Chinese Learning Resources for Kids
Help children build their Chinese skills with kid-friendly websites, apps and YouTube channels. These resources offer engaging ways to practice vocabulary, listening, speaking, reading and Chinese characters through stories, songs, games, videos, and interactive activities.
Want to make your own Chinese worksheets? Visit our Chinese Fonts page and download the hollow-style font. It is great for creating tracing sheets, coloring activities and other fun practice pages for kids.
Parent Resource Sites
★ Especially useful for parents learning Chinese alongside their bilingual children. Chalk Academy, created by Dr. Betty Choi, is especially useful for parents raising bilingual children, including families where the parent is learning Chinese alongside the child. The site offers free guides and recommendations covering listening and speaking, Chinese characters, reading, children’s books, music, shows, learning apps, cultural activities and hands-on games, with resources for both Simplified and Traditional Chinese. Many free printable activities are available, while the separate Chalk Academy Print & Learn shop also offers paid downloadable Chinese learning materials.
Free / Paid
★ Especially useful for families building everyday Mandarin outside a Chinese-speaking environment. Spot of Sunshine, created by bilingual parent and former teacher Sunny, is geared especially toward families raising Mandarin-speaking children outside a Chinese-speaking environment. Parents will find teaching tips, Chinese children’s book recommendations, songs and lyrics, shows and videos, character-learning activities, holiday and cultural activities, homeschool ideas and suggestions for building Mandarin into everyday family life. Much of the website is free, including many articles and Chinese printables, although some printables require free email registration for access. Spot of Sunshine also offers paid programs, including the Sunshine Bilingual Village membership for parents who want more structured guidance, coaching and resources.
Free / PaidPrinted Books
Before buying new, see our resource list for finding Chinese learning books through libraries, used-book sellers, marketplaces, and a tool for comparing prices.
★ Interactive musical board books that introduce young children to Mandarin through songs, repetition, and hands-on listening. Bao Bao Learns Chinese is a screen-free Mandarin series designed especially for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, with the publisher recommending it for approximately ages 0–6. Each sturdy sound book contains six children's songs and built-in buttons that children can press to hear the songs sung in Mandarin with clear native pronunciation.
The pages include Chinese characters, pinyin, and English translations, making the books usable even when a parent or caregiver does not speak or read Chinese. The song selections combine familiar Chinese children's songs with popular Western children's songs adapted into Mandarin, and adjustable volume, durable board pages, and replaceable batteries make the books well suited to repeated use by young children.
There are currently three volumes with 18 songs altogether. It is best suited to early Mandarin exposure, listening, pronunciation, vocabulary, and learning through music.
Parents can purchase Volumes 1, 2, and 3 individually or buy the three-book Bao Bao Learns Chinese bundle. The books are also sold through the Bao Bao/Baby Learns Language Amazon storefront, making them relatively easy for U.S. families to obtain.
★ A substantial graded listening and reading system that builds Chinese literacy through hundreds of progressively more difficult books. Le Le Chinese Listening and Reading System 樂樂 is designed especially for children learning Chinese outside a Chinese-speaking environment. The physical program contains 300 illustrated readers divided into three stages: 100 beginner Red Books introducing 525 common characters, 100 intermediate Yellow Books building to 865 characters, and 100 advanced Green Books building to 1,095 characters.
The books use repetition and gradually increasing text to move children from listening and supported reading toward more independent Chinese reading. The accompanying reading pen lets children tap the books to hear sentences and individual characters. Both Simplified and Traditional Chinese versions are available.
Parents can learn more about the individual Red, Yellow, and Green stages, although the physical books are currently sold primarily as the complete 300-book set with reading pen.
The system is expensive, but Le Le ships internationally from Taiwan, including to the U.S. and Canada, with shipping calculated at checkout. Its international shipping information states that worldwide delivery is available; buyers whose country does not appear at checkout can contact Le Le directly.
The official site has an English-language version, although some pages or labels may still contain Chinese and can usually be translated by the browser. U.S. buyers may also want to check eBay, AbeBooks, Alibris, Biblio and ThriftBooks for occasional secondhand books or sets.
★ A well-established children’s reading program that builds recognition of 500 Chinese characters through short, carefully sequenced lessons. Sagebooks Basic Chinese 500 基礎漢字500 is a structured reading program for children that teaches 500 characters across five progressive levels. Each level contains five books with 20 short lessons per book, introducing one new character at a time and gradually building from individual characters and words to phrases and complete sentences. Lessons use repetition, illustrations and stroke-order guidance, and the program is available in both Simplified and Traditional Chinese with English translations, Mandarin pinyin and accompanying audio.
