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As we know the child

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he closure of schools across the UK has left many parents and carers in the sudden, unexpected position of being home-school teachers. Schools are providing support where they can, but there are also still plenty of smartphone and tablet apps that can be used as part of learning.

It may be tricky to get some children to see these devices as good for more than TikTok, Fortnite and (adult) YouTube, but the positive side is that the best learning apps are interesting enough to - perhaps with an initial nudge - engage children. Here are 20 apps that may get parents off to a good start. The "younger children" apps are most suitable for preschool and early primary kids, while the "older children" apps are more for later primary and early secondary age.

For younger children

Go Explore from CBeebies

Khan Academy Kids

Montessori Preschool

Hopster

( Android/ Apple/ Amazon - subscription)
British company Hopster describes its app as "educational kids' TV". What that means is a collection of familiar cartoons and shows including the likes of Sesame Street, Bob the Builder, Thomas the Tank Engine, Fireman Sam and Pingu, accompanied by fun learning games on topics such as maths and phonics. It will even remind kids not to binge on too many episodes in a row. It costs £4.99 a month.

Teach Your Monster to Read

World of Peppa Pig

YouTube Kids

Mental Maths 5-6

( Apple - £3.99)
It's been out for a few years, but this is still one of the best maths apps for children that feels genuinely educational. It's built around a range of maths exercises and progress tests. Separate versions cover children up to the age of 11, and there's a spelling series, too.

Dr Seuss's ABC: AR Version

For older children

King of Maths: Maths Learner

Google Arts & Culture

Mimo

Elevate: Brain Training

( Android/ Apple - subscription)
Elevate is one of a clutch of quality brain-training apps (see also: Peak or Lumosity) full of mini-games designed to sharpen your memory, maths skills, focus and other mental skills. Like those other apps, it uses a subscription - £38.99 a year - but with a week's trial to test it out.

Simply Piano

Women Who Changed the World

Duolingo

Kahoot!

TED

Swift Playgrounds

( Apple - free)
Swift is Apple's own programming language, and Swift Playgrounds is its app for teaching people how to use it. It's for adults as well as children, but it's certainly accessible for the latter, with its lessons presented as coding puzzles that will give people the skills needed to start making their own apps and games. It's on Apple's iPad, but not (yet) its iPhone.

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he closure of schools across the UK has left many parents and carers in the sudden, unexpected position of being home-school teachers. Schools are providing support where they can, but there are also still plenty of smartphone and tablet apps that can be used as part of learning.

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One of my favourites pages to look for ideas is the one from British Council. We can find goods ideas here and variety.

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LearnEnglish Kids is brought to you by the British Council, the world's English teaching experts. We have lots of free online games, songs, stories and activities for children. For parents, we have articles on supporting children in learning English, videos on using English at home and information about English courses for your child.

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Every toy can be used in English class, nevertheless some can be more helpers that other.
Puppets can be a good option to work the language, blocks can help us to introduce color, number...
we have some ideas in the next link

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by Andrea Pesce 22,579 views

We all accept that many toys provide at least some opportunity for children to learn, but why are many teachers reluctant to bring toys into their classroom? Mostly out of fear that kids would lose interest in them, the teacher. I'm here to tell you there is nothing to fear.

Toys engage a child's senses, spark their imagination and encourage them to interact with others. When used correctly, they will become amazing allies in your classroo, but there are things to consider. Children in different age groups have different ESL goals.

Children in different age groups have different ESL goals.

When children reach preschool age, it's time to start learning about letters, numbers and language skills. There are lots of toys that encourage this type of learning, from simple alphabet puzzles to high-tech electronic gadgets. These can give children a head start by introducing them to the things they will be learning in school.

Kids who are in school can supplement their learning with fun educational toys. Giving them the opportunity to have fun while practicing the things they are learning in school will increase their retention of those things. Keep in mind that kids learn best by doing. Also, when children find an educational toy they really like, they will be more likely to play with it, reinforcing what they have learned. Another item to consider is that children can learn social skills from playing. When children are given educational toys, they give them a chance to bond with other children and to communicate with them. They are learning and having fun at the same time.

