{"id":140057,"date":"2026-10-30T20:12:21","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T20:12:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/?p=140057"},"modified":"2026-10-27T13:00:03","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T13:00:03","slug":"teaching-english-very-young-learners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/gb\/teaching-english-very-young-learners\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching English to Very Young Learners (Ages 3 to 6): Songs, Movement and Routines"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"color: #6b7280; font-size: 14px; margin: 0 0 14px;\"><em>Last reviewed: 27 October 2026<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Teaching English to very young learners aged three to six works best through play, songs, movement, stories and strong routines rather than explanation. Keep each activity to a few minutes, use the same opening and closing rituals every lesson, repeat language many times in different ways, and expect children to understand far more than they can say.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<h2>Key takeaways<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Children aged three to six learn English through doing, hearing and repeating, not through rules or written exercises.<\/li>\r\n<li>Plan activities in short blocks of a few minutes, alternating lively &#8220;stirrers&#8221; with calm &#8220;settlers&#8221;.<\/li>\r\n<li>Routines, such as a hello song, circle time and a goodbye song, make children feel safe and save you time.<\/li>\r\n<li>Puppets, picture books, flashcard games and action songs are the core toolkit.<\/li>\r\n<li>Expect a long silent period. Understanding comes well before speaking at this age.<\/li>\r\n<li>Safeguarding matters. Know your school&#8217;s child protection policy, and get vetted or obtain a police certificate as required.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>What makes teaching three to six year olds different?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Teaching three to six year olds is different because they cannot yet sit still for long, most cannot read, and they are still developing their first language. They learn English the way they learn everything else at that age: through play, movement, repetition and the people they trust.<\/p>\r\n<p>Teachers who come from older classes often find the first day a shock. Sheona Gilmour, writing for the British Council, describes how overwhelming her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britishcouncil.org\/voices-magazine\/five-essential-tips-teaching-very-young-children-english\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">first visit to a kindergarten<\/a> felt after teaching older children at desks, and notes that expecting very young children to pay attention for long stretches in a teacher-centred lesson leads to frustration and behaviour problems. The good news is that a few simple principles change everything.<\/p>\r\n<p>First, meaning comes from the situation, not translation: a child understands &#8220;sit down&#8221; because you sit down. Second, repetition is not boring to a four year old; the fifth time through a song is often the best. Third, emotions drive learning. A child who feels safe and has fun will learn; an anxious child will shut down, however good your materials.<\/p>\r\n<aside class=\"tie-lead tie-lead--main\" style=\"background: #015659; border-radius: 14px; padding: 22px 24px; margin: 32px 0; color: #fff;\">\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 4px; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: .12em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #cce7e2; font-weight: bold;\">Free test<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 6px; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.3; font-weight: bold; color: #fff;\">Thinking about teaching young children abroad or online?<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 16px; font-size: 16px; color: #e6f3f1;\">Check your English level and get free advice on the TEFL course that suits you.<\/p>\r\n<a style=\"display: inline-block; background: #E87731; color: #fff; text-decoration: none; padding: 12px 22px; border-radius: 999px; font-weight: bold;\" href=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/english-level-test\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Take the free English level test \u2192<\/a><\/aside>\r\n<h2>What does a very young learner English lesson look like?<\/h2>\r\n<figure style=\"float: right; width: 42%; max-width: 360px; margin: 6px 0 18px 24px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 240px; object-fit: cover; border-radius: 8px;\" src=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/very-young-learners-kindergarten-play-pexels-8535146.jpg\" alt=\"Kindergarten children playing together on the floor, the kind of short active task very young English learners need\" \/><\/figure>\r\n<p>A very young learner English lesson is a chain of short, varied activities held together by a familiar routine. Lessons are commonly 30 to 45 minutes, and no single activity should last much more than five to eight minutes before you change the energy.<\/p>\r\n<p>The shape stays the same every lesson, which helps children know what is coming. The content changes: this week animals, next week colours, then food. The table shows a typical 40 minute lesson.<\/p>\r\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">\u00a0<\/div>\r\n<figure style=\"margin: 24px 0; clear: both;\">\r\n<figcaption><strong>A typical 40 minute English lesson for three to six year olds<\/strong><\/figcaption>\r\n<div style=\"overflow-x: auto; -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;\">\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%; min-width: 600px; border-collapse: collapse;\">\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th scope=\"col\">Stage<\/th>\r\n<th scope=\"col\">About<\/th>\r\n<th scope=\"col\">Example (topic: animals)<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Hello routine<\/td>\r\n<td>3 minutes<\/td>\r\n<td>Hello song with actions, greet each child by name<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Circle time<\/td>\r\n<td>5 minutes<\/td>\r\n<td>Weather and feelings, using picture cards<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>New language<\/td>\r\n<td>6 minutes<\/td>\r\n<td>Puppet introduces five animal flashcards with sounds and actions<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Stirrer<\/td>\r\n<td>5 minutes<\/td>\r\n<td>Walk like an elephant, jump like a frog<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Settler<\/td>\r\n<td>6 minutes<\/td>\r\n<td>Point to the animal you hear, then colour one on a worksheet<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Story<\/td>\r\n<td>7 minutes<\/td>\r\n<td>Picture book with a repeated line the children join in with<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Game<\/td>\r\n<td>5 minutes<\/td>\r\n<td>What is missing? with the flashcards<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Goodbye routine<\/td>\r\n<td>3 minutes<\/td>\r\n<td>Tidy up song, goodbye song, sticker or stamp<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<small>Timings are approximate. Adjust to your group&#8217;s age, mood and attention on the day.