5 Games to Learn English or French During the Holidays
Holidays are the perfect time to learn while having fun. Here are 5 simple games to practice English or French with your children this summer, wherever you are!
7/14/20252 min read
1. “I spy” bilingual: a timeless classic
The famous “I spy” game is perfect for expanding vocabulary at home, in the car, or at the beach.
To make it more educational:
Choose categories like colors, shapes, or objects around you.
Encourage your child to describe the object: “I spy… something blue and round” or “Je vois… quelque chose de petit et jaune”.
Don’t worry if languages get mixed — the goal is to get comfortable expressing themselves!
Montessori tip: This game respects the child’s natural pace and encourages observation skills.
2. Treasure hunt with words and recycled objects
Prepare small cards or drawings (colors, numbers, animals).
Hide everyday objects like bottle caps, spoons, stones…
Give simple clues in English or French: “Look for something green” / “Cherche quelque chose de carré”.
Montessori idea: Invite your child to sort the found objects by color, shape, or size. This boosts concentration and language development.
3. Simon says / Jacques a dit… get moving!
This classic game helps internalize commands, vocabulary, and body parts.
Simon says: touch your nose
Jacques a dit : lève les bras
Extra idea: Make cards with drawings and let your child be “Simon.”
Montessori tip: Encourages motor skills and comprehension at the child’s own pace, without pressure.
4. Homemade holiday bingo (with recycled materials)
Make a bingo set with cardboard, bottle caps, or cut-out pictures.
Create themed cards: beach, summer, animals, colors…
Say the words out loud in the target language.
The child repeats before marking the square.
Added value: Fun and great for auditory memory and visual recognition.
5. Impromptu puppet theater with homemade puppets
Create puppets from old socks or containers.
Choose characters and act out simple scenes in English or French.
For example:
— Hello! My name is Max. I’m a dog!
— Bonjour! Je m’appelle Lili. Je suis une souris!
Montessori approach: Total freedom to create stories and express imagination.
What about allowing some boredom time?
Play is a learning engine, but so is downtime.
Letting children experience boredom helps their imagination and creativity blossom.
At Kidioma, we believe in a healthy balance between guided activities and free play.
This summer, choose play, learning, and freedom of expression!
With Kidioma, your children discover English and French in a fun way in Madrid. Contact us!
Summer holidays are the perfect time to learn while having fun. Play is a powerful learning tool that lets children express themselves, explore, and develop their creativity. Here are 5 simple and effective games to practice English or French this summer, inspired by Montessori principles or easy to do at home… sometimes even using recycled materials!