German for Kids
Every child’s German journey starts in a different place.
My German lessons for kids are online, one-on-one and built around your child. Some children are hearing German for the very first time. Some hear it every day at home but answer in English. Some have grandparents in Germany, Austria or Switzerland and want to be part of the conversation. I teach all of them, one child at a time, in relaxed, playful online lessons, without pressure.
Book a free trial lesson Where is your child starting from? ↓Where is your child starting from?
“We don’t speak any German.”
A head start in German
Curious about languages, and no German at all? Perfect. Young learners pick up new sounds and words naturally, so starting early gives your child a real head start — and a second European language is a skill they’ll carry for life. We begin from zero with games, stories, songs and lots of reading and listening, so German feels like play from the very first lesson.
- First words and phrases for everyday life
- The sounds English doesn’t have: ü, ö, ä and ch
- Reading and writing simple German
- Speaking with confidence, step by step
“One of us is German, but we speak English at home.”
Connecting with family roots
Lessons help children discover the language and culture of their German-speaking side of the family: to chat with Oma and Opa on a video call, understand family traditions, and feel at home on the next trip to Germany, Austria or Switzerland.
- Words and phrases for family life and visits
- Simple conversations they can use straight away
- Traditions like Advent, Nikolaus, St. Martin and Ostern
- Reading and writing, so German isn’t only spoken
“Understands everything, answers in English.”
Heritage speakers
Most of my students start exactly here. Together we turn what they already understand into confident, natural speaking, in a relaxed, playful setting without pressure, and we build the reading and writing that school in English can’t give them. Reading out loud is one of the best ways to build both speaking skills and confidence.
- Answering in German, not English
- Reading and writing at their age level
- Grammar that “sounds right” but isn’t quite there yet
- Richer vocabulary for school topics, hobbies and feelings
“We speak German at home. We’re a bilingual family.”
Bilingual and school-ready
Your child speaks German, maybe because you do at home, or because you’ve just moved here from Germany, Austria or Switzerland. Perhaps they go to the German International School Sydney in Terrey Hills. Either way, lessons follow the German school curriculum, so their reading and writing keep pace with kids the same age in Germany.
- Reading and writing at German school level for their age
- Spelling, grammar and punctuation
- Following the German curriculum, class by class
- Extra support for German school students in Sydney
Learning German at school in Years 7–12? See High School German support →
Lessons built around your child
No single textbook suits every learner, so I don’t use one particular book for everyone. Instead, I use a variety of German books for kids and put together materials for each child from lots of different online activities kids love, and we learn German through the topics that genuinely excite them.
The most important thing to me? That your child enjoys learning, and believes they can do it.
Why we read out loud, a lot
Reading aloud is one of my favourite tools, and there’s good science behind it. When children read out loud, they use the same mouth muscles and brain pathways as when they speak, and research shows we remember words much better when we say them than when we read them silently. Every sentence your child reads aloud is speaking practice in disguise, and step by step, German starts to feel natural on their tongue.
- WhereOnline, via Microsoft Teams — from home, anywhere in Australia or overseas
- WhoAges 7+, once children can read and write in English
- How long30, 45 or 60 minutes, one-on-one. For primary school children, 30 minutes a week is usually enough to spark new ideas and keep motivation high.
When my family moved to Australia, my own children were four and six. I wanted them to read and write German, not just hear it at home — and I quickly discovered how few good options German-speaking families had. That’s how I started teaching kids.
Today, most of my students are primary school children, and watching a shy beginner answer in German for the first time never gets old. The sparkle in their eyes when they read and write their first words, the big smile when they get an activity 100% right on the first go — that’s why I love teaching children.
— Nadia, teacher and mum of two bilingual kids
Simple, flexible pricing
The perfect weekly rhythm for younger learners and heritage speakers.
More time for reading, writing and conversation — great for older or keen learners.
$60 for lessons before 3pm — ideal for school holidays and home-schooling families.
Prices in AUD, plus GST · First lesson free · All lessons one-on-one online
What families say
“Nadia is fantastic! She has been a wonderful support in my children’s German learning journey, and they genuinely enjoy their lessons with her. She makes learning fun and interactive, bringing joy to the language, which helps them absorb it naturally. What really sets her apart is how she adapts to each child’s learning style and focuses on the areas where they need the most support. She doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach but instead ensures every student gets what they need to grow in confidence and ability. Thanks to her support, my son is now taking German for his HSC, and I couldn’t be happier. If you’re looking for a tutor who is engaging, supportive, and truly invested in her students’ success, I highly recommend her!”
“Within weeks of finding Nadia, my son was applying his newly acquired German language in every day conversations. Using practical online education tools and fun exercises, making his learning something he looks forward to every week. The sounds of laughter and the entire lesson conversing in German, my son is increasingly becoming more confident in German and cant wait to visit the country. Thank you Nadia!”
“Nadia has been teaching my three children for a term now and all three of my kids are very much enjoying their time with her. Nadia puts a lot of effort into providing fun and interactive lessons. I would be happy to recommend Nadia to anyone looking for a German tutor for their children or as an adult alike.”
German lessons for kids: good to know
Why do lessons start at age 7?
From about seven, children can read and write in English. That lets us use written activities alongside games and speaking, which helps new words stick, and makes lessons more varied and fun.
Can a 7-year-old really learn online?
Yes. Lessons are one-on-one, interactive and full of games, pictures and activities we do together on screen, so there’s no sitting back and watching. The free trial lesson is the easiest way to see how your child takes to it.
My child understands German but won’t speak it. Can you help?
Absolutely — this is the most common starting point for heritage speakers, and it’s completely normal. We build speaking step by step, in a relaxed setting without pressure, around topics your child enjoys.
We speak German at home. Does my child still need lessons?
Speaking at home is a wonderful foundation. Lessons add what home usually can’t: reading, writing, grammar and a wider vocabulary, so your child’s German keeps growing as they do.
How long and how often?
For primary school children without an exam to prepare for, I usually recommend 30 minutes a week. 45 and 60 minutes are also available for older or very keen learners.
What do we need?
A computer or laptop with a mouse, a camera and a microphone, plus Microsoft Teams (free). A mouse makes the games and activities on screen much easier for little hands. I’ll send you a link before the first lesson.
What happens when my child starts high school?
They can keep learning with me! Many of my students continue into high school German and on to HSC, IB or VCE. See High School German support.
Let’s find your child’s starting point
Book a free trial lesson and see how your child responds — no pressure, no commitment. Happy to have a quick phone chat first.
Book a free trial lesson Email NadiaOnline, one-on-one · Ages 7+ · Current NSW Working With Children Check · Based on the Central Coast, NSW · Teaching families across Australia and overseas