10 Fun Games to Help Your Child Speak English at Home

You do not need to be fluent in English to help your child speak it. What children need most is a reason to use the language and a relaxed moment to try. These ten games take five to fifteen minutes, need almost no material, and work even if your own English is basic. Each one comes with the phrases to use, so you can start tonight.

1. Before you start: three simple rules

• Keep it short and daily. Ten minutes every day is far better than one long session at the weekend.
• Play, don't test. The goal is that your child uses English, not that they get everything right. Praise trying.
• Use the same game several times. Repetition lets your child focus on the language instead of the rules of a new game.

2. Ten games, from age 3 to 12

1. Simon says (ages 3–7)

"Simon says touch your nose!" Your child only moves when the sentence starts with "Simon says". Perfect for body parts and action words, and children show they understand before they need to speak. Let your child be Simon after a few rounds.

2. I spy with my little eye (ages 4–9)

"I spy with my little eye something… red!" or "…beginning with B". Works in the car, the kitchen or the park. Older children can give longer clues: "something you use to eat soup".

3. The shop (ages 4–9)

Line up toys or fruit with price tags. One person is the shopkeeper: "Hello! Can I help you?" — "Can I have an apple, please?" — "Here you are. That's two coins." Real everyday phrases, practised in a game.

4. What's missing? (ages 3–8)

Put five objects on a tray and name them together. Your child closes their eyes, you hide one: "What's missing?" — "The spoon!" Add more objects as your child improves.

5. Colour and shape hunt (ages 3–6)

"Find something blue!" "Find something round!" Your child runs to find it and names it. Lots of movement, lots of words, no pressure.

6. Twenty questions (ages 7–12)

Think of an animal. Your child asks yes/no questions: "Is it big?", "Can it fly?", "Does it live in water?" They practise question forms without noticing, which are often the hardest part of speaking.

7. Story cubes or picture cards (ages 6–12)

Draw three pictures on paper (a cat, a key, a boat) or use story cards, and make up a story together, one sentence each: "Once upon a time there was a cat. The cat found a key…" Simple sentences are fine.

8. Would you rather…? (ages 7–12)

"Would you rather be a fish or a bird? Why?" Children love choosing and giving reasons: "I'd rather be a bird because I can fly." It builds full sentences and the useful word because.

9. Cooking in English (ages 5–12)

Make something simple together and give the instructions in English: "First, wash your hands. Next, cut the banana. Then, mix it." Sequence words (first, next, then, finally) come naturally.

10. Video call show-and-tell (ages 6–12)

If you have a relative or friend who speaks English, arrange a short video call where your child shows a favourite toy or drawing. A real listener is the strongest reason to speak.

3. A phrase bank for parents

You can run every game above with these simple phrases. Stick them on the fridge.

4. A simple weekly plan

Free resources on Kids Learning Hub

Our Word Match game links pictures and words in English and four other languages, our bedtime stories are available in English, and our word tracing worksheets help with first written words. For the principles behind these games, read how children learn languages naturally.

EngloKids

English games, songs and tracing with native audio for ages 4–12 — offline and free.

GET IT ONGoogle Play

Pick one game, keep it short, and play it again tomorrow. English spoken in play, even a few words at a time, becomes English your child can really use.

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