I've put together a short list of what I consider to be the top 4 most engaging and meaningful (store-bought) toys students really enjoy playing with.

4 Simple Ways to Incorporate Toys in Your Kids Lessons

1. Soft Toys

Puppets, stuffed animals and rag dolls are wonderful tools to use in your ESL classroom. It doesn't really matter which you use because you can use them in a similar way. No matter how many you use, they are a great way to motivate kids. They also foster social interaction, communication, role playing, imagination, story telling, listening, and much more. Using them comes in handy because some children are shy and don't feel comfortable performing in front of the other children. Using a puppet or doll might help with this because they foster performance, and sometimes, even gives them the courage to stand in front of their peers. They are ideal for young learners because young kids are intrigued by toys, but older kids can also benefit. For instance, older students can put on a puppet show for the younger students and younger students can even put on a puppet show for the older students. Also, in case of puppets, there is no need to buy them. You can have your students make their own paper bag puppets, stick puppets, string puppets, and finger puppets.

In the ESL classroom these toys come in handy with songs. Children just love to sing along with a puppet or doll. You can even let the children make their own puppets sing. It is a great toy to use when shy kids don't want to speak. You can ask shy kids to whisper to the puppet/toy that you are holding or give that student a stuffed toy. Either way it takes the stress of the student who might feel more comfortable performing.

2. Play Dough

Let's face it, kids just love play dough. There is something irresistible about rolling, cutting, and squishing the brightly colored dough with your fingers. However, play dough isn't just used for fun. It offers a bunch of educational opportunities. It is an amazing, inexpensive educational tool that we can use to foster creativity and literacy among other things. It can even help lower anxiety and release stress. A ball of play dough can go a long way towards helping a student who is angry or stressed. Also, it is a great for incentivating conversation and sparking the imagination in young minds. Kids love talking about their creations. It is an amazing way to get them to talk. Though play dough is inexpensive, you can also make your own because it's easy to make. There are great recipes you can use to avoid buying it and save a little money. An amazing way to use it in the classroom is with learning mats that you can print out. They can contain the letters of the alphabet, numbers, shapes, simple words or anything else. Kids can trace the letters or numbers on the printed learning mat with pieces of the play dough. They can also use cookie cutters with shapes of animals or whatever they are learning.

3. Puzzles

Puzzles are an amazing option for quiet activities, and enhance thinking, fine motor and visual perception skills. They also take up little room and can be used in many ways. Young learners can use age appropriate puzzles that contain images of animals, vegetables/fruit/food, etc. For older children that can read and write they can put together puzzles with images and then describe them on paper.

4. Blocks

Blocks are an early learning tool that help young children develop their muscles and their minds. Through play, preschool children can learn concepts and skills as block activities are taken across the early childhood curriculum. Blocks come in a variety of shapes, colors, and textures so preschool children can use them to learn through their senses. Activities with blocks can also help develop creativity and problem solving. In ESL we can practice colors , numbers and if blocks have letters on them, spelling as well. You can also use them to talk about the shapes and how blocks are positioned (on top of, underneath, behind).

Toys are an important part of a child's life and kids love toys.

If you have any doubts about that, just take a child into a toy store. I guarantee they will find lots of things that they simply must have. Don't be afraid of toys, be selective and think how they will promote different types of development. Remember, making education enjoyable will help your ESL students retain.

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Toys in the ESL Class: How to Make Your Lessons Irresistible for Young Learners

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by Andrea Pesce 22,579 views We all accept that many toys provide at least some opportunity for children to learn, but why are many teachers reluctant to bring toys into their classroom? Mostly out of fear that kids would lose interest in them, the teacher. I'm here to tell you there is nothing to fear.

