10 Fun and Creative Ways to Teach English Grammar to Your Children

Are you a parent looking for engaging ways to teach English grammar to your young language learner? Look no further! We've compiled a list of 10 fun and creative ideas to make learning English grammar a joyful experience for both you and your child. With these exciting activities, your little one will be on their way to mastering English grammar in no time!

1. Engaging Stories

Choose engaging English picture books or short stories, like

"The Very Hungry Caterpillar" or "Where the Wild Things Are,"

Read them aloud with your child. As you read, pause to discuss grammar points such as verb tenses, prepositions, and sentence structures. Encourage your child to create their own stories using the grammar rules they've learned.

Here are some additional ideas and resources to help parents effectively use storytelling for English practice:

Expand your collection of English picture books and stories

Build a library of diverse and engaging English picture books and short stories to pique your child's interest. Some websites where you can find a wide range of books include:

• BookTrust (https://www.booktrust.org.uk/)
• International Children's Digital Library (http://en.childrenslibrary.org/)
• Project Gutenberg's Children's Bookshelf (https://www.gutenberg.org/)

Use audiobooks and read-along apps

Audiobooks and read-along apps can be a valuable supplement to traditional books. They provide an excellent opportunity for your child to listen to native English speakers, improve their pronunciation, and practice grammar.

Some useful resources include:

• Audible (https://www.audible.com/)
• Epic! (https://www.getepic.com/)
• ReadingIQ (https://www.readingiq.com/)

As you read with your child, identify and discuss specific grammar points in the story. For example, you could discuss verb conjugation, subject-verb agreement, or the use of adjectives and adverbs. This will help your child understand grammar rules in context and improve their overall language skills.

Here's a website with children's literature list sorted by grammar topics to get you started.

Encourage story creation and retelling

Ask your child to retell the story in their own words or create a new story using the grammar points they've learned. This exercise will help reinforce grammar rules, enhance creativity, and boost their confidence in speaking and writing English.

Try making your own comic book!

Use picture books to practice grammar through visual storytelling

Select picture books that rely heavily on visual storytelling, as they can help your child practice grammar by describing the scenes and actions in the illustrations. Some recommendations include:

• "Journey" by Aaron Becker
• "Flotsam" by David Wiesner
• "The Snowman" by Raymond Briggs

Join a children's book club or online reading community

Participating in a children's book club or online reading community can provide your child with a supportive environment to practice their English grammar and storytelling skills. Some websites to explore include:

• Scholastic Book Clubs (https://clubs.scholastic.com/)
• KidLit (https://kidlit.com/)
  

By using these specific ideas and resources, parents can effectively help their children practice English grammar through storytelling and reading aloud. As your child becomes more comfortable and confident, they will naturally begin to incorporate correct grammar into their everyday language use.

Find English picture books here.

2. Grammar Games

Turn grammar learning into a fun game night with games like "Simon Says" or "20 Questions"

These games involve forming sentences, asking questions, and using different tenses. You can also explore board games or online grammar games specifically designed for learning English grammar.

Classic games with an English grammar twist

• "Simon Says": In this game, players must follow the directions given by "Simon" (the parent) only if the command is preceded by the phrase "Simon says." This game can help your child practice listening skills, follow instructions, and use verbs in the imperative form.
• "20 Questions": One player thinks of an object, and the other players take turns asking yes-or-no questions to figure out what it is. This game helps children practice forming questions, using vocabulary, and understanding sentence structure.
  

• "Scrabble": This classic word game challenges players to create words on a game board using lettered tiles. It's a great way for children to practice spelling, expand their vocabulary, and think about word structure.
  
  
• "Mad Libs": This fill-in-the-blank game requires players to provide various parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.) to complete a story. Mad Libs helps children practice identifying different parts of speech and understanding sentence structure.
  
  Online grammar games

• Grammar Gorillas (https://www.funbrain.com/games/grammar-gorillas): This game helps children identify different parts of speech, such as nouns, verbs, and adjectives, by feeding bananas to hungry gorillas.
• Word Confusion (https://www.funbrain.com/games/word-confusion): Players must choose the correct homophone to complete a sentence, helping children understand the differences between similar-sounding words with different meanings.
• British Council's LearnEnglish Kids (https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/games): This website offers a variety of interactive grammar games and activities for children to practice their English grammar skills in a fun and engaging way.
  
