Learning Mandarin for children is often assumed to be difficult due to the many skills they are expected to master. However, learning Mandarin for children doesn’t have to be complicated. From learning Pinyin to speaking fluently, Mandarin skills can be made easier with interactive games.

In this article, we will discuss how games can help children learn Mandarin easier and provide several practical games for parents who want to help their kids become more fluent in this language. 

Relevancy

Interactive Mandarin games are usually tailored specifically to help learners understand how to apply Chinese language in daily life. From understanding instructions to creating sentences in Mandarin, children will be able to improve their skills in real-time through these fun activities. With how adjustable interactive Mandarin games can be, parents can keep these activities relevant to children’s current Mandarin skills. 

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: These Must-Know Chinese Vocabulary Lists Help Kids Learn Faster

Active Participation

A good Mandarin game for children usually involves two-way communication or more. Aside from parents or Chinese tutors who act as a guide, children are also expected to be directly involved instead of passively listening. This participation usually comes in the form of providing answers or performing actions based on the given instructions. With how involved children are expected to be, interactive Mandarin games are often perfect to measure children’s understanding of the language. 

Entertainment and Cultivating Motivation

Unlike learning through books or exercise, interactive games often feel more easier to digest. This is due to the nature of interactive games to be entertaining to younger audiences. By avoiding the traditional form of learning, interactive Mandarin games can spark natural curiosity in children to understand the language better. This curiosity can be a great way to keep them motivated in learning Mandarin as a foreign language.

There are plenty of interactive Chinese games for children that you can choose from. From learning through cards to learning from digital platforms, interactive games can improve different Chinese skills depending on your approach. In this section, we will discuss the five most popular interactive Mandarin games for children that you can try at your home. 

Matching Pictures with Characters

In this game, children will be given different cards to work with. Half of the card will be filled with pictures relating to the vocabulary they’ve learned while the other half will contain Chinese characters or Pinyin. After acquiring the cards, children will be instructed to match each picture with the corresponding Chinese words. Once they’re done, parents can provide the correct answers so that children can learn from their mistakes. 

This classic interactive game is usually one of the most popular methods recommended for vocabulary acquisition. With a focus on matching words with objects, children don’t have to deal with grammar rules and complex sentence structures. Thus, this game is also popular among younger children. 

I Spy Games

In this game, parents will try describing a nearby object with Mandarin and children will be responsible for guessing the object. This game doesn’t require you to buy any extra tools as you can make use of any objects around your houses. The key to this game is providing a simple yet understandable Mandarin description to help your children find the answer. This description can vary from explaining the shape, color, or even usage. 

For extra Chinese practice, you can also try encouraging your children to guess the answer in Mandarin or write down their answers in Chinese characters. This way, you can help them get better at recalling simple vocabulary while enhancing their listening comprehension. 

Tongue Twisters

Another fun and challenging game you can try for your children is tongue twister. This fun activity involves children trying to pronounce similar sounding words clearly and quickly. As its description suggests, this activity is perfect for helping children nail their Mandarin pronunciation in a fun and twisting way. Here are some easy Mandarin tongue twisters that you can try with your children. 

• 妈妈骑马, 马慢妈妈骂马 (māma qí mǎ, mǎ màn, mā mà mǎ.)
• 红鲤鱼与绿鲤鱼与驴 (hóng lǐyú yǔ lǜ lǐyú yǔ lǘ)
• 四是四, 十是十, 十四是十四, 四十是四十 (sì shì sì, shí shì shí, shísì shì shísì, sìshí shì sìshí)

Simon Says

Simon says is a classic game among children where one person will be chosen as a leader and gives instructions. On the other hand, the other people participating in this game will have to perform actions based on the given command. To learn Chinese using this interactive game, parents or Chinese tutors can act as the leader and give simple instructions in Mandarin. Usually, these commands are kept short to help younger children adapt better to the instructions. This activity can be another great way to help children listen actively and perform tasks based on instructions in Mandarin. 

Storytelling Games

Unlike previous games that mainly focus on listening comprehension and pronunciation, storytelling games can be a great way to help children learn how to form sentences in Mandarin. To do this, you need to provide children with different Mandarin vocabularies they’ve mastered and let them randomly pick 2-5 words. Then, your children need to form a short story or sentences based on the words they got. Aside from helping children get used to making sentences with correct grammar rules, this game can be a great way to let their creativity spark. 

After choosing the most appropriate interactive Mandarin game for your children, the next thing you need to consider is how to exactly help your children learn effectively with this method. Here are some quick tips on how to boost the effectiveness of Mandarin games for your children.

Mixing Learning Method

Although interactive Mandarin games can be a great learning experience for children, one thing that you need to acknowledge is that relying solely on this method is not recommended. Generally, these games can be conducted smoothly after children have a thorough understanding of their learning materials. Therefore, Mandarin games work better as a way to measure and review children’s understanding in using Chinese skills in daily life. 

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: The Best Resources to Learn Mandarin for Children

Consider Children’s Mandarin Level

Choosing the best interactive Mandarin games is not only about the resources you use or your children’s preferences. Another important aspect that you need to take into consideration is children’s current Mandarin level. More complex games such as storytelling may require children to understand more vocabulary and grammar rules. This means, not every recommended Mandarin game is suitable for your children. Therefore, you have to understand your children’s Mandarin level and tailor the games accordingly.

Encourage Children with Rewards

Incorporating small rewards or point based systems can be another effective way to keep your children motivated in continuing Mandarin games. Although it isn’t necessarily mandatory to have rewards available, giving your children a sense of achievement is a way to acknowledge their progress and encourage them to improve their Mandarin skills. Using this method is especially beneficial for younger children who still struggle with finding motivation in learning Mandarin as a foreign language. 

Choosing the right Mandarin interactive games for your children can be difficult, especially if you’re not familiar with the process of learning language as a whole. Although these activities can be done at home through following the right steps, many parents find it easier to enroll their children in Mandarin courses with engaging curriculum.

With Elitekid, you can find the best Mandarin courses for children that include different activities to let them explore their capabilities. Learn more about our classes by visiting our site and book your trial today! 

Contact Us

WhatsApp: 

8831 8578 (Janice) for 4-8 yo

8884 9619 (Vanny) for 9-12 yo

Instagram: 

@elitekidchinese

Email:

contact@elitekid.com.sg