<\/small><\/figure>\r\n<p>Plan more activities than you think you need. With very young children, an activity planned for eight minutes can collapse in two, and a calm backup, such as a familiar song or a quick flashcard game, saves the lesson.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Which activities work best with very young learners?<\/h2>\r\n<p>The activities that work best with very young learners combine language with movement, rhythm or a story. Five belong in every teacher&#8217;s toolkit.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Action songs and chants.<\/strong> Songs give children the rhythm of English and let them join in before they can speak alone. Add a gesture for every key word, and use the same songs for weeks.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Total physical response.<\/strong> Give an instruction, model it, and let the children do it: stand up, touch your nose, jump three times. Children show understanding through their bodies long before they can answer in words.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Puppets.<\/strong> A puppet that only speaks English, makes mistakes for children to correct and whispers secrets to the teacher is worth more than any app. Shy children will often talk to a puppet when they will not talk to you.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Stories with repetition.<\/strong> Choose picture books with a repeated line, act the story out, and read it again next week. Children love knowing what comes next.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Flashcard games.<\/strong> What is missing?, point to, slow reveal and run and touch all recycle the same words in different ways, which is exactly what this age group needs.<\/p>\r\n<p>Crafts can work too, but only with a clear language aim. The British Council&#8217;s TeachingEnglish team warns that very young learner classrooms can become disorganised when a craft is too hard or has no clear learning objective. Keep crafts short, prepare them fully in advance and attach language to every step.<\/p>\r\n<h2>How do you manage a class of three to six year olds?<\/h2>\r\n<figure style=\"float: left; width: 42%; max-width: 360px; margin: 6px 24px 18px 0;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 240px; object-fit: cover; border-radius: 8px;\" src=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/very-young-learners-english-settler-puzzle-pexels-7605993.jpg\" alt=\"Young child working on a puzzle at a table, a quiet settler activity in an English class for three to six year olds\" \/><\/figure>\r\n<p>Manage a class of three to six year olds through routine, clear signals and positive attention rather than rules and warnings. Children of this age behave best when they know exactly what happens next and get noticed for doing the right thing.<\/p>\r\n<p>Use the same signals every lesson: a song or clap pattern to tidy up, a quiet hand to stop, a special spot on the floor for circle time. Give one instruction at a time, show rather than tell, and praise the behaviour you want (&#8220;Look at Leo sitting beautifully&#8221;). Transitions between activities are when classes fall apart, so make them part of the routine with a short song or a counting game.<\/p>\r\n<p>Expect a silent period. Many children will understand a great deal before they say a word of English, and pushing them to speak too early can make them anxious. Let them answer with actions, pointing or one word, and celebrate any English at all. Use the children&#8217;s first language sparingly if the school allows it, for example to comfort an upset child, but keep the lesson itself in English.<\/p>\r\n<div style=\"clear: both;\">\u00a0<\/div>\r\n<!-- BRANDED VIDEO FRAME \u00b7 tefl.ie \u00b7 teal -->\r\n<div class=\"brand-video-frame\" style=\"position: relative; background: #015659; color: #fff; border-radius: 14px; padding: 28px 28px 24px; margin: 32px auto; max-width: 840px;\">\r\n<div style=\"position: absolute; top: 20px; left: 28px; width: 44px; height: 5px; background: #E87731; border-radius: 3px;\">\u00a0<\/div>\r\n<span style=\"position: absolute; top: 16px; right: 28px; background: #E87731; color: #fff; font-size: 10px; font-weight: 800; letter-spacing: .14em; text-transform: uppercase; padding: 5px 12px; border-radius: 999px;\">TEFL Stories<\/span>\r\n<div style=\"margin-top: 22px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: .2em; font-size: 11px; color: #cce7e2; font-weight: bold;\">The TEFL Institute of Ireland<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"margin: 6px 0 18px; font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.25; font-weight: bold; color: #fff;\">Teaching English in Thailand | What It\u2019s REALLY Like + My Advice<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 8px; border: 2px solid #E87731; background: #113435;\"><iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0;\" title=\"Teaching English in Thailand | What It\u2019s REALLY Like + My Advice\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4Hh0DlwLpEo\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-top: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.28); margin-top: 16px; padding-top: 12px; font-size: 13px; color: #cce7e2;\">Watch on YouTube \u00b7 The TEFL Institute of Ireland<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<!-- \/BRANDED VIDEO FRAME -->\r\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"VideoObject\",\"name\":\"Teaching English in Thailand | What It\u2019s REALLY Like + My Advice\",\"description\":\"A graduate of The TEFL Institute of Ireland describes what teaching English in Thailand is really like and shares advice for new teachers.