What Do These Expressions Mean? “Next week” and “the following week” both mean the week after the current week. They tell someone that an event will happen after the present seven days end. Children hear these words when making plans, counting down to vacations, or talking about schedules. Both refer to the future.
“Next week” is the common, everyday phrase for the week after this one. A child says it when asking “Will we see Grandma next week?” It is short and natural.
“The following week” means the same thing, but it is more formal and often used in stories or sequences. It is less common in direct speech about “this week.” It is more useful in narratives when referring to a week after another week.
These expressions seem similar. Both mean “the week after this one.” Both answer “which week?” But one is for everyday talk while one is for storytelling or formal use.
What's the Difference? One is the standard, everyday phrase. One is used in stories or for clarity in sequences. “Next week” is what you say to your family and friends. It is simple and direct. Children learn it first.
“The following week” is used when you are already talking about a specific week. For example: “We went on vacation the first week of July. The following week, we started summer camp.” It refers to the week after a specific week, not necessarily after this week.
Think of a child asking about a birthday party. “Is the party next week?” is right. “Is the party the following week?” would be confusing because you haven’t named a starting week. One is clear. One is vague.
One is for “week after this week.” The other is for “week after another week.” “Next week” = from now. “The following week” = from a week already mentioned. Use the first for now. Use the second for stories.
Also, “the following week” is rarely used for the week after today in conversation. It sounds like a narrator. For children, use “next week.”
When Do We Use Each One? Use “next week” for the week after the current week. Use it for plans, trips, appointments, school events. Use it in everyday conversation. It fits daily talk.
Examples at home: “Next week is spring break.” “My doctor’s appointment is next week.” “I will start piano lessons next week.”
Use “the following week” for storytelling or when referring to the week after a specific week. Use it in narratives or written stories. Use it to be clear about sequences. It fits narrative talk.
Examples for stories: “We finished exams on Friday. The following week, we relaxed.” “He visited Paris in June. The following week, he went to Rome.” “The first week of camp was fun. The following week, it rained.”
Children can use both. “Next week” for plans. “The following week” for stories. Both are correct.
Example Sentences for Kids Next week: “Next week is my friend’s birthday.” “We will go to the beach next week.” “I can’t wait for next week.”
The following week: “We had a party on Saturday. The following week, we had another party.” “The first week was hot. The following week was cooler.” “I finished my book on Monday. The following week, I started a new one.”
Notice “next week” is for real plans. “The following week” is for storytelling sequences. Children learn both. One for life. One for stories.
Parents can use both. Making plans: “next week.” Reading a book: “the following week.” Children learn different contexts.
Common Mistakes to Avoid Some children say “the following week” when they mean “next week.” That can confuse a listener. If you mean the week after this week, say “next week.” Save “the following week” for stories.
Wrong: “I will see you the following week.” Better: “I will see you next week.”
Another mistake: using “next week” for the week after a different week. If you are telling a story, “next week” would be wrong unless the story is happening “now.”
Wrong: “We went to the beach in June. Next week, we went to the mountains.” (in a story set in the past) Right: “We went to the beach in June. The following week, we went to the mountains.”
Some learners think “the following week” is more polite. It is not. It is just for sequence. Politeness is in tone, not word choice.
Also avoid saying “next week” for any week in the future. “Next week” means exactly the week after this week. For two weeks from now, say “the week after next.” Be precise.
Easy Memory Tips Think of “next week” as a calendar flipped one week forward. From now. Direct.
Think of “the following week” as an arrow pointing from one week to the next in a story. Sequential. Narrative.
Another trick: remember the starting point. “Next week” starts from this week. “The following week” starts from another week. From this week gets “next week.” From another week gets “the following week.”
Parents can say: “Next week for a plan. Following week for a follow-up span.”
Practice at home. Plan for next week: “next week.” Tell a story: “the following week.”
Quick Practice Time Let us try a small exercise. Choose the better phrase for each situation.
A child is making a plan with a friend for the week after the current week. a) “Let’s play the following week.” b) “Let’s play next week.”
A child is telling a story about a vacation. They stayed at the beach for one week. Then they talk about the next week. a) “Next week, we went to the mountains.” b) “The following week, we went to the mountains.”
Answers: 1 – b. A plan for the week after this week fits the direct “next week.” 2 – b. A story sequence fits the narrative “the following week.”
Fill in the blank: “When I talk about my plans for the week after this week, I say ______.” (“Next week” is the natural, direct, everyday choice.)
One more: “When I tell a story that starts with one week and then the next week happens, I say ______.” (“The following week” fits the sequential, narrative, story-telling language.)
The future is full of plans. “Next week” is for action. “The following week” is for reflection. Teach your child both. A child who learns both can plan and tell time.