“Why Won’t They Just Sit Still?”
If you’ve ever taught English to young learners, you’ve probably asked yourself this—more than once.
You’ve got your lesson plan ready, worksheets printed, and suddenly… someone’s crawling under the table.
Another is making a pencil tower. And the rest? Somewhere between zoning out and a sugar rush.
Sound familiar?
Don’t worry. You’re not alone—and more importantly, you’re not failing.
The truth is, young kids aren’t wired for long lectures or quiet desk work.
They learn through movement, games, discovery, and joy.
After 10+ years in the classroom (with plenty of trial, error, and glitter glue), I’ve learned that the more fun they have, the faster they learn.
In this post, I’ll walk you through engaging English activities, easy-to-use games, and themed vocabulary lists that actually work.
Whether you’re a teacher, tutor, or homeschooling parent, there’s something here for every kind of learner.
Let’s jump in!
Why Fun Matters in Language Learning
Before we get to the good stuff, let’s quickly answer why we’re leaning into fun in the first place.
Studies show that children absorb language more efficiently when they’re emotionally engaged.
According to a study from Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, play isn’t just fun—it’s essential for cognitive development.
It builds communication skills, memory, and attention spans.
So yes, when kids are giggling while playing “Simon Says” in English, they’re actually learning better than when silently filling in blanks.
Here’s what I’ve found in my own teaching:
-
Active kids = attentive kids.
-
Laughter lowers stress and boosts retention.
-
Games promote repetition without boredom.
So if your lessons feel like a circus—you might be doing it right!
1. Go-To English Games That Kids Love
These are classroom-tested and kid-approved. I keep these in my “emergency teacher toolkit”—they never fail to re-energize a lesson or help reinforce vocabulary.
🎲 Game 1: Vocabulary Bingo
Best for: Ages 6–10
Skills: Listening, recognition, vocabulary retention
How it works:
Make bingo cards with pictures or words (you can customize for animals, colors, food, etc.). Call out the words. First one to get a row shouts “Bingo!”
✅ Pro tip: Use laminated cards with dry-erase markers to reuse them every week.
🐸 Game 2: Jump & Say
Best for: Energetic kids (aka, all of them)
Skills: Speaking, listening, movement coordination
How it works:
Write vocabulary words on large flashcards and scatter them on the floor. Call out a word—kids jump to the right card. You can even say clues like “I’m green and I croak” for frog.
✅ Pro tip: This doubles as a great warm-up on rainy days when they can’t go outside.
🎤 Game 3: What’s in the Bag?
Best for: Ages 4–8
Skills: Vocabulary recall, speaking, guessing
How it works:
Place a few classroom objects or small toys in a bag. Kids take turns feeling one item inside (no peeking!) and describing it in English. Others guess what it is.
✅ Fun variation: Let them keep the item if they guess it correctly!
🎭 Game 4: Act It Out (Charades for Kids)
Best for: Mixed-level groups
Skills: Speaking, body language, critical thinking
How it works:
Prepare cards with verbs or action phrases like brushing teeth, flying, or eating ice cream. One student picks a card and acts it out—others guess the word.
✅ Bonus tip: This is a sneaky way to teach present continuous (“She is dancing!”).
2. Creative Activities That Build Confidence
Sometimes you want a bit more structure than a game—but still something fun and creative. These activities can be built into your regular lesson plan.
🎨 Activity: Design a Monster
Objective: Learn body parts, adjectives, and colors
Instructions:
Kids draw their own monsters using vocabulary you’ve taught (e.g., “It has three blue eyes and five green legs”). Then they introduce their monster to the class.
✅ Extension idea: Have students write a short paragraph about their monster or present it orally.
📰 Activity: Mini News Report
Objective: Practice speaking in full sentences
Instructions:
Give each student a “breaking news” assignment (like “It’s raining cats and dogs!” or “There’s a pizza shortage!”). They prepare a 1-minute report and deliver it in front of the class.
✅ Confidence booster: Use toy microphones or record their reports on a phone. Kids love watching themselves!
