Teach a Younger Sibling
Preteen plans and runs a short lesson teaching a younger child a skill, practising planning and patience.
- Age10 to 13 years
- Time15 to 30 minutes
- EnergyModerate
- CostFree
- WhereIndoors or out
- Prep5 min
Your child plans and runs a short lesson to teach a younger sibling or younger child a skill they already know, at the younger child's pace. A warm way for the two of them to spend time together.
How to do it
- Help your child pick a small skill they are good at and a younger child who would enjoy learning it (tying laces, a card game, a craft, kicking a ball).
- Have them plan a few simple steps and think about how to explain it to someone younger.
- Let them run the lesson while you stay nearby, following the younger child's pace and mood.
- Encourage them to notice when the younger child is enjoying it or needs a break, and to adjust rather than push on.
- Finish with both of them trying the skill together, and let your child hear how it went.
What you need
- Skill
- Skill items
- Younger child
Make it yours
Younger mentor, 8-10 years: Choose a very simple skill and keep the lesson to a few minutes with you close by. Older, 12 years and up: Let them plan two short sessions and notice what to change the second time. No younger sibling: Your child can teach the skill to an adult who plays the learner, or to a willing younger cousin or neighbour with the family present.
Try this with your child.
Tell PLAI™ about your child and this moment. It shapes the activity to fit.
Try it in the app