At Dutch for Kids, we often receive questions from parents about how they can help their children learn the Dutch language. Besides the lessons and homework from Dutch for Kids and speaking Dutch while living abroad, it is always beneficial to engage more with your native language.
First and foremost, I advise you to read a lot of Dutch books with your child. However, there are also many fun websites that you can explore with your child. I’ve selected five educational websites for you to use as a Dutch expat parent. Some of these sites are fun to explore together, while others allow your toddler to watch a video independently.
School TV
Here are a few examples of videos you can find on this website that can be useful for improving your child’s Dutch language skills:
Stories and Fairy Tales
Famous fairy tales and stories are often told in clear, simple language, perfect for young children still learning the language. For example, videos of “Jip and Janneke” or “Dikkie Dik”.
Educational Series for Toddlers
Series like “Het Zandkasteel” or “Sesamstraat” contain short stories, songs, and activities that help toddlers learn new words and sentences in a playful way.
Educational Songs and Rhyme
Songs are a fantastic way to improve language skills. On Schooltv.nl, you can find many videos with well-known children’s songs that are both fun and educational, such as “Hoofd, schouders, knie en teen” or “In de maneschijn”:
Nature and Animals
Videos about animals and nature are not only interesting but also educational. They help children learn new words within contexts that appeal to them. Think of videos about the forest, the sea, or farm animals.
Crafting and Creative Activities
Instructional videos explaining how to craft or make something. These types of videos combine language with actions, promoting language acquisition. For example, making a paper airplane or a drawing lesson.
Everyday Situations and Events
Videos showing everyday situations, such as visiting the supermarket, going to school, or celebrating a birthday. These videos are useful for helping children use and understand the language in daily contexts.
Leerspellen.nl
Besides Schooltv.nl, Leerspellen.nl is a fantastic website that Dutch parents can use to support their children in learning the Dutch language.
On Leerspellen.nl, you will find a wide range of educational games that are not only fun but also very educational. These games can help your child improve their language skills in a playful manner.
Here are a few types of games you can find on Leerspellen.nl and how they can be useful for expat children who want to learn Dutch:
- Words and Letters:
Games where children need to recognize and form letters and words, such as “Woordzoeker” or “Letterregen”. These games help children expand their vocabulary and improve their spelling. - Reading and Understanding:
Games focused on reading skills and text comprehension, such as “Verhaaltjes lezen” and “Zinnen afmaken”. These games encourage children to read and understand what they read, which is essential for language development. - Language Games with Rhymes and Songs:
Musical games where children learn rhymes and songs, such as “Rijmen met Rik”. These types of games combine music with language, which helps in remembering new words and improving pronunciation. - Spelling and Grammar:
Games that teach children how to spell correctly and understand simple grammar, such as “Het juiste woord kiezen” and “Werkwoordspelling”. This helps them create error-free sentences and enhance their grammatical knowledge. - Creative Language Activities:
Activities that combine creativity with language, such as “Verhalen maken”, where children can write short stories using pictures and words. This stimulates their imagination and language use. - Interactive Stories:
Stories that are interactive, where children need to make decisions or answer questions about the story. This promotes active language use and understanding.
3. Kleuters basisonderwijs online
On the site kleuters.basisonderwijs.online, there are many fun games that align with the world of children aged 4-6.
This website offers a wealth of educational games specifically designed to help young children learn the Dutch language in a fun and interactive way.
