Ultimate Guide for Parents: Teaching Kids Japanese

Mastering a new language can be a challenge, especially for children. This is why introducing a language early on is crucial. Selecting Japanese for your kids while they’re young can provide them with valuable benefits in the future.

This article explores various online methods for children to learn Japanese and highlights the top websites tailored to different learning styles.

Online Japanese lessons for kids

Online Japanese lessons offer an exciting gateway for children to explore the language. With the convenience of virtual learning, your child can connect with a lively and engaging Japanese tutor right from the comfort of home. Check out our list of two top-notch websites that provide excellent online Japanese classes!

LingualNeeds

Age: 3+

Price: Private 1-on-1 classes start from $10 an hour.

LingualNeeds is a dynamic platform designed to help you find the perfect tutor for both you and your child. With over 800 Japanese tutors available, you can easily customize your search by filtering options such as native language, secondary language, availability, and price. Discover the ideal match to enhance your learning experience today!

This flexibility enables you to discover a Japanese tutor who not only resonates with your child’s interests but also fits your budget and schedule. With LingualNeeds, you have the opportunity to try a trial lesson with any tutor of your choice. If it doesn’t meet your expectations, you can easily book another session with a different tutor at no extra cost or opt for a refund.

At LingualNeeds, our tutors customize lessons to suit your child’s unique interests. If your child is a fan of Pokemon or manga, simply share that with the tutor, and they’ll create engaging lessons and activities centered around these themes. This personalized approach ensures that learning is not only effective but also enjoyable for your child!

Children often find immense joy in discovering new words and expressing themselves, making traditional textbooks and tedious grammar drills unnecessary. Instead, engaging them in lively conversations and playful language activities can foster their love for learning.

LingualNeeds stands out as an engaging option for language learning. A recent survey revealed that an impressive 92% of students found the personalized 1-on-1 lessons offered by LingualNeeds to be more enjoyable than their previous learning methods. If you’re looking to spark your child’s passion for learning Japanese, LingualNeeds is an excellent choice!

Outschool

Age: 3+

Price: Courses start at $5 an hour, and private Japanese lessons range from $10 – $50.

Outschool is an exciting online education platform that offers Japanese classes for kids. Similar to LingualNeeds, the learning experience in Outschool is flexible and tailored to the interests of students and their teachers, allowing for a personalized approach. This means there’s no rigid curriculum to adhere to, giving children the freedom to explore the language in a way that resonates with them.

In contrast to LingualNeeds, Outschool teachers design structured courses that they present to multiple students at once. Each educator decides the course content; for instance, a “Japanese for Beginners” class might cover essential vocabulary and pronunciation. However, these courses are uniform and cannot be customized to match your child’s unique interests.

Discovering an Outschool course that sparks your child’s interest can be an excellent choice. However, it’s important to note that the platform offers limited flexibility in terms of scheduling and course options.

Japanese for kids: Apps

Introducing your child to Japanese can be both fun and effective with the help of apps! These interactive tools not only teach new vocabulary but also allow your child to practice pronunciation and assess their language skills. Below, we highlight some of the top Japanese learning apps to enhance your child’s language journey.

Duolingo

Age: 5+

Price: A free version is available, but unlimited ad-free access costs $6.99 per month or $83.99 per year.

Duolingo is a fantastic app for helping kids learn Japanese, making it an excellent choice for parents looking to introduce their children to the language quickly. While it primarily focuses on vocabulary through engaging, repetitive multiple-choice games, it provides a solid foundation for young learners to grasp the basics of Japanese.

Kids love using Duolingo thanks to its fun animated lessons and interactive quizzes that make learning feel like a game. This gamification aspect motivates them to continue their language journey. While it has some limitations, Duolingo serves as an excellent tool to keep your children entertained and engaged with Japanese, even when you’re on the move.

Gus on the Go

Age: 2 – 6 years

Price: There is a one-time fee of $3.99.

Gus on the Go is an exciting language app designed for young children, offering lessons in multiple languages, including Japanese. Through fun interactive activities and engaging vocabulary games, the app captivates kids while helping them learn new languages effortlessly.

The app features delightful animations and graphics that are ideal for young children, helping them develop an early awareness of the Japanese language. However, it doesn’t focus on teaching conversational skills or listening comprehension, similar to Duolingo. As a result, while it’s a fun introduction to Japanese, you’ll need to supplement it with additional resources for a more comprehensive learning experience.

Kaizen Languages

Age: 5+

Price: It is free but with in-app purchases.

Kaizen is an innovative app designed to help your kids learn Japanese through the power of artificial intelligence (AI). What sets Kaizen apart is that its “teachers” are entirely AI-generated, providing a unique and interactive learning experience. While the app also features various language exercises, its standout feature is the opportunity for your children to engage in conversation with Japanese AI tutors, making language learning both fun and effective.

While AI-driven apps and services have made significant strides, they still have room for improvement. Users of Kaizen have noted that when the app functions well, it delivers solid performance. However, many have encountered frequent errors and issues stemming from the AI, which are typically problems you wouldn’t face with a human counterpart.

Dinolingo

Age: 3 – 12

Price: It is $14.95 per month.

Dinolingo is an innovative language-learning app designed to teach kids Japanese through a fun blend of videos, games, stories, and songs. Similar to Duolingo, Dinolingo makes learning engaging by gamifying the process—children earn rewards like unlocking new dinosaurs and collecting stars for completing tasks. This interactive approach keeps young learners motivated and excited about mastering a new language!

