☀️ June Joy: Learn English with Your Child This Summer
June is the start of summer – a perfect time for fun and learning! There are many ways to help your child learn English through games, crafts, holidays, and trips in and around Vienna. Here are easy and exciting ideas for your family this month.
🎉 1. Special Days in June to Celebrate
Use holidays to learn new English words:
Father’s Day (8th of June):
Vocabulary: Dad, Mum, sister, brother, family, love
Activity: Create a Father’s Day card with the message „Happy Father’s Day!“ in English. Decorate it with family photos or drawings.
🌍Tip: Discuss family roles and what makes each member special. Use phrases like „My dad is kind“ or „My dad loves to cook.“
Summer Begins (21st of June):
Activity: Craft a summer poster featuring these words and corresponding pictures. Hang it up as a daily reference.
🌍Tip: Talk about the changing seasons. Use sentences like „Spring is ending, and summer is beginning.“
🏡 2. Fun Activities at Home
Summer Word Hunt : Hide cards with English words (e.g., sun, hat, water) around your home or garden. Let your child find and read them.
Ice Cream Shop Game : Pretend to order ice cream. Use English flavours: chocolate, vanilla, strawberry.
Daily Weather Chart : Each day, ask: “What’s the weather today?” and write or draw it in English.
🏞️ 3. Explore Vienna and Learn English
Take small trips and use English during the day:
Donaupark or Türkenschanzpark : Talk about trees, flowers, ducks, and other animals in English.
Tiergarten Schönbrunn (Zoo):
Say animal names in English: lion, elephant, monkey, zebra.
Play a game: “I spy with my little eye something beginning with…”
Danube Island (Donauinsel) :
Talk about summer things: water, boat, swimming, picnic
🌍 Tip: Try to speak “only English” for one hour while on a family outing!
🎨 4. Easy June Crafts
Sun and Rainbow Art :
Use coloured paper or crayons to make weather crafts
Say the colours in English: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple
🎨 Craft Words to Practise : glue, scissors, paper, fold, draw, cut
📚 6. Easy Summer English Books
Perfect for June reading time:
Sharing a Shell by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks
When Crab finds a new shell, he doesn’t want to share it with anyone – but life in the rock pool proves tougher than Crab thinks and he soon finds he needs his new housemates. A charming underwater tale of friendship and fun with brilliant rhythmic verse, bright and distinctive illustrations and glitter on every page.
Age: 2 – 5
Available: https://www.thalia.at/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1047020394
Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas by Dav Pilkey
When a new bunch of baddies bust up the town, Dog Man is called into action — and this time he isn’t alone. With a cute kitten and a remarkable robot by his side, our heroes must save the day by joining forces with an unlikely ally: Petey, the World’s Most Evil Cat. But can the villainous Petey avoid vengeance and venture into virtue? This cartoon is perfect for children just starting to get comfortable with reading by themselves.
Age: 6-8
Available: https://www.thalia.at/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1048332989
Shipwrecked by Jenny Pearson
Available: https://www.thalia.at/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1071226885
📖 Reading Tip: Point to the pictures and say the words together.
🧠 7. Parent Tips for Summer English Learning
Use short English moments every day (5–15 minutes is enough!)
Don’t worry about mistakes – just enjoy learning together
Speak slowly, use gestures, and repeat words often
Celebrate progress with stickers or small rewards
🧡 Tip: Create an “English Summer Journal” with your child – draw, write or paste things you do each week in English.
🌞 Final Words
June is full of sunshine, smiles, and chances to learn English in fun ways! Use the summer energy to play, explore, read, and speak English with your child. You are their best teacher – even if your English is not perfect!