What can we learn from children?

This ESL lesson focuses on what adults can learn from children, exploring themes like curiosity, creativity, and emotional intelligence. Learners also build vocabulary around personality traits, practice collocations, and reflect on how to preserve childlike qualities such as wonder, spontaneity, and playfulness as they grow older. Other lessons you might like are “Are playgrounds too safe?“, “Phrasal verbs: childhood“, “Alternative education“, and “Should we give children an allowance“.

Speaking: The lesson begins with students discussing their experiences with children and how children see the world differently. After that, they discuss things that adults want to teach children in terms of life skills, academic knowledge, etc.

Vocabulary: Learners practise word formation (e.g., curiosity, spontaneity, resilience, playfulness) and match collocations like wild ideas, pure joy, untamed thoughts, and vivid imagination with their definitions. They complete gap-fill exercises and use new vocabulary in discussions about qualities that are lost as we grow older.

Listening: Students watch a video called “Lessons from children, the experts of wonder” which highlights lessons the speaker has learned from observing and listening to children. They take notes, answer comprehension questions, and analyse the speaker’s message about authenticity, creativity, and the importance of play.

Speaking: Students choose three childlike qualities and brainstorm how to keep them alive in adulthood. They also discuss what they’ve learned from children, and reflect on changes they’d make to the education system to foster creativity and emotional intelligence.

For more conversation practice, you can use the printable conversation cards.

This lesson pairs well with other ESL materials on personal growth, emotional intelligence, education, and creativity—ideal for learners interested in self-development, teaching, or reflective discussions.