6 Sneaky Ways to Boost Your Child's English Skills (Without Saying 'Revision')
Think of this as a summer heist - only instead of pinching jewellery, you’re smuggling GCSE English skills into your teenager’s brain while watching dystopian films or arguing over phone rules. Six no-fuss activities. No worksheets. Fewer eye-rolls.
It’s the educational equivalent of hiding vegetables in pasta sauce - and it works.
Week 1: Movie Night – Nail Descriptive Writing
Watch a dystopian film (The Hunger Games, The Truman Show, District 9).
Discuss:
What made the world feel strange or unsettling?
How did the lighting, music and setting create that?
Then: Describe the opening scene without naming the film. See if they can guess!
Week 2: Adverts Decoded – Language That Hooks You
Language Analysis
Watch a few TV or YouTube ads.
Spot:
Persuasive or dramatic words
Imagery or metaphors
Commands like ‘Buy now!’
Other persuasive devices - don't be surprised if teens come up with a version of DAFOREST...
Who’s the ad aimed at, and how are they persuading us? Does it make us want to buy it, eat it, wear it?
Week 3: Make a Scene – Storyboard a Page
Structure Analysis
Choose a dramatic or creepy page from novels such as The Road, Frankenstein or Never Let Me Go.
Break it into 4 - 5 key moments where something shifts (mood, setting, action).
Film a quick version or sketch it as a comic strip.
Add a sentence per shot explaining the change.
Week 4: Rant Club – Master Persuasion
Transactional Writing
Pick something that bugs you (slow Wi-Fi, sibling habits...).
Take turns delivering a 2-minute rant.
Bonus: turn it into a speech, letter or TikTok-style video.
Week 5: Interview Challenge – Spot the Differences
Summary & Comparison
Interview each other about teen life then vs now.
Turn it into a sketch or chat-show scene where you play each other.
What’s changed? What’s stayed the same?
Week 6: Blog Break – Decode the Argument
Evaluation of Viewpoint
Read a short blog or opinion piece together.
Ask:
What’s the writer’s opinion?
How do they get it across (tone, humour, exaggeration)?
Do you agree - and why?
And just like that you’ve just covered every major skill on both English Language papers. And you didn’t even pick up a revision guide. (It may even have been fun!)
Parent / Carer Support Guide
Each activity builds a real GCSE English skill — but in disguise. You’re not here to be a teacher, just a thoughtful listener and question-asker. Because it’s not a test, they may actually show you how they think.
Week 1 – Movie Night
Skill: Descriptive writing
Dystopian films are full of atmosphere and purpose - just like strong writing.
Ask:
Why does the world feel strange or threatening? What are we being warned about? Why?
How do sound, light or setting contribute? How could you create this effect in writing?
Can they describe a moment in vivid detail without using key words like tree, storm, fire etc. - so you can draw it? Showing not telling is the key skill to learn for writing in this way.
Week 2 – Adverts Decoded
Skill: Language analysis
Adverts use loaded language to influence us - perfect practice. Help them spot dramatic words, imperatives or emotional tricks.
Ask:
Who’s this aimed at?
What effect does this language have on you? Why do you think it works?
Do you see this language in other parts of your life?
Week 3 – Make a Scene
Skill: Structure analysis
Structure trips up many students but at its simplest it is how a story unfolds.
Use a short, punchy page (e.g. The Road, Never Let Me Go, Harry Potter - or one of their childhood favourites - anything well written will work) and help them identify shifts.
Turn it into a video or sketch, and ask:
Why did XXX change there?
How does the change make the story exciting, or tense or suspenseful?
Week 4 – Rant Club
Skill: Persuasive writing
Ranting helps students find their voice and practise persuasive features. Let them go big - then help shape it into a letter or speech. Spot rhetorical questions, exaggeration, humour.
Week 5 – Interview Challenge
Skill: Summary & comparison
Talking about life ‘then vs now’ is perfect for practising comparison.
Ask:
What’s different?
What’s surprisingly similar?
Help them turn it into a visual: chart, Venn, or chat show/podcast interview.
Week 6 – Blog Break
Skill: Evaluating a viewpoint
Blogs and opinion pieces are full of techniques.
Ask:
What’s the writer’s point of view?
How do they try to convince the reader?
Do you agree - and why?
You don’t need to be an English teacher. You don’t need to mark anything. You don’t even need to remember what a fronted adverbial is (no one really does).
Just show up. Ask good questions. Laugh when the rant gets a bit too real. And know that, between the chat-show sketches and dystopian film nights, you’re helping your teen build confidence, skills - and maybe even enjoy a bit of English along the way.
It’s not about ticking off tasks. It’s about building voices. Yours and theirs.
Happy stealth learning - and always have a flake with the ice-cream!
