ESL Games for Thai Kindergarten (Anuban): 5–10 Minute Activities
Model First. Soft Props. Sit After You Run
I've lived in Thailand for 20 years, and from our office in Ban Lum I tell new kindergarten teachers the same thing: show the game before you explain it, use soft props, and sit the children down after they run. Keep each game to 5 to 10 minutes, and plan it with your kruu pracham chan.
Model the game first, with your Thai co-teacher (kruu pracham chan, ครูประจำชั้น), then let the kids join. Use soft toys and props, keep the floor clear, and clap to stop. Sit them down after they run. Keep each game to 5 to 10 minutes. A game is part of the lesson, not the whole period. Nap times, shoes and floors are the school's call, and your co-teacher decides.
01: Why Games Work Here
Short, physical and low pressure.
"In 20 years here, the best kindergarten lessons I've seen were short and simple. The teacher showed the game, the kids copied, and the co-teacher smiled from the side. Nobody sat through a long explanation."Matthew John : Co-Founder & Operations Manager, KET
Moving Helps 🏃
Little kids often learn a word better when they touch, point or walk to it. Keep the actions small and safe. More ideas in Creative Play and Vocabulary Skills.
Easier for Shy Kids 🌟
Group games and choral repetition mean no child has to speak alone. Let them join in at their own pace.
Pictures and Real Things 🖼️
Big picture cards and real objects, like plastic fruit, give kids something to point at. More in Online Resources and ESL Games.
02: Moving Games: Colors and Actions
Model first. Then join in. Then sit.
Simon Says 👑
Use simple actions: "Simon says touch your knees." Model every action yourself. Sometimes leave out "Simon says" so the kids have to listen. Keep the moves gentle.
Color Hunt 🎨
Call a color: "Touch something blue!" Children walk to touch something blue. Walking, not running, near tables and corners. Ask your co-teacher how much space the room really has.
Pass the Soft Toy 🧸
Sit in a circle and pass a soft toy while music plays. When you stop the music, the child holding it names the picture card you show. Soft toys only.
Flashcard Touch 🃏
Put four to six large cards on the floor or a table. Ask: "Who can touch the elephant?" A child touches it, everyone says the word, then a high-five.
03: Sitting Games: Sounds and Memory
Good for after a running game.
I Spy: First Sound 🔤
Say: "I spy something that starts with /b/." Hold up two things, like a book and a pen, and let the kids choose. Say the sound together.
What's Missing? 🔍
Put four or five picture cards on the board. Kids cover their eyes. Take one away, then ask which one is gone.
Pass the Picture 🖼️
Pass a picture card along the row. Each child says the word as it arrives. Saying it together lets shy kids practise without being on the spot.
Gentle Card Touch 🀄
Lay cards on a low table. Call a word and two children touch the right card. Touch softly, no slapping.
04: Anuban Rooms: Work With Your Co-Teacher
The school and your co-teacher decide the routine.
Kruu Pracham Chan 🤝
Anuban is Thai kindergarten, usually Anuban 1 to 3. Each room has a homeroom teacher, the kruu pracham chan (ครูประจำชั้น). Plan the game together, ask them to model it with you, and let them decide when the room needs a break.
Clear Floors 🛡️
Look at your room before you plan a moving game. Move bags and anything hard. Use soft toys and props only. Nap times and mats are the school's call, so ask when it is safe to play.
Sit After You Run 🔄
After a moving game, do something seated: a song, a story or card matching. It helps the room settle. Ask your co-teacher what the class is used to.
Clap to Stop 🛑
Don't shout over noisy kids. Agree a clap pattern or a finger countdown at the start, and use it every time. Smile at the ones who stop first.
Games take 5 to 10 minutes and do not replace your lesson plan. For more ideas, see the Classroom Chaos Game, Word Rain and Top 10 Tips for Teaching English to Thai Kids.
05: Four Steps for Every Game
Short and simple.
🛠️ How to Run a Kindergarten ESL Game
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Get Soft Props Ready
Bring flashcards, soft toys or real objects, and keep the floor clear. Skip anything hard or heavy.
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Model First
Show the game with actions, ideally with your Thai co-teacher (kruu pracham chan), instead of a long spoken explanation.
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Sit After You Run
Follow a moving game with something seated, such as a song, a story or card matching, so the room settles.
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Clap to Stop
Agree one stop signal, like a clap pattern, and use it every time. Keep each game to about 5 to 10 minutes.
06: Prep Tools for Planning
Optional help for planning.
Twinkl 📚
Twinkl is a KET partner and offers teaching resources. Check what is available to you on their site, and ask your school what you may use.
KET partnerOther Tools 🧰
ISLCollective and other sites are independent products, not KET partners. Features and prices change, so check current plans, and check that any picture is suitable for young children.
Independent : Check current plansKindergarten Game Questions
Which ESL games work in kindergarten?
Simon Says, Flashcard Touch, Color Hunt, What's Missing and passing a soft toy while music plays are good starting points. They use actions, pictures and simple words, so the kids can join in even with very little English.
How long should a kindergarten game last?
About 5 to 10 minutes, then change to something else. A game is one part of the lesson, not the whole period, and it does not replace your lesson plan.
How do I keep an active game safe?
Use soft toys or props only, clear the floor of bags and hard edges, and let the children walk rather than run in tight spaces. Agree a clap to stop and use it every time. Follow your school's own safety rules.
What does the Thai co-teacher do?
The kruu pracham chan (homeroom teacher) knows the children and the routine. Plan the game with them, ask them to model it with you, and let them decide when the room needs a break. The co-teacher decides.
What should I know about anuban rooms?
Anuban is Thai kindergarten, usually Anuban 1 to 3. Each school runs its own timetable, so ask about the nap schedule, shoes and floors, and fit your game around them. The school decides.
Can I use online tools or worksheets for kindergarten?
Yes, for prep, but the children still learn best from you, real objects and actions. Twinkl is a KET partner. Other tools are independent products, so check their current plans before you rely on them.
Matthew John
Co-Founder & Operations ManagerI'm Matthew, co-founder of Kids English Thailand. I've lived in Thailand for 20 years and work from our office in Ban Lum, Sukhothai. Since 2009 we have placed over 1,500 teachers in Thai schools, and I still learn something from my Thai colleagues every year.