The learning material is organized into various sections, allowing children to advance at their own pace. However, since there is no interaction with live instructors, if your child encounters difficulties or struggles to grasp a concept in Japanese, they won’t have a teacher available for assistance.

This app boasts an appealing design and comes at a budget-friendly price of $14.95. While it offers valuable features, like the other apps mentioned, it’s most effective when used alongside a more comprehensive Japanese learning program rather than as a standalone resource.

Japanese games for kids

A variety of online video games can help your child learn Japanese grammar and vocabulary while having a blast. These interactive tools not only make language learning enjoyable but also reinforce Japanese concepts in a fun and engaging manner, ensuring the language stays fresh in their mind.

My Japanese Coach

Age: 6+

Price: The cost is $23.00.

My Japanese Coach emphasizes mastering Japanese pronunciation, enabling players to directly compare their skills with those of a native speaker. This interactive approach helps learners refine their accent and improve their overall speaking abilities.

In the game, your teacher is Haruka, who expertly guides you through various levels. To progress, you’ll earn “mastery points” by learning essential Japanese vocabulary and pronunciation. However, since this is a Nintendo DS game, it lacks real-time interaction in Japanese, which means your child won’t have immediate support if they encounter difficulties.

Real tutor feedback plays a crucial role in effective learning. Think of My Japanese Coach as a valuable supplement for teaching children Japanese, rather than a replacement for traditional tutor-led classes.

Japanese videos for kids

Videos serve as an excellent resource for parents, particularly when it comes to language learning. Japanese videos for kids provide a wonderful opportunity for you to relax while ensuring your children are immersed in Japanese culture and enhancing their language abilities. Here are some top video recommendations to consider.

SuperSimple

Age: 2 – 6

Price: It is free.

Created by Super Simple Songs, the Super Simple Japanese YouTube channel is an excellent resource for young learners eager to pick up the Japanese language. Boasting over 1.3 million subscribers, the channel has released hundreds of engaging videos over the past seven years, providing free and accessible language learning for children.

Discover the SuperSimple YouTube channel, where you’ll find a delightful collection of short Japanese songs paired with captivating animations that kids will adore. These engaging videos cover a wide range of topics, from potty training to festive holidays. Perfect for young children, this channel not only entertains but also immerses them in Japanese culture and language. Make sure to add it to your favorites for a fun and educational experience!

Doraemon

Age: 7+

Price: It is free.

Doraemon is a beloved Japanese manga series that follows a robotic cat on a time-traveling adventure to assist his young human friends as they tackle the challenges of life. While it’s primarily aimed at children, the series also captivates adult fans, offering insights into Japanese culture and valuable life lessons along the way.

Discover free episodes of the beloved Japanese classic, Doraemon, on YouTube! Your children are sure to be captivated by the adventures of this iconic character in no time. Don’t miss out on introducing them to this enchanting series!

JapanesePod101 – Children’s song compilation

Age: 8+

Pricing: While the language learning app is available at no cost, users seeking personalized 1-on-1 teaching will need to subscribe to the Premium Plus plan, priced at $23.00.

JapanesePod101 offers an engaging podcast series tailored for adults, but it also features resources for children. Similar to SuperSimple, it provides a selection of free Japanese children’s songs available online. While the collection is modest, with just 13 songs compared to SuperSimple’s larger library, signing up for JapanesePod101 grants your child access to video dialogues, vocabulary lists, and helpful notes for each song, enhancing their learning experience.

This option is perfect for parents looking to introduce their child to structured Japanese learning in an enjoyable way.

Japanese for kids: Books

Encouraging your child to read Japanese books is a fantastic way to enhance their language skills. With a wide range of options in both fiction and nonfiction, there’s something to captivate every interest. It’s crucial to choose books that match your child’s reading level to ensure they stay engaged and challenged. Keep an eye on their progress and adjust selections as needed to foster their growth in reading.

Hiranaga drill books

Age: 5+

Price: It ranges from $10 to $50.

Hiranaga drill books, offered in both app and physical formats, are specifically crafted to help children master the Japanese writing system. This system comprises three essential components: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. Learning these elements is crucial for anyone looking to comprehend and effectively use written Japanese.

The drill books encourage children to read and learn about Japanese writing and practice writing the symbols themselves.

Why choose Japanese for your kids?

Introducing your child to a second language is a wonderful gift that opens up a world of opportunities. The advantages of bilingualism—such as enhanced cognitive skills, improved communication, and greater cultural awareness—far surpass any potential drawbacks.

Research on the bilingual brain reveals that individuals who speak multiple languages tend to have enhanced short-term memory, greater attention spans, and even elevated self-esteem compared to those who speak only one language. Why wouldn’t you want these benefits for your children?

Choosing Japanese as a second language for your children is a fantastic decision! With over 126 million speakers globally and Japan boasting the third-largest economy by GDP, this language can be incredibly beneficial. While it may feel distant now, mastering Japanese could unlock numerous career opportunities for your child in the future.

Japanese for Kids: Summary

There are numerous engaging strategies to help your child learn Japanese, including using apps, playing language games, watching anime, and reading manga. However, the most effective method is to encourage speaking and interacting with others, as this fosters real-world language skills and builds confidence.

With LingualNeeds, your child can enjoy personalized, one-on-one lessons with a native Japanese tutor. This tailored approach not only boosts their confidence but also equips them with the skills needed to master Japanese well into adulthood.

Explore our curated list of expert tutors dedicated to teaching Japanese to children. Begin your child’s exciting journey toward fluency today!