Hindi and Marathi for kids abroad: a TinyLearn guide for NRI parents
Raising children outside India? Explore Hindi and Marathi letters and numbers with TinyLearn, plus simple family activities to bring your home language into everyday life.
The TinyLearn Team4 min read
Your child might spend the school day speaking English, German or another local language, then come home to Hindi or Marathi. You want them to enjoy the words they hear from you, recognise the script in a family message, and join in when grandparents count or sing.
For Indian families living in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, the UAE, Singapore or elsewhere, that connection can begin with a small shared activity at home. TinyLearn gives parents an easy starting point for Hindi and Marathi letters and numbers on Android.
What your child can explore in TinyLearn
TinyLearn is a free, ad-supported educational app designed for children ages 2–8. Alongside English learning activities, it includes:
- Hindi Varnamala: tap-to-hear letters so you and your child can listen together.
- Marathi Varnamala: explore the Marathi alphabet and hear its sounds.
- Numbers 1–100 in English, Hindi and Marathi: practise counting in the language your family uses.
- Offline lessons and games: keep familiar activities available when you are away from a connection.
You can see the languages covered by TinyLearn before choosing where to start. Hindi and Marathi are the Indian languages currently listed in the app; choose the one that fits your family.
Start with a letter, then take it into the room
Open the Hindi or Marathi alphabet section and let your child choose a letter. Tap to hear it, listen together, and invite them to repeat it if they want to. There is no need to finish the alphabet in one sitting.
Then put the phone aside. Say a familiar word that begins with that sound, draw the letter on paper, or look for it in a book you already have. You provide the conversation; the app provides a letter and sound to explore together.
For a closer look at getting started, read our Hindi Varnamala guide or Marathi alphabet guide.
Make counting part of family life
Choose a few numbers in Hindi or Marathi in TinyLearn, then use those same numbers during an ordinary activity. Count three spoons at breakfast, five toy cars on the floor, or the steps to your front door.
Start with a small range your child enjoys. Numbers 1–100 are available, but you can stay with one to five for as many sessions as you like. A familiar activity gives the sounds something concrete to refer to.
A first week you can adapt to your home
This is a suggested routine, not a target your child needs to meet. Repeat a favourite day, shorten an activity, or skip it when everyone is tired.
| Day | Explore together | Continue away from the screen |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Listen to one Hindi or Marathi letter | Draw it together on paper |
| Tuesday | Return to the same letter | Find it in a family book |
| Wednesday | Hear numbers one to three | Count three toys |
| Thursday | Let your child choose a letter | Think of a familiar word with that sound |
| Friday | Revisit a favourite number | Count objects while tidying up |
| Saturday | Show a relative a letter you explored | Ask them to share a rhyme or story |
| Sunday | Let your child choose what to repeat | Talk about their favourite activity |
Bring grandparents into the activity
If your family is in another time zone, a live call may not fit every week. Ask a grandparent to send a short voice message counting a few objects or saying a favourite rhyme. Listen together when it suits your day.
On your next call, your child could show a letter they drew or count a few toys with their grandparent. Keep it an invitation rather than a test. Listening, pointing and joining in with one word can all be part of the activity.
TinyLearn supports practice with letters and numbers. Family conversations, songs and stories give children opportunities to use the language beyond those activities. For more ideas, see our guide to teaching Hindi or Marathi when you live abroad.
Getting ready for a trip to India
Install and open TinyLearn before travelling, and try the activities you want to use. Its lessons and games work offline, so you can revisit familiar letters or counting during a journey. Pair that with paper, crayons and conversation when your child wants a change.
Once you arrive, invite relatives to build on a familiar activity: count fruit together, look at a book, or sing the rhyme your child heard in a voice message.
Download TinyLearn and try one activity together
On your Android device, visit the TinyLearn Google Play listing to check availability for your device and country and install the app. You can also visit our download page.
Choose Hindi or Marathi, explore one letter or a few numbers, and carry those sounds into the rest of your day. The first session can be that simple.
