5 Easy Chinese Learning Activities to Try at Home This Weekend

Looking for fun and simple ways to help your child learn Chinese without leaving the house? You don’t need a classroom—or even a textbook—to boost your child’s Mandarin skills.

These 5 easy Chinese learning activities are perfect for weekends, require minimal prep, and can fit into your family’s everyday routine. Whether your child is just starting or already knows a few words, these playful ideas make language learning feel like fun—not homework.

1. Chinese Word Hunt

Turn your home into a language adventure! Choose 5–10 Chinese words your child is learning (like 桌子 zhuōzi – table, 水 shuǐ – water, 书 shū – book). Write each one on a sticky note with Pinyin and English meaning.

How to play:
Hide the notes around the house. When your child finds one, they must read the word aloud and use it in a simple sentence or match it with the object.

Language focus: Vocabulary recall, character recognition, sentence building

2. Mandarin Story Time

Choose a short Chinese picture book (or bilingual storybook) and read together. If your child is a beginner, start with books that have Pinyin and English translations. If they’re more advanced, pause to ask questions or let them read aloud.

Tips:
No Chinese books at home? Try online read-alouds or printable story PDFs. You can even invent your own simple story using flashcards or drawings!

Language focus: Listening comprehension, pronunciation, sentence structure

3. Sing and Dance to Chinese Songs

Music is one of the most effective tools for language learning. Play fun Mandarin songs and sing along with your child. Add hand motions or simple dance moves to help them connect sounds to actions.

Great songs to try:

  • “两只老虎” (Liǎng Zhī Lǎohǔ – Two Tigers)
  • “小星星” (Xiǎo Xīngxīng – Twinkle Twinkle Little Star)
  • “洗手歌” (Xǐshǒu Gē – Handwashing Song)

Language focus: Listening, pronunciation, tone recognition, rhythm

4. Label the House in Chinese

Print or write labels for common household objects in Simplified or Traditional Chinese, Pinyin, and English. Stick them on items like the fridge, mirror, door, chair, etc.

Make it interactive:
Ask your child to walk around and “quiz” themselves by saying the Chinese word out loud each time they see a label.

Language focus: Everyday vocabulary, visual memory, character recognition

5. Play Chinese Bingo

Create a simple Chinese vocabulary bingo board using words your child is learning—colors, animals, body parts, numbers, or food.

How to play:
Call out a word in Mandarin, and your child marks the matching image or word. For an extra challenge, reverse it: show the English word or picture and ask them to say the Chinese equivalent before marking it.

Language focus: Listening, recall, word-picture association

Bonus: Learn with TutorABC Chinese This Weekend!

Looking for a more structured weekend activity? Try a live, interactive class with TutorABC Chinese—no commute, no prep, just expert language learning from the comfort of home.

Features:

  • Certified native Mandarin teachers
  • Personalized classes for kids of all ages
  • Engaging and interactive lessons
  • Flexible scheduling for busy families

Book your free trial now

Final Thoughts

Making Chinese learning fun and easy at home doesn’t have to be complicated. With just a few simple activities, you can help your child build confidence, vocabulary, and a love for the language.

Whether you’re singing songs or playing language games, every moment of exposure counts.

Start small, stay consistent, and watch your child’s Mandarin skills grow—right from home.

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