I want to share the story of Baby Learns Chinese with you.  Our website carries their DVDs, and we chose them out of the thousands out in the market place is that we found these DVDs effective, and most importantly, the kids enjoy them.  What I also love about it is that you can pick either traditional characters, or simplified characters!  I love this story , and I hope you enjoy reading it too.

With two adopted daughters from China (and another little one that we will bring home early in the year), I’m continually asked how I integrate my children’s Chinese heritage into our observant Jewish household where Hebrew is the second language. Baby Learns Chinese has been an amazing asset for my girls.  With over ten different products, the system allows young children to gain a basic grasp of the language.  The system is comprised of DVD’s and flashcards. Baby Learns Chinese teaches children over 400 words in Mandarin (Putonghua) through the six DVD’s. As the series unfolds, children learn to read and speak the Chinese language.  English subtitles help guide the parents. There is also a two disk DVD set for kids to learn how to pronounce Chinese words through an alphabet-based phonetics system (Pinyin). This is geared to slightly older children ages 4-12.

Baby Learns Chinese is the only Chinese language immersion program for young children, it’s the Hebrew Ulpan equivalent for the young kids to learn Chinese. Studies have shown that children are more open to learning languages at an early age, and Baby Learns Chinese is geared to educate young minds ages 0-6, but rest assured my 9 and 11 year olds both find it fun. The music and animation provide a rich experience and kids enjoy playing games with the flash cards.

Beyond our targeted group parents with adopted children from China, the program works for all families interested in developing their children’s potential and gaining a head start with Chinese. Chinese language learning has become the premiere language learning for our children.

The program was created by Yama Chan to teach her two young boys the language.  According to Ms, Chan, “I created the program to teach children of native and non native speakers the language. Our program has had strong success in Hong Kong and we are excited to share the learning with parents in the US.”   Ms. Chan currently serves on the Board of Governors of Bring Me a Book Foundation and serves on the Board of Directors of City Contemporary Dance Company in Hong Kong. She maintains residences in Hong Kong and Los Angeles.

By Gina Raphael, daughters Danielle 11 and Sydney 9, awaiting the arrival of Mia (age 1)

My husband and I are both Chinese (I am first generation and he is second) but we have an English-speaking household. It was a deliberate decision on our part because we want our children (all 3 of them – 6, 4, and 2 year old) to have their first language be English, as this is the language they will be using here in the US. However, once they have some grounding in English, we really want to give them the gift of a second language, Mandarin Chinese.

But, as a busy mom of three young children, I rarely have the time to sit-down one-on-one with each child to foster the love of a new language. However, to be fluent in a language, children need roughly 2 hours of exposure to the language a day. You ask… ‘How is a busy mom to accomplish this?’ I say, ‘By getting a little help from many of the materials and resources available out there.’

What has worked well for me is using whatever Chinese language TV programs designed for children I could find. (Though, some work better than others. The ones with a storyline are the favorites.) Using videos work for me because I don’t get grumbling about having to “learn Chinese”. My kids get exposure to the language, they think they are getting a treat (because they only get between 20-40 minutes of TV a day), and I can get dinner on the table! It’s a win/win solution!

My husband also gave me a suggestion. Have a lot of Chinese material around. His logic is that if the materials are around, the kids will stumble upon them. I have to say that he is correct! Shocking! I have added quite a number of Chinese language DVDs, CDs, and books to my collection and the kids do find them and learn from them! Chinese songs on CDs have worked great in the car. We don’t listen to them all the time, but the kids do ask for them! Amazing!

I am of the philosophy that some Chinese is better than no Chinese. Do your best and that is all you or your children can ask for.

Min Tung

Min Tung is the founder of Mandarin Advantage (www.MandarinAdvantage.com). They develop educational materials to teach children Mandarin Chinese. The first DVD is Journeys to the East – The River Dragon King available at My Panda Paws!

When we were in Montreal this summer, the TV choices were pretty limited due to the many French speaking channels for the kids.  On our last day while we were packing, I really needed something to keep them occupied, and I turned to the TV for half an hour of  babysitting.  I was having a really hard time trying to find them something to watch, then all of a sudden, Go Diego Go was on, but in French.  I thought this is going to be a big problem, but no, the kids just tuned in and watched the whole Diego show in French!!!!

Amazed!  Once again, our points proven.  When you show something the kids enjoy on TV, they will watch it in any language.  It’s really great to use this as one of the tools to introduce a language to the kids.

We have a large selection of DVD with characters that children are already familiar with, just to name a few: Dora, Disney Classic cartoon, Little People, and Discovery shows.

From now till Sept 15, use coupon code “panda” to receive a nice 15% off.

At 10am today, (ET/PT), Nickelodeon will premier an one hour long special of Ni Hao Kai-lan, “Kai-lan’s Great Trip to China”. Since my facebook posting of the news, several of my friends have commented on how Kai-lan has brought Chinese into the mainstream. It allows all of us to show our children that being Chinese is once again “cool”. This series provides an effortless way for us to teach Chinese words/phrases as well as cultures to our kids with a push of a TV button. It also encourages conversations between all of us as it provides a platform that is simple and interesting.

“Kai-lan’s Great Trip to China’, is infused with rich cultural traditions, from the Chinese noodles the characters eat to the decorative slippers they wear,” said Brown Johnson, President, Animation, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids & Family Group. “As preschoolers travel to China with Kai-lan, they will learn the importance of experiencing new cultures and trying new things.”

In “Kai-lan’s Great Trip to China,” Kai-lan and her friends fly over the ocean and Great Wall of China to visit Kai-lan’s great aunt and Yeye’s sister, Gu Nai Nai. The group is invited to attend a very special ceremony where a baby panda will be given his name. Kai-lan and her friends travel around the village to search for the baby panda’s gifts and are amazed by all of the interesting things they see in China. Along the way, the viewers must help Rintoo, Tolee, Hoho and the baby panda overcome their fears of trying something new so they don’t miss the special naming ceremony at sundown.

“Kai-lan’s Great Trip to China” will encore Sunday, Aug. 16, at 7:00 p.m. (ET) on NOGGIN.

I can’t wait to watch this with the boys!

My kids love to watch TV, anything from Cartoons to Sports, they love them all! In an effort to curb that habit, I’ve been trying to limit the amount of TV time to weekends only. Of course, this doesn’t stop them from asking for TV every day and several times during the day. It was not easy sticking with the rule, but I’ve been very good until my creative 3 year old finally asked with “Mommy, can I watch TV? I’ll watch Chinese Dora, because Chinese Dora teaches me Chinese!?” as if to reward me for watching a Chinese show. So, I broke the rule, and he got to watch TV during the week. I was upset he manipulated me, but was ultimately happy that he was learning Chinese through the show. . .was I wrong for giving in?

You will soon be able to find Chinese Dora DVDs on our website. Stayed tuned for our actual launch date!