Do more with language: 5 tips for parent and child.

1. Free online practice

There is a lot of free online practice material you can use at home. This can be language or math but you can also learn practical things like managing money or more about government websites.

2. Play games

It is not only fun to play games like Scrabble, Hangman, Pim Pam Pet or Pictionary, they are also very useful to practice letters and words together with your child. And don’t forget ‘I spy with my little eye’ and ‘it starts with the letter…’ With these you learn sounds of letters and new words.

Do you know The song box? The song box has fifteen songs from Dutch artists. Each song covers one Dutch language rule. It is a fun way to learn language rules together with your child!

3. Keep reading aloud and read together

Even if your child can already read, it is important and fun to keep reading aloud. Did you know that there are also shared reading books? These are books you read together. One reads the easier text aloud and the other reads the harder text aloud. This way you take turns reading but from the same book.

Create a reading corner at home. Make sure there are soft cushions and good light. Here you can retreat together with a nice story. Try a different kind of book sometimes, for example a poetry book or comic book, and talk together about what you read.

4. Listen to stories and podcasts

Listening to stories grows your child’s imagination and it is of course very relaxing. Do you know the podcast Sara’s mystery? In this podcast from Zapp children solve mysteries. Fun for children and parents.

The clockhouse and the youth news also make their own podcasts. For children preparing for the first year of secondary school, the The first year of secondary school podcast from NPO Zapp is very suitable.

5. Fun things to do with reading

For children up to 18 years old, a library subscription is completely free. Children can borrow books for free and take them home, but they also have access to audiobooks.

You don’t always have to leave the house for a fun reading activity. How about cooking or baking together where your child reads the recipe?