If you’re waiting until your English feels “good enough” to start teaching your child, this is your reminder:
You don’t need lessons.
You don’t need to be fluent.
You don’t even need to speak English all day.
What works best — especially for busy, tired parents — is routine.
Not adding something new to your life.
Just using English inside the day you already have.
This is exactly how I taught English at home while living abroad.
Why Routines Make English Feel Easier (For You and Your Child)
Children learn best from words they hear again and again in the same situations.
When English shows up during predictable moments — breakfast, bath, bedtime — it stops feeling like “learning” and starts feeling normal.
For parents, routines remove pressure.
You don’t have to plan.
You don’t have to explain grammar.
You don’t have to remember lots of words.
Just repeat a few simple phrases every day.
Start With One Routine Only
Please don’t try to do everything at once.
Pick one routine and stay there for a full week.
Good places to start:
- Breakfast
- Bath time
- Bedtime
- Getting dressed
- Leaving the house
One routine.
Simple English.
Every day.
That’s enough.
Breakfast: Easy English With No Extra Time
Breakfast is perfect because it already happens every day.
You might use phrases like:
- “Sit down, please.”
- “Do you want milk?”
- “Hot or cold?”
- “Let’s eat.”
- “All done.”
Say the same phrases every morning.
Your child doesn’t need to answer in English.
Listening comes first.
Bath Time: Naturally Repetitive English
Bath time works beautifully because the same words repeat again and again.
Try phrases like:
- “Wash your hands.”
- “Splash splash.”
- “Wet your hair.”
- “Where’s the duck?”
- “Time to get out.”
No teaching voice.
Just describing what’s happening.
Bedtime: Calm, Gentle English
Bedtime routines help English feel safe and comforting.
You can use:
- “Put on your pajamas.”
- “One more story.”
- “Lights off.”
- “Good night.”
- “Sweet dreams.”
Soft English.
Same phrases every night.
How Long Should This Take?
Minutes.
Sometimes less than five.
This is not about “doing English lessons.”
It’s about tiny moments, repeated often.
Some days you’ll forget.
Some days you’ll feel tired.
That’s normal.
Just start again tomorrow.
What If Your Child Doesn’t Speak English Back?
That is completely fine.
Children understand long before they speak.
Your child just needs to hear simple English they can understand, used naturally.
Speaking will come later — without pressure.
One Important Rule to Remember
If English starts to feel stressful, stop.
No correcting.
No testing.
No “say it again.”
Calm matters more than perfection.
You’re doing great. Really.
If you’re building English routines at home, even in small moments, you’re already ahead of most parents. Keep it simple, keep it consistent, and keep going.
If you’re ready to go further, start with simple daily English routines here.
Contact
If you’d rather ask privately or feel unsure where to begin, you can contact me here.
