Not long ago, I talked with my colleague at Kalimah Center, Ustadha Angham Abdul Halim. She’s the supervisor of our children’s education department. We talked about good ways to help kids learn Arabic. Ustadha Angham has lots of experience teaching Arabic to children from other countries. 

I gained some great insights from her, and I’d love to pass them along to you in this article and the accompanying sub-articles on teaching and learning Arabic language skills to children in practical ways.

Read on, and be sure to explore the other articles in the series for a deeper dive into each skill!

Can Kids Learn Arabic? Is it Possible for Young Kids to Learn Arabic?

Absolutely, YES! Children have an incredible ability to learn languages. Learning Arabic for kids is absolutely possible. But it must be done in a way that is engaging, visual, and interactive.

Their brains are like sponges, soaking up new sounds and patterns effortlessly. In fact, research (e.g Noam Chomsky On Why Kids Learn Languages Easily) shows that the earlier children start learning a second language, the better they become at it. 

• Young children are natural mimics: They love to copy sounds and imitate what they hear around them. This makes them excellent at picking up the unique sounds of Arabic.
• Their brains are flexible: Young brains are still developing, making it easier for them to adapt to new language structures and grammar rules.
• They are curious and eager to learn: Children are naturally curious about the world around them. They love to explore new things, including languages!

What Age is Best to Learn Arabic?

The earlier age, the better! Just like learning to walk or talk, the sooner children are exposed to Arabic, the more natural it will become for them.

Ustadha Angham explained that the earlier children start learning Arabic, the easier it is for them to pick up the language. Kids have a natural ability to mimic sounds and patterns, making them great at learning the intricate sounds of Arabic, like the letters خ (kha) and ق (qaaf).

• Ages 1-5: This is when children’s brains are most receptive to language acquisition. They can absorb the sounds and rhythms of Arabic effortlessly, laying a strong foundation for future fluency.
• Ages 6-12: Children in this age group are highly capable of learning Arabic. They can grasp more complex concepts and engage in structured learning activities.

Can I Teach My Kid Arabic?

Of course, you can! Parents play a crucial role in their children’s language development. Even if you’re not fluent in Arabic, you can create a language-rich environment at home and support your child’s learning journey.

Ustadha Angham emphasized the importance of creating a language-rich environment at home. Parents can incorporate Arabic into their daily routines, use educational resources, and encourage their children to practice what they learn.

For example,” she suggested, “you can label objects around the house with their Arabic names, watch Arabic cartoons together, or use Arabic apps designed for kids. Even simple things like greeting each other in Arabic—Assalamu alaykum (السلام عليكم) and Marhaban (مرحبًا) meaning ‘Hello’—can make a big difference.”

• Speak Arabic at home: Even if it’s just a few simple phrases, try to incorporate Arabic into your daily conversations. This will expose your child to the language and make it feel more familiar.
• Read Arabic stories and sing children’s Arabic songs: Children love stories and music! Find age-appropriate Arabic books and children’s Arabic songs that your child enjoys. This will make learning fun and engaging.
• Use Arabic learning resources: There are many excellent resources available to help you teach your child Arabic. These include online Arabic courses for kids, apps, games, and videos.

How to Learn Arabic for Kids?

To wrap up our conversation, I asked Ustadha Angham to outline an easy plan for kids to learn Arabic. Here’s the plan she shared with me, which I found practical:

1. Kids Start Learning Arabic by Listening

Children are like sponges, absorbing the world around them. Let’s start by immersing them in the sounds of Arabic. 

Play أغاني أطفال (aghani atfal) (children’s songs) and أناشيد (anasheed) (chants). These rhythmic tunes, often accompanied by playful animations, will capture their attention and make the language feel familiar and inviting. 

Popular choices like قناة أسرتنا (Osratouna tv) songs are perfect for their catchy melodies and simple lyrics (This is one of our plentiful resources we depend on in our Arabic course for kids at Kalimah). 

2. Words for Everyday Things

Once the children are comfortable with the sounds, let’s introduce some basic vocabulary. 

Think of the things they encounter every day: their toys, their food, the world around them. Use بطاقات تعليمية (bitaqat ta’limiyyah) (flashcards) with pictures and Arabic words for everyday objects like ماء (maa) for “water,” بيت (bayt) for “house,” and شجرة (shajara) for “tree.” 