\",\"thumbnailUrl\":[\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/4Hh0DlwLpEo\/maxresdefault.jpg\",\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/4Hh0DlwLpEo\/hqdefault.jpg\"],\"embedUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4Hh0DlwLpEo\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=4Hh0DlwLpEo\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The TEFL Institute of Ireland\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\"}}<\/script><\/p>\r\n<p><small>One graduate&#8217;s honest account of teaching in Thailand, one of the many countries where English classes for young children are a big part of the job.<\/small><\/p>\r\n<h2>Where do very young learner teaching jobs come from?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Very young learner teaching jobs come mainly from English kindergartens and preschools, private language academies running children&#8217;s classes, summer camps and online platforms for children. Demand is strongest where parents start English early, which includes much of East Asia and many European countries.<\/p>\r\n<p>In South Korea, English kindergartens and hagwons, the private academies, hire foreign teachers for young children; our comparison of <a href=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/epik-vs-hagwons-south-korea-comparison\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">EPIK and hagwons<\/a> explains how those jobs differ from public school roles. In Spain and Italy, academies often run classes for four and five year olds in the afternoons. Summer camps are a good way to try the age group first; see our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/tefl-summer-camp-jobs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TEFL summer camp jobs<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>Seasonal lessons are a big part of the job at this age. Our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/how-to-incorporate-halloween-into-your-tefl-classroom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bringing Halloween into the TEFL classroom<\/a> includes ideas that work with young children, and our list of <a href=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/free-tefl-resources\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free TEFL resources<\/a> points to songs, flashcards and stories you can use straight away.<\/p>\r\n<h2>What do you need to know about safeguarding?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Anyone teaching young children needs to understand safeguarding: the policies and habits that keep children safe from harm. In Ireland, this is set out in Children First, the national guidance explained on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ie\/en\/department-of-children-disability-and-equality\/publications\/what-is-children-first\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gov.ie<\/a>, which also notes that organisations working with children should have child safeguarding policies in place. Tusla offers free online Children First training that is worth completing before you apply.<\/p>\r\n<p>Abroad, schools have their own rules, and you will usually need a police certificate. Our Hire Wire issue on <a href=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/the-hire-wire\/edition-4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Garda certificate Irish teachers actually need<\/a> explains which document to get. In the classroom, follow your school&#8217;s policy on photos, physical contact and being alone with a child, and report any concern through the proper channel, never informally.<\/p>\r\n<aside class=\"tie-lead tie-lead--strip\" style=\"background: #FFFBF3; border: 1px solid #E6DFCE; border-radius: 14px; padding: 20px 24px; margin: 32px 0;\">\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 4px; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; color: #0f2e2f;\">What could you earn teaching English?<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0 0 14px; font-size: 16px; color: #4e6a68;\">See typical monthly pay around the world, or teaching online, with our free salary calculator.<\/p>\r\n<a style=\"display: inline-block; background: #026F71; color: #fff; text-decoration: none; padding: 10px 18px; border-radius: 999px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0 0 8px;\" href=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/salary-calculator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Try the salary calculator<\/a><\/aside>\r\n<h2>Ready to teach the youngest learners?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Very young learners need a different toolkit from teens or adults, and training makes a real difference in your first weeks. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/course\/30-hours-teaching-young-learners-specialist-course\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">30 hour Teaching Young Learners course<\/a> covers how children learn, lesson planning and classroom management for younger age groups. If you are new to TEFL, start with our <a href=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/course\/accredited-120-hour-tefl-course\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">accredited 120 hour TEFL course<\/a> and add the specialism after.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\">\r\n<div id=\"faq-question-vyl01\" class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How do you teach English to three to six year olds?<\/strong>\r\n<p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Through play, songs, movement, stories and routine rather than explanation. Keep each activity to a few minutes, alternate lively and calm tasks, repeat key words many times in different ways, and use the same hello and goodbye rituals every lesson so children feel safe and know what comes next.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"faq-question-vyl02\" class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How long should a very young learner English lesson be?<\/strong>\r\n<p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Lessons for three to six year olds are commonly 30 to 45 minutes. Within that, no single activity should run much longer than five to eight minutes. Plan more activities than you expect to need, because an activity planned for eight minutes can collapse in two with this age group.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"faq-question-vyl03\" class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What activities work best for very young English learners?