If you’ve been searching for how to raise your child to be bilingual in Arabic and English or the best ways to teach Arabic to kids at home, you’re in the right place. As a newly married man who moved to the UK back in 2017, I quickly realised that raising bilingual Arabic English children in the UK would be a challenge. I knew I had to combine smart tactics and have a solid realistic plan. Making my son speak Arabic was one thing.. making him fluent and proud of his identity was another! Raising bilingual chidren is not an easy task and the journey of raising bilingual children requires tailored strategies that work in English-dominated environments. Here are 8 proven steps I put in place to raise a confident, bilingual Arabic‑English child, plus a few Arabic language tips for parents along the way.

1) Start Early With Arabic Flashcards, Toys, and Books

When thinking about how to raise your child to be bilingual in Arabic and English, starting from infancy is key. And no, starting when your baby is only a few months old is not too early! I once heard that children have a fixed “word quota” and that teaching them two or three languages would split that quota, leaving them with fewer words in each language. What a lie that is.. My experience with my son is proof of the opposite!

Start early with simple playful flashcards, labeled toys, and picture books in Arabic. Puzzles with Huroof was quite useful. Consistently repeating two syllable words that they can repeat a few days or weeks after.. These are the best ways to teach Arabic to kids at home, even if you don’t see big gains for the first year. Early exposure to Arabic through play builds foundational neural pathways during the critical language window. Remember, even simple words like “mama,” “baba,” or “kitāb” is a victory! Celebrate those micro‑wins. After about 18 months, vocabulary growth becomes exponential and they will magically remember words you taught them a while back!

2) Arabic Cartoons for Toddlers

No one ever learned vocabulary from watching the evening news… but Paw Patrol in Arabic? That’s gold. Children are naturally drawn to screens, so find their favourite (educational) shows dubbed in Arabic: Bluey, Paw Patrol, The Inbestigators, Pokemon etc. Curating a playlist of Arabic cartoons for kids turns screen time into an active language lesson. This is hands-down the most effortless way for kids exposure to Arabic, reinforcing everyday dialogue and pronunciation every day.

3) Raise a Child to be bilingual: Enforce a ‘No‑English‑at‑Home’ Rule

This one may sound strict, but logically, the more time your child spends speaking or listening to Arabic at home, the faster he gains confidence. Aim for about 90% Arabic at home, leaving room for the occasional “emergency English” (work calls, quick instructions, etc). Creating an Arabic-only home environment is especially vital for bilingual parenting in English-speaking countries like the UK. You may feel that this is a bit too much early on, but when school comes into play, you will need it! Limiting English at home counterbalances school hours spent in English.

4) Enroll in the ‘Right’ Madrasa Classes

As a parent figuring out how to raise my child to be bilingual, I quickly realised, most Quran teachers in the UK often mix Urdu or English. However, an all‑Arabic environment with native‑speaking teachers accelerates learning much more. For UK families seeking formal Arabic instruction, enrolling in dedicated all‑Arabic madrasa classes UK ensures both rigorous grammar lessons and authentic conversational practice. These programs can be hard to find.

Personally, I am currently exploring alternatives to our local madrasa, where most tutors teach in English. Our current madrasa shines at instilling Islamic values in a fun, child‑friendly way, but we’re on the lookout for a setting that combines both, faith teachings and true immersion in Arabic.

5) Brief Extended Family and Friends

A quick “please speak Arabic with him” briefing to grandparents, uncles, aunts and close friends can make a world of difference. Many well‑intentioned relatives naturally revert to English without realising the impact. Securing this network support is vital for consistent Arabic exposure in a bilingual household. When everyone’s on board, you create an authentic Arabic‑speaking environment, exactly what bilingual parenting in English‑speaking countries needs.

6) Share Bedtime Stories in Arabic for Kids

I’m a big believer in the power of storytelling, I even published a children’s book. Bedtime stories in Arabic for kids build vocabulary, model sentence structure, and create emotional bonds. Using Arabic children’s books daily transforms routine moments into immersive language practice. Pick age‑appropriate Arabic children’s books or translate favourites you already know. I usually improvise but sometimes I don’t have bright ideas after a long tiring day at work!

Bonus tip: if your kid is not too sleepy by the end of it, ask questions or let them narrate the story back in Arabic!

7) Annual Trips Back Home (Full Language Immersion)

Once a year, we spend two weeks in Egypt. These Arabic immersion trips are game-changers for rapid fluency development. For us, by day 3 he’s usually chatting like a local taxi driver! When children are immersed in an environment where everyone speaks the language, they quickly turn semi‑broken phrases into confident conversations. Real‑world practice with native speakers is a game-changer!

8) Combine All Methods Consistently

Teaching Arabic to kids is multifaceted: no single trick works alone. It’s the consistent mix of flashcards, cartoons, home rules, classes, family support, stories, and trips to Arabic-speaking countires over years that creates true fluency. For parents committed to raising bilingual children, persistence in these methods yields lifelong fluency. Kids resist at times, but persistence pays off.

🎖️ Thanks for Putting the Effort!

For researching about how to raise and teach your child to be bilingual, making the effort and caring deeply about your child’s language and identity, you deserve this medal 🏅. Keep going!

FAQs