You could point to objects and say their Arabic names, encouraging them to repeat after you. And pay close attention to repetition.

3. Introduce Arabic in a Kid’s Everyday Life

Now, let’s weave Arabic into the fabric of your child daily routines. Simple greetings like صباح الخير (sabah al-khayr) for “Good morning” and مساء الخير (masa’a al-khayr) for “Good evening” can set a positive tone for the day. 

Express your appreciation with شكرا (shukran) for “Thank you,” and encourage politeness with من فضلك (min fadlik) for “Please.” These small changes will make Arabic feel natural and relevant to their lives.

4. Kids are Encouraged to Speak their First Words and Phrases

As their vocabulary grows, encourage them to use Arabic in simple sentences. It could be something as basic as expressing their needs, like أريد ماء (uridu ma’an) which means “I want water.” 

• Use questions and answers to reinforce Arabic learning for kids at this phase.

Exercise: Practice introducing oneself in Arabic, like “اسمي خالد” (Ismi Khalid, meaning My name is Khalid).

Example: After learning the word “مدرسة” (Madrasah, meaning school), ask your child, “أين مدرستك؟” (Ayna Madrasatak? Meaning Where is your school?). Encourage them to respond in Arabic.

5. Kids Learn Arabic Reading through Stories

Reading together opens up a whole new world of learning. Choose simple Arabic books with engaging illustrations. A classic story like الأرنب والسلحفاة (al-arnab wa al-sulahafa), “The Hare and the Tortoise,” is not only easy to understand but also teaches valuable lessons. As you read, point to the words, helping them connect the written form to the spoken language.

Arabic Text	Transliteration	English Translation
قصة الأرنب السريع والسلحفاة البطيئة،	Qissat al-arnab al-saree’ wal-sulahafa al-batee’ah,	The story of the fast rabbit and the slow turtle.
ذات يوم تباهى الأرنب أنّه أسرع من السلحفاة،	Dhat yawm tabaaha al-arnab annahu asra’ min al-sulahafa,	One day the rabbit boasted that he was faster than the turtle,
وتحدّاها في مباراةٍ علنية أمام الحيوانات.	wa-tahaddaha fee mubaaraatin ‘alaniyatin amam al-hayawanat.	and challenged her to a public race in front of the animals.
وبعدما انطلق السباق، ورأى الأرنب أنّه ابتعد كفايةً،	Wa-ba’d ma intalaqa al-sibaq, wa-ra’a al-arnab annahu ibtada’ kifaayatan,	After the race started, and the rabbit saw that he was far enough ahead,
قرر أن ينام قليلاً،	qarrara an yanaam qaleelan,	he decided to sleep a little,
وحين استيقظ ليتابع السباق،	wa-heen istayqaz li-yutaabi’ al-sibaq,	and when he woke up to continue the race,
اكتشف أنّ السلحفاة كانت جادّةً في مسيرتها،	iktasyaf anna al-sulahafa kanat jaddatan fee masiratiha,	he discovered that the turtle was serious in her journey,
وقد ربحت السباق.	wa-qad rabihat al-sibaq.	and had won the race.
مهما كنّا واثقين من النجاح، علينا عدم إهمال أيّ جهد.	Mahma kunna wathiqeen min al-najaah, ‘alayna ‘adam ihmal ayy juhd.	No matter how confident we are of success, we must not neglect any effort.

6. Kids are Encouraged to Practice Writing in Arabic 

Ustadhah Angham recommended starting with tracing letters and then moving on to writing them independently.

“Focus on forming the letters correctly. And make sure the child understands how letters connect in Arabic.”

She also mentioned that children should learn the difference between short vowels (harakat) and long vowels (madd) early on to avoid confusion. For example, explaining that “و” (waaw) is a letter, not just a vowel sound, and showing how it’s used in words like “كُوب” (Koob) for “cup.”

7. Kids Learn Basic Arabic Grammar Through Stories and Activites

Grammar can be tricky, but Ustadhah Angham had some creative ideas. She suggested teaching basic grammar concepts, such as gender (masculine and feminine), through stories and games.

“Kids learn best when they’re having fun,” she said. “So, use stories where they can see how words change based on gender, like in the story of the “ولد” (walad) meaning “boy” and “بنت” (bint) meaning “girl.”