<\/strong>\r\n<p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Action songs and chants, total physical response, puppets, picture books with a repeated line, and flashcard games such as what is missing. Crafts can work if they have a clear language aim and are fully prepared. The best activities combine English with movement, rhythm or a story children enjoy repeating.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"faq-question-vyl04\" class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Why won&#8217;t my young learners speak English?<\/strong>\r\n<p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Most young children go through a silent period, understanding a great deal before they speak. Pushing them too early can make them anxious. Let them respond with actions, pointing or single words, use a puppet to encourage shy children, and celebrate any English they produce. Speaking usually follows once they feel confident.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"faq-question-vyl05\" class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Do I need a special qualification to teach very young learners?<\/strong>\r\n<p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Most employers ask for a general TEFL qualification, usually at least 120 hours, and value a young learners specialism on top. Some kindergartens prefer early years experience. Safeguarding training and a police certificate or vetting are commonly required whenever you work with children, at home or abroad.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"faq-question-vyl06\" class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How do you manage behaviour with very young learners?<\/strong>\r\n<p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Use routines and clear signals rather than rules and warnings. Give one instruction at a time, show rather than tell, and praise the behaviour you want to see. Make transitions part of the routine with a short song or counting game, because moving between activities is when young classes most often lose focus.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to teach English to very young learners aged three to six: lesson shape, songs, puppets, stories, classroom management and safeguarding.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33806,"featured_media":140121,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"teaching English to very young learners","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Teaching English to Very Young Learners (Ages 3 to 6)","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Teaching English to very young learners aged 3 to 6: lesson shape, songs, puppets, stories and routines, plus classroom management and safeguarding.","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[230],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-140057","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-teaching-resources"],"acf":{"frequently_asked_questions":[{"question":"How do you teach English to three to six year olds?","answer":"Through play, songs, movement, stories and routine rather than explanation. Keep each activity to a few minutes, alternate lively and calm tasks, and repeat key words many times in different ways."},{"question":"How long should a very young learner English lesson be?","answer":"Lessons are commonly 30 to 45 minutes, with no single activity running much longer than five to eight minutes. Plan more activities than you expect to need."},{"question":"What activities work best for very young English learners?","answer":"Action songs and chants, total physical response, puppets, picture books with a repeated line, and flashcard games. Crafts work if they have a clear language aim and are fully prepared."},{"question":"Why won't my young learners speak English?","answer":"Most young children go through a silent period, understanding a lot before they speak. Let them respond with actions, pointing or single words, and celebrate any English they produce."},{"question":"Do I need a special qualification to teach very young learners?","answer":"Most employers ask for a general TEFL qualification, usually at least 120 hours, and value a young learners specialism. Safeguarding training and vetting or a police certificate are commonly required."},{"question":"How do you manage behaviour with very young learners?","answer":"Use routines and clear signals rather than rules and warnings. Give one instruction at a time, show rather than tell, and praise the behaviour you want to see."}],"frequently_asked_questions_gb":[{"question":"Do I need Garda vetting to teach young children?","answer":"Yes, for working with children in Ireland, Garda vetting is normally required by the employer, and organisations working with children should have child safeguarding policies under Children First."},{"question":"Where can I get safeguarding training?","answer":"Tusla offers free online Children First training. It is worth completing before you apply for any role with children, at home or abroad."},{"question":"Can I teach young learners in Ireland or the UK?","answer":"Summer camps and English schools in Ireland and the UK run classes and activities for visiting children. See our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/tefl-summer-camp-jobs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TEFL summer camp jobs<\/a>."},{"question":"What resources do I need for very young learners?","answer":"Good picture books with repetition, a puppet, a set of flashcards and a handful of action songs will cover most lessons with this age group."},{"question":"Where are very young learner jobs abroad?","answer":"Very young learner work is common in English kindergartens and academies in Asia and across Europe, and some online platforms teach children too."},{"question":"Which course prepares me to teach young children?","answer":"Our <a href=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/course\/30-hours-teaching-young-learners-specialist-course\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">30 hour Teaching Young Learners course<\/a> covers how children learn, planning and classroom management."}],"frequently_asked_questions_es":[{"question":"Do Spanish academies teach English to young children?","answer":"Yes. Many Spanish academies run English classes for young children, often in the afternoons after school, alongside classes for older students."