Here are some types of games you can find on kleuters.basisonderwijs.online and how they can be useful for your expat child who wants to improve their Dutch language skills:
- Language and Vocabulary Games:
Games like “Woordenschat uitbreiden” and “Letterherkenning” help children learn and recognize new words and letters. This is essential for building a strong foundation in the language. - Interactive Stories and Fairy Tales:
These games offer interactive stories and fairy tales where children can listen, watch, and participate in the story. This enhances both listening and reading comprehension and makes learning new words fun and engaging. - Rhyming and Sound Games:
Games like “Rijmen en klanken herkennen” help children develop their phonemic awareness, which is important for learning to read and write. By playing with rhymes and sounds, children learn how words are constructed. - Songs and Musical Games:
Musical games where children learn and sing along to well-known children’s songs, such as “Liedjes leren” and “Muzikale klanken”. These activities combine music and language, which helps in remembering words and improving pronunciation. - Crafting and Creativity Games:
Games that combine creativity with language, such as “Verhalen maken met knutselwerkjes”. These games encourage children to create their own stories using pictures and words, which stimulates their imagination and language use. - Daily Situations and Activities:
Games that simulate daily situations, such as “Boodschappen doen” or “Een dagje naar de dierentuin”. These games help children learn the language within contexts they recognize and understand, enhancing their practical language skills.
4. NPO Zappelin
Read online books, let your toddler make music, color, or watch an educational video on the NPO Zappelin website. This website is very user-friendly and has something fun for everyone.
NPO Zappelin offers a wide range of activities that are both fun and educational and perfectly aligned with the world of young children.
Here are some ways NPO Zappelin can contribute to your toddler’s Dutch language skills:
- Reading Online Books:
On NPO Zappelin, you will find an extensive collection of digital picture books that children can read or listen to. Books like “Kikker en zijn vriendjes” and “Jip en Janneke” are favorites that help expand vocabulary and stimulate a love for reading. - Making Music:
Musical games and activities, such as playing on a virtual piano or singing along to children’s songs, are also available. These activities promote rhythm and pronunciation, making language learning interactive and fun. - Coloring Pages and Creative Activities:
The website offers plenty of coloring pages and craft ideas that children can print and color. By naming colors and shapes and creating stories about their drawings, language development is stimulated. - Watching Educational Videos:
NPO Zappelin has an extensive selection of educational videos and series, such as “Het Zandkasteel” and “Sesamstraat”. These programs are specifically designed for young children and include many songs, stories, and activities that promote language skills. - Games and Interactive Activities:
The site also contains interactive games that stimulate language skills and other cognitive abilities. Think of games where children have to find hidden objects or solve simple puzzles. - Daily Themes and Stories:
Much of the content on NPO Zappelin focuses on daily themes and events that toddlers will recognize, such as “Going to the doctor” or “A day at the zoo”. This helps children learn the language in contexts they understand and can relate to their own lives.
5. Sesamstraat
Who didn’t grow up with it? Sesame Street remains enjoyable. Recently, they have completely revamped the website, making it fun even for the parents!
The renewed Sesame Street website offers a wealth of educational and entertaining content that is perfect for young children. Here are some ways the renewed Sesame Street website can contribute to your child’s Dutch language skills:
- Classic and New Stories:
On the website, you can find countless stories featuring the well-known Sesame Street characters like Bert and Ernie, Elmo, and Big Bird. These stories are easy to follow and help children learn new words and sentences. - Songs and Music Videos:
Music plays a significant role in Sesame Street. The website features many songs and music videos where children can sing and dance along. This enhances pronunciation and rhythm, making learning new words fun. - Educational Games:
The renewed site offers various interactive games focused on language development, such as word searches, rhyming games, and simple puzzles. These games are designed to help children expand their vocabulary and improve their language comprehension. - Craft and Drawing Activities:
Sesame Street encourages creativity with craft and drawing activities. Children can color pictures of their favorite characters or do simple craft projects. This provides a fun way to learn new words and concepts while being creative. - Videos and Clips:
The website has an extensive library of videos and short clips where the Sesame Street characters explore daily situations and themes. These videos are ideal for introducing children to new words and sentences in a playful way. - Joint Activities for Parents and Children:
Sesame Street now also has content that is enjoyable for both children and their parents. Watching stories, singing songs, or playing games together not only improves your child’s language skills but also strengthens the parent-child bond.
Enjoy your “online language time” together and see you during one of our Dutch lessons!
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