Start here: a free 4-week English plan at home
If you are not sure where to begin, follow this plan. 10–15 minutes a day, five days a week, using only free content. Each week has a screen-free game and a question to check progress. Every child has their own pace: taking an extra week is completely normal.
The 4 weeks at a glance
| Week | Learning | Free games | Screen-free |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Letter names I, L, T; practice numbers 3–5 | Letter Island (Lesson 1: I, L, T), Number Island (Lesson 2: 3–5) | Count toys from 0 to 5 |
| 2 | Animals | Word Island (Animal Zoo, packs 1–3), Find It! | "What am I?" animal riddles |
| 3 | Shapes, colours, "I see a…" | Shape Island (Shape Shore), I Can Read (Look Island) | A shape hunt at home |
| 4 | Review, counting and first sums | Math Island (Counting Beach), Memory Match, Word Island packs 4–5 | Tell a knock-knock joke |
Week 1: letters and numbers
- Days 1–3: Letter Island, Lesson 1 (I, L, T). One activity a day.
- Days 4–5: Number Island, Lesson 2 (3 to 5).
- Screen-free: count toys, stairs and fruit in English.
- Check: can your child point to I when you say "I"?
Week 2: animals
- Days 1–3: Word Island, Animal Zoo, one six-word pack a day.
- Days 4–5: Find It!, Animals. Revisit the animals page.
- Screen-free: read "What am I?" riddles about animals.
- Check: can your child name six animals from pictures?
Week 3: shapes, colours and first sentences
- Days 1–2: Shape Island, Shape Shore.
- Days 3–5: I Can Read, Look Island: "I see a cat", "This is a ball".
- Screen-free: a shape hunt at home, saying "I see a circle".
- Check: can your child say one "I see a…" sentence?
Week 4: review
- Days 1–2: Math Island, Counting Beach.
- Day 3: Memory Match with animal words.
- Days 4–5: Word Island, Animal Zoo packs 4–5.
- Screen-free: tell a knock-knock joke (the "moo" cow joke).
- Check: does your child remember the words from week 2?
After 4 weeks
- If your child enjoys it, continue with the other islands in full access, or replay the free parts: repetition still helps.
- Children who know their letters can try the free spelling game Spell It!.
- See 16 fun ways to practise English at home.
Ground rules
- 10–15 minutes a session; stop while it is still fun.
- Sit with your child at least for the first session each week.
- The WHO recommends no more than one hour of screen time a day for children aged 2 to 4, and less is better.