age, children acquire language implicitly by listening to how it is used around them. Constantly correcting small grammatical mistakes can create anxiety and discourage them from speaking. Instead, model correct sentence structures in your own speech. They will naturally absorb the correct patterns over time through consistent and positive exposure.