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Fun Games for Teaching English Vocbulary, Grammar, Spelling, ESL Games

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ESL Activities Online, ESL Classroom Games, Memory Games, Spelling Games, Sentence Games, Interactive Board Games, Hangman Games, Jeopardy, Wheel Games, Concentration Games, Matching Games, Car Racing Games, Pirate Games, Crocodile Games, Word Recognition Games, Mobile Games for iPad, iPhones and Android devices, Games for Teaching English to Kids

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ESL Fun Games and Exercises, Classroom & Online Games

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Fun Games for ESL Teaching and learning, interactive games, games online, printable board and card games, Hangman, Snakes and ladders

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Alphabet Shout Out
Randomly choose an alphabet flashcard and award a point to the first student who shouts out a word beginning with that letter.

Alphabet Writing Relay
Divide and line up the students into two teams. Divide the board into two halves and have one student from each team run to the board, write 'A', then run to the back of the line. The next student writes 'B', etc. The first team to finish wins.

Alphabet Erase relay
As 'Alphabet Writing Relay', but this time, write the alphabet on each half of the board and have each team race to erase the letters in order.

Alphabet Sculptures
Divide the students into teams and call out a letter of the alphabet. Award a point to the first team that can form the letter with their bodies.

Alphabet Soup
Give each student an alphabet flashcard and have them skip around the room to the 'ABC Song'. Stop the tape at random and have the students rush to line up in order, e.g. A-K.

Alphabet Touch
Call out letters and have the students find and touch them in the classroom, on posters, etc.

Alphabet Wave
Give each student a few ordered alphabet flashcards and play the 'ABC Song'. Have the students hold up the cards that correspond to the letters they hear in the song.

Animal Crackers
Take a big dice and assign an animal to each number. Have the students roll the dice and act like the animal!

The Ball
Throw the ball to a student and ask that student a question. The student answers and throws the ball to another student asking the same question. E.g. "Can you...?", "Yes, I can. / No, I can't." "Do you like...?", "Yes, I do. / No, I don't."

Balloon Toss
Have the students stand in a circle. Toss a balloon to one student and elicit vocabulary or a structure from that student. They must be able to tap the balloon in the air without missing the vocabulary or structure E.g. S1: "My name's Miki. What's your name?" (tap) "My name's Hiro. What's your name?" (tap).

Basic Flashcard Fun
The teacher simply holds up a flash card and elicits the answer from the students. This can be done in teams with points awarded for correct answers.

Beat The Clock
Time the students as they race to put alphabet, days of the week, or month flashcards in order. Have them try again to see if they can beat their fastest time.

Bingo
Bingo can be used with any topic. Blank Bingo sheets can be used, and students can write of draw randomly in the boxes. The winner is the first student to cross out all the numbers/letters etc. on the sheet.

Blindfold Conversation
Arrange the class in a circle and choose one student to stand in the circle with a blindfold on. Spin the student and tell him/her to point. Tell the student to guess the name of the student he/she is pointing at by talking to him/her. E.g. "Hello. How are you? Do you like...?"

Bluff
The object of the game is to be the first student to get rid of all his/her cards. Divide the students into small group and deal flashcards to each student. Player 1 chooses a card from his/her hand and throws it face down on the table saying, for example, "I have (a cat)". Player 1 may be telling the truth or bluffing. If player 2 has a 'cat' in his/her hand then there's a good chance player 1 is bluffing. Player 2 should say "No, you don't". If player 1 was bluffing, player 2 gives player 1 a penalty card from his/her hand. If player 1 was telling the truth then he/she gives player 2 a penalty card from his/her hand. Continue until one student is out of cards.

The Bomb
Pass a ball, object or a flash card around a circle of students. When the timer rings, the student holding the ball must answer a question, make a sentence or say a word.

Car Race
Arrange the flash cards in a long line with starting and finishing points. Give each student a counter. The first student throws the dice and moves. The student must say the word on the flashcard he/she lands on. If the student makes a mistake, he/she goes back to his/her original place. Add colored paper between cards to represent 'Take Another Turn', and assign a crash number e.g. #4 on the dice which means the student must return to the beginning.

Catch The Fruit
Toss a piece of plastic fruit to a student and ask, "What is it?" Elicit and prompt the correct vocabulary. Gesture the student to throw it back to you and repeat with different fruit and students. For a variation see 'The Ball'.

