Parent guide · Sprouts, ages 7–10
How can my child keep practising English in the winter vacation?
The winter vacation is a good time for relaxed English practice: a daily reading time, a holiday diary, speaking games at meals, a family movie followed by a chat about it, and one small project like a recipe card or a short video. Fifteen to twenty minutes a day keeps English growing without feeling like homework.
Key takeaways
- Aim for 15 to 20 minutes of English a day, not hours.
- Read every day: comics, stories, facts all count.
- A holiday diary builds writing without worksheets.
- Speaking games at meals keep talk going.
- One fun project gives the break a goal.
Why practise English in the holidays?
Breaks are when reading and practice often drop, and reading for pleasure is already falling: in the UK National Literacy Trust’s 2025 survey, only about a third of 8 to 18 year olds said they enjoyed reading in their free time.1 A little daily practice in the holidays keeps skills fresh and makes reading feel like a choice, not a chore.
Which daily activities are easy to keep up?
- Reading time: 15 minutes every day, with your child choosing the book.
- Holiday diary: three sentences a day about what they did, saw or ate.
- English minute at dinner: everyone shares one thing about their day.
- Word of the day: pick a new word and try to use it before bedtime.
Which activities suit each age?
Ages 3.5 to 6
- Read a picture book together every day and let your child guess what happens next.
- Sing winter or festival songs with actions.
- Play I spy and sound hunts on walks.
Ages 7 to 10
- Start a reading challenge: one short book a week, with a sticker chart.
- Make a comic strip about a holiday outing.
- Play 20 questions and Would you rather in the car.
Ages 11 to 15
- Watch a film in English, then discuss: favourite scene, a character’s choice, a rating.
- Write a short review or blog post.
- Record a two-minute video: “My winter break in 5 photos”.
Which family projects make it fun?
- Recipe card: cook something together and write the steps in English.
- Family interview: your child asks a grandparent five questions and shares the answers.
- Postcards: write a short holiday message to a friend or cousin.
- Speaking challenge: our free 30-day English speaking challenge has a prompt for every day.
Talk-based activities like these are well supported by research: the Education Endowment Foundation reports about six months’ extra progress on average for oral language interventions.2
How do Little Lingos classes help?
Live online classes are scheduled between 10 AM and 9 PM India time, every day of the week, so many families keep them going in school holidays. Children in Seeds, Sprouts and Blooms keep speaking, reading and writing in small groups of 3 to 6 or one-on-one.
Keep reading: summer holiday English practice in the UAE, Children’s Day speech and Christmas speech. To practise this with a trainer, see our spoken English classes.
Questions parents ask
Questions parents ask
How much English practice is enough in the holidays?
Fifteen to twenty minutes a day is enough to keep skills growing, with reading, talking and a little writing.
Should I give my child English worksheets in the vacation?
A few are fine, but reading, talking and real writing like a diary or recipe usually help more and feel less like homework.
What can my child read in the winter vacation?
Anything they enjoy: comics, story books, children’s magazines, non-fiction about their interests, or e-books.
Can screen time help with English in the holidays?
Yes, if it is active: watch a film together and talk about it, or record a short video in English. Keep passive screen time short.
Can my child keep Little Lingos classes going in the holidays?
Classes are scheduled between 10 AM and 9 PM India time, every day of the week, so many families continue them in school holidays. Ask the team about holiday timings when you book.
Sources
- National Literacy Trust (2025). Children and young people’s reading in 2025. literacytrust.org.uk.
- Education Endowment Foundation. “Oral language interventions.” Teaching and Learning Toolkit. educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk.
Sources checked 3 November 2026. This guide is general information for parents, not medical, psychological or speech-therapy advice.
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