How to teach English online to a 4-year-old (and stay sane)

The numbers that matter

• Lesson length: 20–25 minutes. A '45-minute lesson' for a 4-year-old is two lessons with a pause, or one lesson plus tears.
• Activity length: 3–4 minutes each. That's 6–7 activity blocks per lesson. Plan eight; you'll use them.
• New words: 3–4 per lesson, met seven times each across the week.
• Screen distance: their whole body should fit in frame — you'll need it for the movement games.

The rhythm: sit, move, sit, move

Alternate every quiet activity with a moving one, no exceptions. Song → flashcards → jump game → story → touch-something race → craft moment → goodbye ritual. The alternation IS the classroom management; a wiggle prevented is a meltdown avoided.

What success looks like at four

• Week 1–4: the child stays at the screen, sings along in mumbles, points correctly. That's an A+.
• Month 2–3: single words pop out unprompted; commands are followed without translation.
• Month 4–6: two-word chunks ('blue cat!'), the hello song sung to parents, favourite game requested by name.
• Not a goal at this age: reading, writing, grammar terms, sitting still for ten minutes.