  Printable grammar games and worksheets

• Education.com (https://www.education.com/worksheets/grammar/): This website offers a wide range of printable grammar worksheets and games for different age groups and skill levels.
• ESL Games Plus (https://www.eslgamesplus.com/): This site provides interactive grammar games and printable worksheets that cater to various English grammar topics.

By incorporating these grammar games and resources into your child's daily routine, you can make learning English grammar an enjoyable and engaging experience. The key is to find activities that your child finds interesting and fun, which will help them stay motivated and enthusiastic about improving their grammar skills.

3. Singing and Rhyming

Teach grammar through songs and nursery rhymes with repetitive patterns, like 

"Five Little Monkeys" or 

"The Wheels on the Bus."Encourage your child to sing along and discuss the grammar points in the songs.

Want more song ideas?

4. Role-Play Activities

Create role-playing scenarios where your child can practice using English grammar in context. Set up a pretend shop where your child needs to ask for items using proper sentence structures or act out scenes from their favorite English-language movies or TV shows.

Set up a pretend shop

Create a pretend shop at home where your child can practice asking for items, making transactions, and using polite language.

Use proper sentence structures, such as

"May I please have...?" or "How much does this cost?"

Encourage your child to respond using complete sentences and appropriate grammar.

Act out scenes from English-language movies or TV shows

Choose your child's favorite English-language movies or TV shows and encourage them to act out memorable scenes, focusing on using accurate grammar and pronunciation. This activity not only helps with grammar practice but also improves listening and speaking skills.

Create everyday scenarios

Design role-playing activities based on everyday situations, such as ordering food at a restaurant, asking for directions, or making a doctor's appointment. These scenarios will help your child practice using English grammar in real-life contexts, preparing them for future interactions in English-speaking environments.

Use scripts and dialogues

Find age-appropriate scripts or dialogues online for your child to practice with. Websites like ESL KidStuff (https://www.eslkidstuff.com/esl-kids-lesson-plans.html) offer a variety of role-play scripts and lesson plans for different situations and age groups.

Play dress-up and use props

Make role-playing activities more engaging by incorporating costumes and props.

Dressing up and using props can help your child immerse themselves in the situation and feel more comfortable using English in a playful setting.

Partner with other parents and children

Organize playdates or group activities with other parents and children who are also learning English. These interactions provide an opportunity for children to practice their grammar skills with peers in a supportive and fun environment.

Use online resources for role-play ideas

Explore websites that offer role-play ideas and scenarios specifically designed for English language learners (https://busyteacher.org/classroom_activities-speaking/roleplays/)

By incorporating these role-play activities and resources into your child's daily English practice, you can create a fun and interactive learning environment. These activities not only help improve grammar skills but also enhance your child's overall communication abilities and confidence in using English in various contexts.

Find role-playing ideas here.5. Grammar Puzzles

Grammar puzzles offer an engaging and enjoyable way to practice grammar rules while simultaneously improving problem-solving skills. They come in various formats, such as crossword puzzles, word searches, or fill-in-the-blank activities, each providing unique challenges that cater to different learning styles and preferences.

Here's a more detailed explanation of how these different types of grammar puzzles can help reinforce grammar rules:

1. Crossword Puzzles: These puzzles involve solving clues related to grammar concepts to fill in the blanks of a grid. Learners must use their knowledge of grammar rules to identify the correct answers, which helps to reinforce their understanding. Crossword puzzles also encourage learners to think critically and creatively. 
2. Word Searches: Word search puzzles require learners to find and circle words hidden within a grid of letters. These words are often related to a specific grammar topic, such as parts of speech, tenses, or punctuation. Word searches help learners to recognize patterns and reinforce their understanding of grammar terminology.
3. Fill-in-the-Blank Activities: Fill-in-the-blank activities involve completing sentences by providing the correct word or phrase based on a given grammar rule. This type of puzzle encourages learners to apply their knowledge of grammar rules in context, which is crucial for effective language use.

Find grammar puzzles here

6. Flashcards for Grammar Rules

Use flashcards to help your child memorize grammar rules. Create your own flashcards or find them online, and quiz your child in a fun, interactive way by asking them to form sentences or identify the correct usage of a grammar rule.

Flashcards are an excellent tool to help learners practice and memorize grammar rules. They are highly beneficial due to their simplicity, portability, and versatility.

Flashcards allow for active recall and spaced repetition, two learning techniques that have been proven to enhance retention.

Active recall involves the process of retrieving information from memory, which strengthens neural connections and makes it easier to remember in the future. Spaced repetition is a learning technique that involves revisiting material at increasing intervals, which optimizes the consolidation of knowledge.

