What is phonics? How children learn to read in English
Phonics explained for parents: how children link sounds to letters, blend them to read words and split words to spell, with simple ways to help at home.
8 min read
Guides for parents
Clear, practical answers about phonics, reading, English levels, school and choosing lessons for children aged 4–12, from the CurioKids team.
Phonics and reading
How children learn to read in English, and quick, playful ways to practise at home.
Phonics at home: 10 five-minute games for ages 4–7
Ten quick, low-prep phonics games for children aged 4 to 7: sound hunts, robot talk, word families and more, with tips to keep practice short and fun.
8 min read
English levels and exams
CEFR levels and the Cambridge English Young Learners exams, explained in plain words.
CEFR levels for children explained: Pre-A1, A1 and A2
What the CEFR is, what children can typically do in English at Pre-A1, A1 and A2, and how the levels help parents understand their child's progress.
7 min readCambridge Starters, Movers and Flyers: what parents should know
What Cambridge Pre A1 Starters, A1 Movers and A2 Flyers are, how they match CEFR levels, what the tests cover and how to decide if they suit your child.
7 min read
School and English
Getting ready for primary school English in Singapore and Malaysia.
Is my child ready for Primary 1 English? A checklist for Singapore parents
A practical checklist of the listening, speaking, early reading and writing skills that help children settle into Primary 1 English in Singapore.
7 min readEnglish in Malaysian primary schools and the CEFR: what it means for your child
How the CEFR is used for English in Malaysian primary schools, what Pre-A1, A1 and A2 mean for your child, and simple ways to support English at home.
7 min read
Choosing lessons
Online or in person, how long a lesson should be, and the safety questions to ask any tutor.
Online vs in-person English lessons for young children: how to choose
Online or in-person English lessons for your young child? Compare interaction, travel, scheduling, safety and cost, with questions to help you decide.
7 min readHow to choose a safe online tutor for your child: a checklist
The safeguarding questions to ask any online tutor or lesson provider: tutor checks, where lessons happen, messaging, reporting concerns and your data.
7 min readHow long should a young child's lesson be? Why 25 minutes works
How long a lesson should be for children aged 4 to 12, why a focused 25-minute 1-to-1 lesson suits young learners, and signs a lesson is too long.
7 min readBahasa Malaysia
Kelas Bahasa Inggeris online untuk kanak-kanak: panduan untuk ibu bapa di Malaysia
Panduan untuk ibu bapa di Malaysia: cara kelas Bahasa Inggeris online untuk kanak-kanak berjalan, perkara yang perlu dibandingkan dan soalan keselamatan.
7 minit bacaan
Our guides are general information for parents, written by the CurioKids team. They don't replace advice from your child's school, teacher or doctor.
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