✉️ Activity: Postcard from a Pet
Objective: Practice writing and creative thinking
Instructions:
Ask students to imagine they’re a pet (dog, cat, bird) on vacation. They write a postcard back to their owners describing what they see and do. You’ll be surprised how imaginative kids get.
✅ Language focus: Past tense verbs, adjectives, and travel vocabulary.
3. Themed Vocabulary Lists (With a Fun Twist)
Let’s talk about vocabulary—the building blocks of English. But here’s the thing: handing out long word lists is the fastest way to lose young learners. Instead, I build themed word sets around topics they already love.
Here are a few favorite themes with 10–15 words each—plus a creative idea to go with them.
🐶 Animal Vocabulary
Words: cat, dog, elephant, lion, bird, fish, cow, horse, tiger, monkey
Fun twist: Create “animal passports” where each child picks a favorite animal and fills in a mini profile (name, habitat, favorite food).
🍎 Food Vocabulary
Words: apple, banana, carrot, bread, cheese, milk, pizza, rice, egg, ice cream
Fun twist: Do a “menu day” where kids draw and label their own restaurant menu.
🧦 Clothing Vocabulary
Words: shirt, pants, dress, socks, shoes, hat, jacket, gloves, scarf, boots
Fun twist: Play “Dress the Teddy”—have clothing flashcards and a stuffed animal. Kids pick cards and dress the teddy accordingly.
🏠 Home Vocabulary
Words: bed, chair, table, lamp, sofa, fridge, mirror, door, window, TV
Fun twist: Kids draw their dream room and label each item in English.
🦸 Superhero Vocabulary
Words: fly, run, jump, fast, strong, cape, mask, hero, villain, power
Fun twist: Kids invent their own superheroes and describe their powers in English.
4. Tips from the Trenches: What Actually Works
Here’s where experience comes in handy. After years of teaching, I’ve learned a few key truths about teaching English to children.
✅ Keep routines flexible, not rigid.
Kids love knowing what to expect (e.g., warm-up song, game, story), but they also need room to move and explore.
✅ Use songs and chants—often.
Repetition through rhythm is magic. I’ve used Super Simple Songs, Kiboomu, and StoryBots in almost every primary-level class. They help with everything from phonics to prepositions.
✅ Always give everyone a chance to shine.
Some kids are natural talkers. Others freeze up. Use group games, pair work, and drawing activities so every student has a way to contribute, even if they’re shy.
✅ Celebrate small wins.
If a child says, “He go school”—don’t jump to correct. Instead, say, “Great try! Let’s make it, ‘He goes to school.’” Gentle correction builds confidence.
✅ Make mistakes okay.
In my classroom, we say “mistakes are stepping stones.” I even have a “silly sentence” time where I purposely say wrong things so kids can “catch the teacher!”
5. Limitations (And What to Do About Them)
It’s easy to paint a picture of fun and laughter, but real classrooms come with real-world challenges.
-
Limited resources? You don’t need fancy materials. Flashcards can be handwritten. Games can be played standing in a circle. Use what you have.
-
Mixed-level groups? Scaffold your activities. Let advanced students model answers. Use visuals and gestures for beginners.
-
Short attention spans? Keep transitions quick. Combine movement with quiet tasks (after a loud game, follow with a coloring or listening activity).
Remember: It’s not about perfect lessons. It’s about creating an environment where learning feels like playing—but with purpose.
Conclusion: Make English an Adventure, Not a Chore
When English feels like an adventure—filled with animals, superheroes, treasure hunts, and songs—kids want to keep coming back.
That’s when the magic happens. They start speaking without fear. They remember words because they lived them.
And they see English not as a subject, but as a tool to explore the world.
As a teacher or parent, your role isn’t just to teach English.
It’s to open doors, light up eyes, and guide little explorers.
So go ahead—get a little silly. Try something new.
And never underestimate the power of a well-timed “Simon Says.”
Happy teaching! 🎉
More topics:
- How to Manage Stress During Your CELTA Course
- How to Assess Students’ Progress in Online English Lessons
- How to Teach English to Non-Native Speakers Online
- How to Become An Online English Teacher in 2025
- Teach ESL From Home to Young Learners
