German for Kids: Online Resources, Books and Shows

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Children pick up language from regular, meaningful contact with it. If you want to introduce German at home, the most useful resources are the ones you can return to together: songs, short shows, familiar stories and simple activities.

An early start can help German sounds feel familiar, but there is no magic age or one perfect method. A few minutes used consistently is more useful than a long session that neither of you enjoys.

Start with the age group below that best matches your child, then move up or down depending on their interests and reading level.

Before we get started, if you’re looking for an online German course, here’s the course I recommend: German Uncovered – Learn German Through the Power of Story, a course with a fascinating new method by my friend Olly. You can try it for free for 7 days!

German for Kids: Infants

For babies, keep German social: talk, sing and read aloud rather than expecting a screen or app to do the teaching. Repetition matters more than variety, so the same greeting, rhyme or lullaby can become part of the daily routine.

The YouTube channel Sing mit mir (Sing With Me) has German children’s songs and lullabies. One easy place to begin is the Johannes Brahms lullaby Guten Abend, gute Nacht (“Good evening, good night”), which has animated German lyrics for singing along.

Spotify can help you find German children’s music too. Search for a song your child already knows, then listen to the German version together and repeat one or two lines.

German for Kids: Toddlers (Ages 2–5)

There isn’t a single optimal birthday for starting a second language. At this age, keep German playful and connect it to things your child already enjoys, such as animals, vehicles, food or songs with actions.

Short German programmes can work well when you watch with your child, repeat a few words and talk about what happened. They don’t need to understand every sentence.

Die Sendung mit der Maus (“The Show with the Mouse”) has been on German television since 1971. Its Lachgeschichten are funny stories, while the Sachgeschichten explain how things work. The official Maus website has clips and activities that you can explore together.

KiKANiNCHEN is aimed at preschool children and centres on a talking blue rabbit. The official KiKA page has current episodes with songs, dancing and short adventures.

German for Kids: Ages 5–9

German Books for Kids

Many children already know at least one Brothers Grimm fairy tale. The first volume of the collection was published in German in 1812, and the stories have since appeared in many child-friendly editions.

Reading a familiar story in German makes it easier to follow what is happening. Amazon has dual-language volumes of the Brüder Grimm fairy tales in paperback and Kindle editions. They include classics such as Aschenputtel (“Cinderella”), Der Froschkönig (“The Frog King”) and Rotkäppchen (“Little Red Riding Hood”).

Another German classic is Max und Moritz – Eine Bubengeschichte in sieben Streichen (“Max and Moritz: A Story of Seven Boyish Pranks”). Published in 1865, it tells its story in rhyming couplets, although its slapstick is darker than many modern picture books, so it is worth previewing first.

The book covers seven pranks played by the two troublemakers on family members, teachers and acquaintances. The original German and an English translation are available online. Children can read the story in German, use the dual-language version or try the accompanying quizzes.

Familiar translated books are another useful option. Tintin was created by Belgian cartoonist Hergé, and the comics are also available in German.

Other child-friendly books in German include Wo ist Walter? (“Where’s Wally/Waldo?”) and Die kleine Raupe Nimmersatt (“The Very Hungry Caterpillar”).

German Games and Apps for Kids

For older children who can read independently, Duolingo can add short vocabulary sessions. Use it alongside German stories and conversation rather than treating an app as the whole learning plan.

Free German Videos and Activities

The Goethe-Institut’s free Digital Kinderuni is made for children roughly 8–14 years old. It combines science and everyday topics with videos and interactive activities that introduce German in context.

German for Older Kids (Age 10+)

Older children and teenagers can move towards longer stories and programmes, especially when they already know the plot or subject.

The Story that Never Ends

Die unendliche Geschichte is a German fantasy novel by Michael Ende, published in 1979. Its protagonist, Bastian Balthasar Bux, steals a book called The Neverending Story from an antique bookshop and enters the magical world of Fantastica.

The novel was translated into English and adapted for film. If your child is already a confident German reader, they can try the original German edition.

German TV for Older Children

The ARD Mediathek children and family section brings together series, films and documentaries in German. Programmes rotate and availability varies by country, so let your child’s interests lead. A familiar story or a programme with clear visuals is a good place to begin.