Top 9 English After-School Clubs around Zurich
In multilingual Switzerland, introducing a second language early can give children a lifelong advantage.
Public school in Switzerland begins after age 4, and English classes begin during the 3rd class of primary school. This immediately translates to pre-school and pre-kindergarden education to private day-care, often referred to as Kita or Crèche in the French speaking regions. Most Kitas offer half-day and full-day care of babies from 5 months old up until Kindergarden age and are often a great place where children learn to interact and grow in a social environment.
They are however expensive for many families, climbing to CHF 2,500 per month for Monday-Friday, 8-6pm, on average. And for families with more than 1 child the total cost can sum up to a large amount.
An alternative to full-day Kitas in Switzerland are playgroups. In a playgroup children have supervised play-time and guidance by an educator while they play and perform fun tasks inside and outdoors. Depending on the provider often called a "Tagesmutter", playgroups are offered either for a pre-defined duration on set days of the week or they can be a full day. Luckily for bilingual families there are many playgroups that offer learning through supervised play together with foreign language teaching such as English. Foreign language learning through play has proved to work in instilling children with the foundations to become multilingual adults.
Why Play-Based Learning Works
According to researchers at the University of Zurich and University of Geneva, the ages 1 to 6 represent a crucial window for language learning. During this time, play enhances memory, attention, and language acquisition. Social games, storytelling, and music create an ideal environment for children to absorb English naturally.
Top Benefits of English Playgroups
- Natural language acquisition through real interaction
- Improved social and emotional development
- Early reading and writing skills via phonics and vocabulary building
- Increased cultural awareness and empathy
- Long-term cognitive benefits including better executive function
What to Look for in a Great English Playgroup
- Small group sizes (6–10 children)
- Qualified educators with child development experience
- Structured themes and guided activities
- Integration of music, movement, and sensory play
- Emphasis on communication rather than memorization
Recommended English Playgroups and After-School Courses Around Zurich
- AtoZ English Classes for Kids. Reading, writing and spelling classes in Altstetten, Oerlikon, Baden, Erlenbach, Herrliberg, Männedorf, Thalwil, Leimbach, Baar and Cham. Find which is closest to. you and book a trial class.
- English Kids Club in Zollikon by Nayeli. Music, science, and English immersion, with a 3 hour session.
- Storycraft Art Classes in English in Rüschlikon. Thematic art classes preceded by a story in English with 3-hour sessions and full-day options.
- The Music Circle in Stäfa, offers offers English-speaking music and movement classes for toddlers and preschoolers.
- Tiny Hands Creations in Zurich. Offers playgroups, drop-ins and camps, with a 2-hour session and a full-day option.
- Custom Kids in Ehrendingen. Creative writing and structured classes with 2 and 2.5-hour sessions.
- Stallikids in Stallikon. A playgroup with flexible daycare, with a 3 hour session and a full-day options.
- FUN-TASTIC English Club in Horgen. Creative English through play and art, with 2 and 4-hour sessions.
- Imagination Station in Rüschlikon. Bilingual play in English and Spanish, with a 2-hour session.
How to Get Started
Use Momizen to search by age, location, and language. Most playgroups offer free trial classes where children can visit and help parents decide if this is the right playgroup for them. The earlier you start, the more naturally your child will pick up the language.
When it begins with laughter, movement, and creativity, language becomes part of a child’s world. Discover the joy of English through play with the help of the Momizen community.
