Prepositions in English for Kids: In, On, Under and More, with the Box and Ball Game
Where’s the ball? In the box, on the box, under the box. These small words are prepositions, and children ask about them more than anything else in Grades 2 and 3. Here are English prepositions explained for kids with one game, a table and audio.
- Suitable age
- 6 to 10 years
- Suggested time
- 10 minutes a day for a week
- What you need
- A box and a ball or small toy
- the eight basic prepositions of place: in, on, under, next to, behind, in front of, between, near.
- the box-and-ball game that teaches them in a day.
- the question Where is…? and its answer.
- prepositions of time: at, in, on.
What Is a Preposition?
A small word that says where or when something is. In The ball is in the box, the word in is a preposition: it tells us the ball is inside the box.
Prepositions of Place
| Word | Arabic | Example |
|---|---|---|
| في / داخل | The ball is in the box. | |
| على / فوق | The book is on the table. | |
| تحت | The cat is under the bed. | |
| بجانب | Sara is next to Maya. | |
| خلف | The dog is behind the door. | |
| أمام | The car is in front of the house. | |
| between | بين | The pen is between the books. |
| near | قرب | The school is near my house. |
The Box-and-Ball Game (10 Minutes)
- A box on the table, and a ball in your hand.
- Put the ball inside the box and say: in. Your child repeats.
- On top of the box: on. Beneath it: under. Behind it: behind. In front: in front of. Beside it: next to.
- Now ask: Where is the ball? and they answer: It’s under the box.
- Swap roles: they move the ball and you answer (and make mistakes on purpose for them to correct).
From the book: →
The Question Where and Its Answer
The answer has a fixed shape: It’s + preposition + the + place. It’s in the bag. It’s on the desk. It’s under the chair. Teach your child the whole shape, not just the word.
Prepositions of Time: at, in, on
| Word | Used with | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| at | Clock times | at seven o’clock, at night |
| in | Months, years and parts of the day | in May, in 2026, in the morning |
| on | Days and dates | on Friday, on my birthday |
The size trick: at for the smallest thing (a clock time), on for something bigger (a day), and in for the biggest (a month or a year).
Common Mistakes
- in the table → on the table: the book is on top of the table, not inside it.
- in Friday → on Friday.
- in front the door → in front of the door: don’t forget of.
- under of the bed → under the bed: under takes no of.
A full exercise in the Grade 4 worksheets, and place words with audio in the directions and classroom lessons.
The box and ball game: 6 positions, then ask Where is the ball? and let your child answer.
Simon says with prepositions: Put your pen under the desk! On the chair! Behind you!
Summary
- A preposition is a word that says where something is: in, on, under.
- Teach them with a real object that moves: the ball in the box, on the box, under the box.
- The answer to Where is always: It’s + preposition + the + place.
- Time: at for the hour, in for the month, on for the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the English prepositions for kids?
For place: in, on, under, next to, behind, in front of, between and near. For time: at for clock times, in for months, on for days.
What’s the difference between in and on?
in means inside something: in the box. on means on top of it and touching: on the table.
How do I teach them to a six-year-old?
With the box-and-ball game: put the ball in the box and say in, on top of it on, beneath it under, behind it behind. Then ask Where is the ball? and let them answer. Ten minutes is enough.
Why do we say on the chair, not in the chair?
Because we sit on top of the chair and touch it. A car we get inside: in the car. A big bus we stand on: on the bus.