Teaching English to Children at Ages 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6: What to Teach at Each Age
“My child is 3. What should I teach?” and “Is 5 too late?” This article answers age by age: what a child can do at 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, what to teach, and what not to ask of them, in plain language with one table at the end.
- Suitable age
- 2 to 6 years
- Suggested time
- 5 to 15 minutes a day, depending on age
- what a child can do at each age, and what not to ask of them.
- what to teach at 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
- how many minutes a day suit each age.
- one table that brings all the ages together.
The Rule for Every Age
Children learn what their body and mind are ready for. A two-year-old can’t hold a pencil, so we don’t ask them to write. A five-year-old can hear sounds and blend them, so we teach reading. Teaching too early doesn’t speed children up; it makes them dislike the lesson.
Teaching English at Age 2
What they can do: listen, understand and say single words. What to teach: words for things they touch every day: ball, cat, milk, bye. One song with actions. How long: 5 minutes, or a minute at a time several times a day. Don’t ask for: letters, sitting still, or repeating the word. Listening is enough.
Start with animals and toys: tap the picture and your child hears the word. If they point to the right picture when you say the word, that’s a big success.
Teaching English at Age 3
What they can do: repeat a word, understand a short question and learn a song. What to teach: colors, numbers to 5, body parts and family. Two words a day. The alphabet song, just for listening. How long: 5 to 10 minutes. Don’t ask for: writing or perfect pronunciation. If they say “burble” instead of purple, that’s fine.
Teaching English at Age 4
What they can do: learn 100 words in a few months, hear the difference between sounds, and hold a pencil in a basic way. What to teach: lots of words from the first 100 words, the alphabet song, and the sounds of just 4 letters (s a t p) through play. Coloring and finger tracing. How long: 10 minutes. Don’t ask for: writing letters on a line, or reading.
At this age, letter games work better than any worksheet.
Teaching English at Age 5
What they can do: learn all the letter sounds, blend them to read, and trace letters with a pencil. What to teach: letter sounds in the order s a t p i n, reading three-letter words (cat, sun), letter tracing, and short sentences: I like cats. How long: 10 to 15 minutes. Don’t ask for: writing sentences, or dictation.
This is the age the free book was designed for: 8 units, each with words, letter sounds and a short dialogue.
Teaching English at Age 6 (Grade 1)
What they can do: read and write words, understand simple rules, and answer in sentences. What to teach: uppercase and lowercase letters, vowels, four-letter words, writing words on a line, and short dialogues. How long: 15 minutes, with one worksheet a week. Don’t ask for: lots of grammar, or memorizing lists.
What a Grade 1 child needs, in detail: the Grade 1 English guide.
The Complete Table
| Age | Time | Teach | Don’t ask for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 years | 5 minutes | Songs, and words for things they touch: ball, cat, mama | Letters, writing, sitting still |
| 3 years | 5 to 10 minutes | Colors, numbers to 5 and animals, with pictures and audio | Writing, correcting pronunciation |
| 4 years | 10 minutes | Lots of words, the alphabet song, the sounds s a t p through play | Writing letters, reading |
| 5 years | 10 to 15 minutes | All the letter sounds, reading cat and sun, tracing letters | Writing sentences |
| 6 years | 15 minutes | Uppercase and lowercase, four-letter words, short sentences, writing words | Grammar |
And if you haven’t started yet and are wondering whether the time is right, read When Should a Child Start Learning English?
Find your child’s age in the table, choose one activity from it and try it today.
In a mixed-age kindergarten: the youngest listen and point, the older ones speak and trace, with the same words.
Summary
- Ages 2 and 3: listening, songs and words; no letters or writing.
- Age 4: lots of words, and the first letter sounds through play.
- Age 5: all the letter sounds, and reading three-letter words.
- Age 6: uppercase and lowercase letters, sentences and writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is age 2 too early?
For songs and words: no, it’s excellent. Children listen and store words even before they speak. For letters and writing: yes, it’s early. Don’t start before 4 or 5.
My child is five and hasn’t started anything. Are they behind?
No. Five is an ideal age to start, because children can learn sounds and reading right away. Within 4 months they reach the level of a child who started at three.
Will my child mix up Arabic and English?
They may mix a word here and there at first. That’s normal and passes. The rule: a set time for English, and Arabic the rest of the time.
What’s the difference between what we teach at 4 and at 5?
At four we play with the sounds of just 4 letters and don’t ask for reading. At five we teach all the sounds and ask for reading and tracing.