To use flashcards for judicious review of grammar concepts, follow these steps:

1. Create or find a set of flashcards that focus on a specific grammar topic or rule. You can either make physical flashcards or use digital platforms like Quizlet.
2. Review the flashcards regularly, but not excessively. This will help to reinforce the concepts without causing mental fatigue.
3. Gradually increase the time between review sessions as you become more comfortable with the material. This will promote long-term retention of the grammar rules.
4. Incorporate active learning techniques such as asking your child to form sentences or identify the correct usage of a grammar rule.
5. Track your progress and adjust the review schedule accordingly, ensuring that you focus on the areas where improvement is needed.

Quizlet

Quizlet is a digital platform that allows users to create and study flashcards on various topics, including grammar rules. It offers several study modes, such as flashcards, matching games, and quizzes, to help learners review material in different ways.

Quizlet also has a built-in spaced repetition system called "Quizlet Learn." This feature uses an algorithm to determine the optimal time to quiz you on specific terms, ensuring that you review the material at appropriate intervals for maximum retention.

By using flashcards and platforms like Quizlet, learners can practice grammar rules more effectively, leading to a stronger understanding and mastery of the English language.

Find Quizlet grammar flashcards here.

7. Grammar themed Arts and Crafts

Encourage your child to create visual representations of grammar concepts, like posters, comic strips, or collages. This helps them internalize the rules and associate them with visual cues.

Pinterest is a treasure trove of ideas for English grammar crafts and activities. Search for "English grammar crafts" and you'll find many creative projects to inspire you.

The Measured Mom - Find various ideas and resources for teaching writing and grammar through crafts and hands-on activities on this website. Browse through the articles and resources to find suitable activities for your child.

See how NSEO Teacher Margaux made grammar fun in her class through crafts and creative activities:

8. Watching English-language Content

Choose age-appropriate English-language movies, TV shows, or YouTube videos with subtitles in both English and Korean. Pause the content to discuss grammar points and encourage your child to imitate the language used by the characters. 

Real English Club has engaging videos with practice activities for various grammar topics

ESL Video is another great resource for video content.

To see even more ideas:

9. Daily Practice

Consistent practice is key to mastering any language. To help your child improve their English grammar, integrate daily practice into their routine by incorporating it into everyday activities. Here are some specific ideas and resources that parents can use to help their children practice English daily:

Writing a shopping list

Transform a mundane task like creating a shopping list into a fun and educational English activity. Encourage your child to write the list in complete sentences, detailing quantities and preferences.

For example, "We need to buy three apples, a loaf of bread, and a gallon of milk."

Review the list together and correct any grammar or spelling errors.

At the end of each day, ask your child to write a short paragraph describing their day in English. They could include what they did, who they met, and how they felt. 

To further support their learning, use resources like BusyTeacher  (https://busyteacher.org/) to find age-appropriate writing prompts and worksheets.

Get the most out of daily practice and have authentic conversations with the native speaker teachers at NSEO:

Having a pen pal or an online friend who speaks English can be a great way for your child to practice their language skills. Websites like:

Global Penfriends (https://www.globalpenfriends.com/) and

PenPal World (https://www.penpalworld.com/)

These types of sites can help your child find an English-speaking friend to correspond with. Encourage your child to exchange emails or messages with their new friend regularly and provide guidance in crafting grammatically correct messages.

Select age-appropriate books, magazines, or articles for your child to read in English. Websites like:

Oxford Owl (https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/) and 

Newsela (https://newsela.com/)

These provide a wide range of reading materials for children at different reading levels. Discuss the content with your child and ask them questions to ensure they understand the material.

By integrating these specific ideas and resources into your child's daily routine, you can effectively help them practice and improve their English grammar skills. Remember to be patient and supportive throughout the process, as learning a new language takes time and dedication.

10. Language Exchange

Arrange playdates or online chats with native English-speaking children of a similar age. This will give your child an opportunity to practice their grammar in a real-life context and make new friends in the process.

Wondering how to choose an online English experience for your child?

Conclusion

With these 10 fun and creative activities, teaching English grammar to your children can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Remember to be patient, supportive, and celebrate your child's progress. As you explore these activities together, you'll create lasting memories and help your child build a strong foundation in English grammar.

Ready to join the fun of online English language learning?

Check out Now Speak English Online and give your child the tools they need to succeed in their language learning journey.