This, that, these, those point: one item or several items, near or far. Parents teaching this that these those in English for kids can use one clean rule: this/these = near; that/those = far; this/that = one; these/those = two or more. Connect each word with real objects: table pencil, door shoes, or birds outside a window, quick practice.
Why These Four Words Matter
Children use pointing words before long grammar explanations. “This is mine,” “That is funny,” and “Those are scary” carry real meaning: children name, compare, choose, and describe. For parents, this that these those in English for kids works best through short, visual weekly practice.
English lessons use these words as sentence builders. A 5-year-old may say, “This is a cat.” A 10-year-old can grow into, “Those are the shoes I wore yesterday.” Four small words grow with each child.
Multilingual families may notice different home-language patterns. Some languages mark distance in more than two ways; others use word endings. English uses a short pattern, so practice should stay visual and physical.
The Core Rule: Near, Far, One, Many
Teach four words through two questions: near or far? one or more than one? Let children answer before grammar labels. For parents, this that these those in English for kids works best through short, visual weekly practice.
Use visible, touchable objects. Hold one book: “This book is heavy.” Point across the room: “That book is red.” Hold two crayons: “These crayons are new.” Point toward door shoes: “Those shoes are wet.”
A Step-by-Step Way to Teach It
Start with the body, not the worksheet. Put one toy in your child’s hand: “this.” Put one toy on a shelf: “that.” Place two or three items near your child: “these.” Point across the room toward a group: “those.” Gesture makes the rule visible.
Next, add nouns: “this car,” “that car,” “these cars,” and “those cars.” Keep one noun first, so your child hears only the grammar change. Then build full sentences: “This car is fast,” and “Those cars are old.”
When your child feels ready, swap roles. Parent points, child speaks. Child points, parent answers. This back-and-forth turns this that these those in English for kids into a speaking habit, not a worksheet topic.
Practice 1: Choose the Right Word
Fill each gap with this, that, these, or those: 1. _____ pencil in my hand is sharp. 2. _____ stars in the sky are bright. 3. _____ sandwich on your plate looks tasty. 4. _____ flowers beside me smell nice. 5. _____ dog across the street is small. Answers: this, those, that, these, that.
Practical Examples for Everyday Life
At home, use daily routines. At breakfast: “This cup is yours,” “Those plates are clean.” While dressing: “These shoes fit,” “That jacket is too small.” During tidy-up: “Put these blocks in the box,” or “Can you pass me that book?”
Outside, far words feel natural. Children can point toward a bus, cloud, dog, or people in a park. “That bus is green.” “Those clouds are dark.” Distance means what the speaker can reach, touch, or only point toward.
Across LearnLink lessons, our tutors often connect grammar with each child’s real setting: school bag, toys, drawings, snacks, or a room behind the camera. That keeps this that these those in English for kids concrete, especially for first-time online learners.
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
The most common mistake: “this” for everything. Young learners may say, “This are my shoes,” because “this” feels like a general pointing word. Correct gently by rebuilding: “These are my shoes.” Then ask your child to repeat it.
Another common mistake mixes “that” and “those.” Count first. One dog far away is “that dog.” Two dogs far away are “those dogs.” Counting makes the answer easier.
Older children may know the rule yet forget it during fast speech. Short drills help: “this pencil, these pencils; that chair, those chairs.” Keep rhythm steady. Goal: quick, accurate speech choices.
Practice 2: Change One to Many
Change each sentence from one item to many items: 1. This cookie is small. 2. That bag is heavy. 3. This toy is broken. 4. That bird is noisy. Possible answers: These cookies are small. Those bags are heavy. These toys are broken. Those birds are noisy.
Pronunciation and Speaking Practice
These four words train two English sounds many children need: voiced “th” in this, that, these, and those, plus final “s” in these and those. Ask your child to place the tongue lightly between the teeth, make a soft voice sound, then pull the tongue back: this, that, these, those.
Keep pronunciation practice short. Use sets: “this, this, this,” then “that, that, that.” Contrast near and far: “this ball, that ball.” For plural practice, stretch the vowel a little in “these” and keep the final sound sharp in “those.”
Short tongue twisters work: “This thumb, that thumb,” or “These three things, those three things.” For many children, two clear lines beat a long rhyme they cannot say yet.
Practice 3: The Child and Say
Ask your child to choose four things in the room: one near, one far, a group near, and a group far. They say four sentences: This is _____. That is _____. These are _____. Those are _____. Then swap roles and let your child check your answers.
Tips for Parents and Teachers
Keep correction short and warm. If your child says, “Those is my pencil,” answer with the correct form: “Yes, that is your pencil.” Children learn faster when correction still respects their meaning.
Use one rule across ages; change the task. A 5-year-old can sort toys into near and far groups. An 8-year-old can describe pictures. A 12-year-old can compare room, photo, or video-call items: “These headphones are mine, but those on the desk are my brother’s.”
For steady progress, revisit this that these those in English for kids in small moments. Two minutes at snack time, while packing a school bag, or before reading a book can be enough. Frequent short practice beats one long worksheet.
When a word has several meanings or pronunciations, Cambridge Dictionary is a useful check before turning it into child-friendly examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
At What Age Can a Child Learn This, That, These, and Those?
Many children can start using this and that from early school years, especially when words connect with pointing and real objects. These and those may take longer because they need plural thinking. For LearnLink’s 4-15 age range, one rule works at every level: near or far, one or many. Match examples to age and speech confidence.
How Can I Explain the Difference Without Grammar Terms?
Use hands and distance. Put one object in your child’s hand: “this.” Point toward one faraway object: “that.” Repeat with two or more objects: “these” near you, “those” far away. This gives the clearest start for this that these those in English for kids because your child sees meaning before naming the rule.
Should I Correct Every Mistake?
No. Correct the sentence when the mistake blocks meaning or when you are practising this topic on purpose. During free conversation, choose one or two moments and model the right phrase naturally. Too much correction can make a child speak less. Use this pattern: hear the mistake, repeat the correct sentence, then continue the conversation.
How Long Does It Take for Children to Use These Words Correctly?
It depends on age, exposure, and how often your child speaks English. Some children understand the rule quickly but still mix words while talking. That is normal. Short, repeated practice with real objects helps words become automatic. Aim for progress, not perfect use after one lesson.
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