You have been reading to your child and found some books that you child loves and he/she wants to read it over and over again (sounds familiar?). As your child gets older, you might start to wonder which topics you should focus on in their bilingual journey. I began to have that question during my daughter’s first year of preschool. I know I am the type of person who works better if I have a plan. So, I came up with a teaching plan for my kids based on four simple strategies and it has been working for me.
Below are the three topics that I taught my daughter when she began her bilingual journey. She already had started learning the English alphabets, numbers, and shapes in English. She connects what she already knows to many new Chinese characters that she sees. For example, she said the character for “mouth (口)” resembles a square, and the character for “了 (already)” looks like “J.” Below are a few more examples.
田 (field) ⟶ a square with a cross inside
了 (already) ⟶ “J”
子 (son) ⟶ “J” with a strike across
士 (man) ⟶ a cross with a short stroke at the bottom
土 (soil) ⟶ a cross with a long stroke at the bottom
王 (king) ⟶ a cross with two strokes at the top and bottom
字 (letter) → “子” with a hat on
My experience is that once children have mastered around 20-30 characters, their Chinese vocabulary can expand faster through daily reading. And, before you know it, they start recognizing words they’ve frequently encountered, even without explicit teaching!
Below are the first three topics I introduced:
Numbers and Counting
Teaching numbers and basic counting helps preschoolers develop early math skills. Start with numbers 1 to 10, ensuring they can recognize, name, and count objects using these numbers. Also, Chinese numbers are relatively straight-forward and logical, making them an excellent starting point for little ones. Unlike in some languages, where numbers can have irregular forms and complex rules, the Chinese number system is highly structured. For example, the numbers 11 through 99 follow a consistent pattern, which can help children quickly grasp the concept and build confidence in their ability to learn the language.
Activity suggestion:
Games like counting objects, number puzzles, and a simple counting song can make learning enjoyable and practical.
Book suggestion:
Colors
Colors are often one of the first subjects in many preschool curricular. They’re instrumental for cognitive, visual, and language development. Identifying and naming colors sharpens visual perception skills and nurtures communication abilities. Mastery of colors lays a solid foundation for future educational concepts like sorting and categorization, which are pivotal for complex subjects such as math and science.
Activity suggestion:
Activities such as coloring, flashcards can reinforce these concepts.
Book suggestion:
- 棕色的熊，棕色的熊，你在看甚麼？Brown bear, Brown bear, what do you see? (https://www.yobabyshop.com/products/9789577621900?variant=17544081768519¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2021-07-02&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAACxl8nQbUeJc1bNQ0rLiENQe_w41I&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI653AiMyQhwMVAIDCCB1vNwiEEAQYBiABEgLEQPD_BwE)
- 小白魚找媽媽 Little White Fish (https://glorias-bookstore.com/collections/smart-collection-139)
- 自己的顏色 Colors of his own by Leo Lionni (http://www.chinasprout.com/shop/BSW139)
Shapes
Shapes are a basic element of visual literacy, helping young children to recognize and categorize objects, which enhances their observational skills. By learning shapes, children also build the groundwork for later mathematical concepts, such as geometry and spatial reasoning. Also, understanding shapes aids in the development of fine motor skills, as they learn to draw and trace different forms. This early exposure fosters problem-solving abilities and creativity, as children begin to see patterns and relationships between objects, making shapes an essential and engaging first topic in early education.
Activity suggestion:
Activities such as playing shapes sorting cube, coloring, sorting objects by shape, and shape-matching games can reinforce these concepts.
Book suggestion:
小白魚聖誕快樂 Little White Fish Celebrates Christmas
In conclusion, the key to a successful early Chinese language journey lies in making learning enjoyable and relevant to the child’s everyday experiences. By starting with familiar concepts like numbers, colors, and shapes, you can build your child’s confidence, cultivate a love for the language and lay a strong foundation for future learning.