She also recommended practicing verb conjugation with actions. For example, have the child say “أركض” (arkud) for “I run” while running, then “يركض” (yarkud) for “he runs.” This makes grammar feel like a game rather than a chore.

Know more about How to Learn Arabic Reading for Kids?

How to Learn the Arabic Alphabet for Kids?

When teaching the Arabic alphabet to children, the approach should be distinctly different from how it is taught to adults. The process should be slower, the content should be more digestible, and the presentation should be visually appealing and interactive. This can be achieved through engaging tools like games.

For example, start by introducing the entire alphabet at once, but then break it down into four smaller groups for detailed study and practice:

• Group 1: From أ (Alif) to خ (Khaa)
• Group 2: From د (Dal) to ض (Dad)
• Group 3: From ط (Taa) to ك (Kaf)
• Group 4: From ل (Lam) to ي (Yaa)

Each group should be taught with examples and exercises to reinforce learning. Additionally, children should be introduced to similar-sounding letters, such as ق (Qaf) and ك (Kaf), and visually similar letters like ص (Saad) and ض (Dad), and trained to differentiate between them.

*From Kalimah’s Arabic Course for Kids.

Visual aids interactive exercises can make practice sessions more engaging. For instance, Kalimah’s (Read the Letter Inside the Shell) exercise is a good example. Children love the interactive element of “opening” the shell to reveal the letter, making practice feel like a game.

*From Kalimah’s Arabic Course for Kids.

How to Learn Arabic Grammar for Kids?

Teaching Arabic grammar to kids should be engaging and fun, primarily through stories, question and answer sessions, role-playing, and hands-on activities like games. Some fundamental grammar rules that can be introduced to children include:

• Gender (Masculine and Feminine): Understanding the difference between masculine and feminine nouns.
• Nouns and Adjectives: Learning how to match adjectives with nouns.
• Verbs: Basic verb conjugation with subjects and understanding different tenses.
• Prepositions: Introduction to basic prepositions in Arabic.

Using interactive methods to teach these concepts helps in making grammar both understandable and enjoyable for kids.

How to Read Arabic for Kids?

Reading in Arabic should start with a solid understanding of the letters, including their forms at the beginning, middle, and end of words. Children should also learn the vowel marks (الحركات) like الكسرة (Kasra), الفتحة (Fatha), and الضمة (Damma), along with other phonetic phenomena such as السكون (Sukoon), الشدة (Shadda), التنوين (Tanween), المد (Madd), اللام الشمسية (Sun letters), and اللام القمرية (Moon letters).

*From Kalimah’s Arabic Course for Children curriculum.

Once these basics are mastered, kids can practice pronouncing basic words, understanding how letters connect in Arabic words, and gradually move on to reading sentences and paragraphs. It’s crucial to focus on correct pronunciation, and continuous, intensive practice is necessary. One effective method for this is to have children identify the phonetic patterns they’ve learned in any new text they read.

Want Your Child to Learn Arabic the Easy & Fun Way? Kalimah Center Has the Plan!

You found a great article with expert advice, but now what? At Kalimah Center, we turn those plans into action! Our online Arabic classes for kids are designed to make learning enjoyable and effective.

Why choose Kalimah Center?

• We make learning fun: Our experienced teachers know how to keep kids engaged with interactive presentations and activities.
• We build a strong foundation: We start with the basics – alphabet, pronunciation, reading, and writing – so your child gains confidence from the very beginning.
• We personalize learning: Our level-based system ensures your child is challenged but not overwhelmed, so they can progress at their own pace.
• We use stories and games: We incorporate captivating stories and age-appropriate materials to make learning Arabic an exciting adventure.

Sign up for a FREE trial class and watch your child fall in love with Arabic. We’ll help them learn to read, write, and speak with confidence.

Let us help your child fall in love with Arabic

Conclusion:

Learning Arabic for children is highly achievable with the right approach. Kids have a natural ability to absorb languages, making them ideal candidates for early Arabic education. Engaging methods like interactive games, songs, and stories can make the process enjoyable and effective.

Starting young is key, as children’s brains are most receptive to language learning between ages 1-5. Parents play a crucial role by incorporating Arabic into daily routines, creating a language-rich environment, and using various educational resources to support their child’s learning journey.