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Alphabet Shout Out Randomly choose an alphabet flashcard and award a point to the first student who shouts out a word beginning with that letter. Alphabet Writing Relay Divide and line up the students into two teams. Divide the board into two halves and have one student from each team run to the board, write 'A', then run to the back of the line.

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Hundreds of great games and activities to use in the ESL kids classroom.

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Singing musical statues (Nadia Fadhlaoui)

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Singing musical statues (Nadia Fadhlaoui)

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All of the children sing a well known class song while dancing (no music), and when the teacher stops singing, the children stop and freeze! The children that continue moving are out.

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The teacher or child says "clap clap I say a sound, clap clap, you write it down!" They then say a sound (for example a) and all of the children have to write a word with that sound in, on their whiteboards.

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The children sit in a circle singing " pass the sack round, pass the sack round, where will it stop?" The child it stops at, covers their eyes and picks an object from the sack. That child has to guess what the object is by asking their classmates 3 questions minimum.

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What's the time Mr Wolf? (Nadia Fadhlaoui)

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What's the time Mr Wolf? (Nadia Fadhlaoui)

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One child stands a few metres away from the others with their back turned and is the wolf. The other chidren stand in a line and ask "What's the time Mr Wolf?"  If s/he says 5, the children take 5 steps towards the wolf. The children keep on asking the wolf what the time is until the wolf replies "dinner time" and tries to catch the children before they get home!

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Children sit in a circle, the first child whispers a simple sentence to the second child, who whispers it to the third... until the last child is whispered to and says the sentence out loud. Compare it with the original sentence!

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The child must the parts of the house in their corresponding place.

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Memory game!
The child must find the perfect couple for your card.

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Create corners and use them to learn vocabulary or work the mathematical calculation. We can do from toy stores, to clothing stores or a restaurant. (Play role).

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Die of the body parts: two dice with the parts of the body. With this material, we can ask them from the moment they say the part of the body until they touch that part of the body.

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1. Simon says: this game consist of performing actions followed by “Simon says”. For example: “Simon says put your hands up”, and players have to put their hands up; but if it said: “put your hands up” and you do it, you lose.

2. Colours’ game: one person is chosen to say the instruction: “touch something red”, “touch a pencil”, etc.

3. The conductor: one person is chosen to be the conductor of the orchestra and everyone has to do like his or her (clap their hands, touch their noses, or whatever the conductor decides to do). Before choosing who the conductor is, one person is chosen to guess who the conductor is afterwards while everybody is discreetly imitating the conductor. The game is over and other person is chosen when the conductor is discovered.

4. Don’t let the ball stop: a topic is chosen (for example: animals) and children have to pass the ball saying one word (in this case the name of one animal). To make it funnier, words cannot be repeated.

5. The hangman: one secret word is chosen and the rest of the students have to guess by completing the letters of the word. One part of the body of a hangman is drawn for each failed letter. If the hangman or the word is completed the game is over, you lost or win respectively.

6. I spy with my little eye: one person has to secretly choose one object that she or he can see and says: “I spy with my little eye… something big/red/tasty/…” in order to describe it. Thanks to each clue, the rest of the students have to guess what object it is.

7. Bingo: one topic and a list of words about it are chosen. Children draw or write the words they want to (or they can take printed pictures). The words of that list are randomly said at loud and they have to mark them if they have them on their previous selection.
8. Alphabet: one letter of the alphabet is said and students have a short period of time established to think of an animal, a city, a fruit, a name of a person, food and colour whose first letter is the selected one. Students get different points depending on if the word is valid and if it is repeated or not.

9. Venn diagrams: different objects are given to children and they have to divide them in two different groups limited by two hoops which share a common area (to put the objects that share a characteristic).
10. Pictionary: one concept is given and one person has to draw it. Meanwhile, the rest of the participants should guess it, preferably before it is completely drawn.
11. Linx board game: a board with different pictures is put in the middle of the players and cards with the same pictures are faced down. In turns, players must face them up one by one and look for the picture on the board. If they find the picture, they will cover it with their hands and they will take the corresponding card as a point.

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7. Bingo (an example)

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9. Venn diagram (example)

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10. Pictionary

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11. Linx board game