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How do you making learning Mandarin fun for little kids? Most children communicate with their parents at home in English, so their exposure to Mandarin often takes place only during lessons in school and weekend enrichment classes.
To help your youngster learn and love the language, why not do a fun activity together? Here are suggestions from Mindchamps Chinese Preschool.
Related: 4 top bilingual preschools in Singapore that immerse your kid in Mandarin
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2 / 11 Visit the Chinese Garden
Take a relaxing walk together there. Encourage him to observe the traditional characteristics of the buildings and the scenery, and use Mandarin to speak and interact with others. This enhances his social skills as well as his confidence in observation and thought.
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3 / 11 Spend time at the Chinatown Heritage Centre
Find out how early Chinese immigrants in Singapore lived at this exhibition. Take the opportunity to instil traditional values such as gratitude.
Related: Chinatown Heritage Centre: Singapore history for kids
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4 / 11 Create a “Passport of Love”
This can be in the form of a booklet which contains activities that aim to show love and concern towards others. You and your child can decide on the activities but be sure to capture the process through photos and videos so you can look back on these moments later.
Lead by example by taking him to participate in voluntary activities, such as handing out rice or provisions to lower-income families, donating old items to the needy via charity organisations, and visiting old folks’ homes. These can help develop his social awareness so he grows up a more helpful person.
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5 / 11 Fly a kite at Marina Barrage
Make a kite with your child, which you can bring to Marina Barrage and have a go at flying it. Explain to him the origins of the kite and its significance in Chinese culture.
Related: 10 parks in Singapore that every family must visit in their lifetime
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6 / 11 Watch a Mandarin stage show for kids
Your child gets to experience the scenes as they are presented on stage and relate to the emotional changes the characters go through.
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7 / 11 Try out Chinese folk art
Immerse yourselves in traditional Chinese culture while doing activities such as clay modelling, paper dye, origami, paper pattern-cutting, Chinese knotting, blue and white porcelain appreciation, as well as reciting Di Zi Gui (“discipline rules”).
Related: 5 Asian celebrity mums who are surprisingly good at DIY and art and craft
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8 / 11 Read Chinese fairy tales together
Some examples include Sima Guang Breaks the Vat, which highlights the value of helping others in need; Little Horse Crosses the River and Kong Rong Gives Up his Pear.
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9 / 11 Participate in A Pot of Rice
This game is about understanding and reciting an ancient poem, Compassion for Farmers. Activities focus on learning about rice planting and harvesting, culminating in cooking a pot of rice. Through these, he will start to appreciate the hard work of the farmers and learn the important lesson of not wasting food.
Related: 8 ways to prepare your child for Primary 1 Mandarin Mother Tongue
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10 / 11 Play board games
Chinese chess and checkers are a fun way to introduce elements of Chinese heritage. Your child can also learn to focus on others’ strengths while gaining a better understanding of Chinese culture and customs.
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11 / 11 Have a mini tea ceremony at home
In Chinese culture, the tea ceremony is a respected tradition that also helps strengthen family bonding. Gather everyone in the family and take them through the process of brewing tea, offering tea to the elders, and appreciating the tea. While explaining the significance behind these actions, point out to your child the value of respect.
(Photos: 123RF.com)
Related:
My kid was rejected by 2 Mandarin enrichment schools
Why 97 marks isn’t enough to get into Higher Chinese at St. Hilda’s Primary
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How do you making learning Mandarin fun for little kids? Most children communicate with their parents at home in English, so their exposure to Mandarin often takes place only during lessons in school and weekend enrichment classes. To help your youngster learn and love the language, why not do a fun activity together? Here are suggestions from Mindchamps Chinese Preschool. Related: 4 top bilingual preschools in Singapore that immerse your kid in Mandarin Visit the Chinese Garden Take a relaxing walk together there. Encourage him to observe the traditional characteristics of the buildings and the scenery, and use Mandarin to speak and interact with others. This enhances his social skills as well as his confidence in observation and thought. Spend time at the Chinatown Heritage Centre Find out how early Chinese immigrants in Singapore lived at this exhibition. Take the opportunity to instil traditional values such as gratitude. Related: Chinatown Heritage Centre: Singapore history for kids Create a “Passport of Love” This can be in the form of a booklet which contains activities that aim to show love and concern towards others. You and your child can decide on the activities but be sure to capture the process through photos and videos so you can look back on these moments later. Lead by example by taking him to participate in voluntary activities, such as handing out rice or provisions to lower-income families, donating old items to the needy via charity organisations, and visiting old folks’ homes. These can help develop his social awareness so he grows up a more helpful person. Fly a kite at Marina Barrage Make a kite with your child, which you can bring to Marina Barrage and have a go at flying it. Explain to him the origins of the kite and its significance in Chinese culture. Related: 10 parks in Singapore that every family must visit in their lifetime Watch a Mandarin stage show for kids Your child gets to experience the scenes as they are presented on stage and relate to the emotional changes the characters go through. Try out Chinese folk art Immerse yourselves in traditional Chinese culture while doing activities such as clay modelling, paper dye, origami, paper pattern-cutting, Chinese knotting, blue and white porcelain appreciation, as well as reciting Di Zi Gui (“discipline rules”). Related: 5 Asian celebrity mums who are surprisingly good at DIY and art and craft Read Chinese fairy tales together Some examples include Sima Guang Breaks the Vat, which highlights the value of helping others in need; Little Horse Crosses the River and Kong Rong Gives Up his Pear. Participate in A Pot of Rice This game is about understanding and reciting an ancient poem, Compassion for Farmers. Activities focus on learning about rice planting and harvesting, culminating in cooking a pot of rice. Through these, he will start to appreciate the hard work of the farmers and learn the important lesson of not wasting food. Related: 8 ways to prepare your child for Primary 1 Mandarin Mother Tongue Play board games Chinese chess and checkers are a fun way to introduce elements of Chinese heritage. Your child can also learn to focus on others’ strengths while gaining a better understanding of Chinese culture and customs. Have a mini tea ceremony at home In Chinese culture, the tea ceremony is a respected tradition that also helps strengthen family bonding. Gather everyone in the family and take them through the process of brewing tea, offering tea to the elders, and appreciating the tea. While explaining the significance behind these actions, point out to your child the value of respect. (Photos: 123RF.com) Related: My kid was rejected by 2 Mandarin enrichment schools Why 97 marks isn’t enough to get into Higher Chinese at St. Hilda’s Primary
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