},{"question":"How long are young learner classes in Spain?","answer":"Short sessions, often around an hour or less, are common for young children in academies. Ask your academy how long classes run before planning."},{"question":"Should I use Spanish with very young learners?","answer":"Keep the lesson in English and use actions, pictures and puppets for meaning. A little Spanish helps for comforting an upset child, if the school allows it."},{"question":"Do parents in Spain expect updates?","answer":"Yes. Parents of young learners often want to see progress, so short updates about songs and words their child has learned are welcome."},{"question":"Is there young learner work in Latin America?","answer":"Yes, especially in private and bilingual schools in big cities across Latin America."},{"question":"Which course helps me teach children in Spain?","answer":"Our <a href=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/course\/30-hours-teaching-young-learners-specialist-course\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">30 hour Teaching Young Learners course<\/a> pairs well with a 120 hour TEFL certificate for academy work."}],"frequently_asked_questions_it":[{"question":"Is there demand for English classes for young children in Italy?","answer":"Yes. Language schools and some preschools in Italy offer English for young children, and demand from parents who want an early start is common."},{"question":"What activities work with young Italian learners?","answer":"Songs, puppets, picture books and movement games work just as well in Italy as anywhere. Keep activities short and the routine the same every week."},{"question":"Do I need Italian to teach young children in Italy?","answer":"Not to teach. Lessons should be in English, supported by actions and pictures. Some Italian helps with parents and colleagues."},{"question":"Will an Italian school ask for a police certificate?","answer":"Yes. Schools working with children usually require a police certificate and expect you to follow their child protection policy."},{"question":"Where can I find out more about teaching in Italy?","answer":"Our <a href=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/guide\/italy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free Italy guide<\/a> explains the main routes into teaching in Italy."},{"question":"Which course helps me teach young learners in Italy?","answer":"The <a href=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/course\/30-hours-teaching-young-learners-specialist-course\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">30 hour Teaching Young Learners course<\/a> adds a valuable specialism to a TEFL certificate."}],"restrict_seo_folder":"none","gb_page_title":"How to Teach English to Very Young Learners Aged 3 to 6","gb_page_desc":"Teach English to three to six year olds with songs, puppets, stories and routines, plus a sample lesson, behaviour tips and safeguarding basics.","it_page_title":"English for Preschool Children: A Teacher's Guide","it_page_desc":"A teacher's guide to English for preschool children: lesson shape, action songs, puppets, picture books, managing the class and keeping children safe.","es_page_title":"Very Young Learners: Songs, Movement and Routines in English","es_page_desc":"How to teach English to children aged three to six: short active tasks, songs, puppets and stories, a sample 40 minute lesson and safeguarding basics.","text_translations":null},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.3 (Yoast SEO v24.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Teach English to Very Young Learners Aged 3 to 6<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Teach English to three to six year olds with songs, puppets, stories and routines, plus a sample lesson, behaviour tips and safeguarding basics.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140057\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Teach English to Very Young Learners Aged 3 to 6\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Teach English to three to six year olds with songs, puppets, stories and routines, plus a sample lesson, behaviour tips and safeguarding basics.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140057\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"TEFL Institute of Ireland\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/teflinstituteireland\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-10-30T20:12:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-10-27T13:00:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/4-3-1024x398.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"398\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Tara Bourke\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Teaching English to Very Young Learners (Ages 3 to 6): Songs, Movement and Routines The TEFL Institute of Ireland\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Teach EnInternational leading TEFL company. 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Safeguarding training and a police certificate or vetting are commonly required whenever you work with children, at home or abroad.","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/teaching-english-very-young-learners\/#faq-question-vyl06","position":6,"url":"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/teaching-english-very-young-learners\/#faq-question-vyl06","name":"How do you manage behaviour with very young learners?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Use routines and clear signals rather than rules and warnings. Give one instruction at a time, show rather than tell, and praise the behaviour you want to see. Make transitions part of the routine with a short song or counting game, because moving between activities is when young classes most often lose focus.","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140057","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33806"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=140057"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140057\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":140125,"href":"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140057\/revisions\/140125"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/140121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=140057"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=140057"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tefl.ie\/gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=140057"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}