The complete 25-book set can be purchased directly from Sagebooks, while the individual five-book levels can also be purchased separately.
Sagebooks is based in Hong Kong and ships internationally to more than 100 countries. Shipping charges are calculated in the cart after selecting the destination country, and U.S. buyers should expect the books to be shipped internationally. Sagebooks does not ship to P.O. boxes or military addresses such as APO or DPO. See Sagebooks’ shipping and ordering information.
The Sagebooks website includes both Chinese and English, although some shop pages may appear primarily in Chinese. Most modern browsers can translate these pages into English if needed.
Sagebooks can be difficult to find through U.S. retailers, so it is also worth checking secondhand and marketplace sites such as eBay, AbeBooks, Alibris, Biblio and ThriftBooks, where individual levels or complete sets may occasionally be listed.
Websites & Apps
★ Combines character instruction with leveled picture books that reinforce characters children have already learned. iHuman Chinese is a character-learning app designed for young children, using animations, songs, interactive activities, and writing practice to make learning Chinese characters engaging. Children can work through 1,300 common characters and practice reading with 130 leveled picture books that use characters they have already learned. The app also introduces strokes, radicals, and common Chinese idioms. iHuman Chinese is available for iPhone and iPad. A related Chinese-language app, 洪恩识字, is available for Android, but it has a Chinese interface and is not the same internationally branded version of iHuman Chinese.
Free / Paid Apps
★ Offers a large age-based library of narrated Chinese picture books, stories, audiobooks and other reading content for children. KaDa阅读 (formerly KaDa故事) is a Chinese children’s digital library designed for ages 0–15, with thousands of picture books, narrated stories, audiobooks, classics, animations and other age-based reading content. Children can listen while reading, practice with read-aloud and interactive features, and choose material organized for different ages and reading levels. The app is free to download, but much of the full library and additional features require in-app purchases or a paid membership. Available on iOS.
Free / Paid
★ Offers a structured five-day Mandarin curriculum for children, with both Simplified and Traditional Chinese options. Little Chinese Learners is a structured Mandarin program designed mainly for children ages 4–10, with lessons available in both Simplified and Traditional Chinese. Each lesson follows a five-day study plan and combines native-teacher videos, songs, animated stories, read-aloud books, games, listening and speaking activities, writing worksheets, crafts and Chinese culture. A free lifetime plan provides access to a limited selection of lessons and monthly activity packs, while paid Premium plans unlock the full curriculum and additional resources. They also offer two separate YouTube channels, one featuring Simplified Chinese and the other Traditional Chinese, linked in the YouTube section below.
Free / Paid
★ Uses leveled animated stories, songs, and games to build Chinese reading and listening skills from the beginner level up. Little Fox Chinese is a Chinese learning platform designed especially for children, with animated stories, songs, and games organized across five learning levels. Learners can build listening, reading, pronunciation, and vocabulary skills while studying tones, pinyin, Chinese characters, and everyday expressions. Stories include helpful extras such as vocabulary lists, translations, quizzes, downloadable MP3s, and printable books, while games, badges, and certificates add motivation. Pinyin is provided with story texts in Levels 1 and 2, making the beginning levels especially accessible to new learners. The site is free to use, but registration is required.
Free Web-Based
★ Balances listening, speaking, reading, and writing within a playful format designed specifically for young children. Maomi Stars is a game-based Chinese learning app designed for children ages 4–7. Through interactive activities and missions, children practice listening, speaking, reading, and writing while learning 400+ Chinese characters and more than 1,500 phrases. The app supports both Mandarin and Cantonese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and has an English interface that makes it accessible to multilingual families. Children can learn the first 40 characters for free, with a paid subscription required for full access. Visit the Maomi Stars website or download the iOS app.
iOS App Free / Paid
★ Uses Chinese-language immersion from the start, encouraging children to learn through listening, play, and speaking rather than English explanations. Studycat Chinese is a Mandarin learning app designed for young children, using colorful games and short interactive activities to teach everyday words and expressions. The activities use Chinese-language immersion rather than English explanations and include listening, vocabulary, and speaking practice that encourages children to say words and phrases aloud. A limited selection of activities is free, with a 7-day trial of full access; continued access to all lessons and features requires a paid monthly or annual subscription. Available on Android and iOS.
Free / Paid Apps
★ Provides extensive natural Mandarin listening through professionally produced stories and audio made for native Chinese-speaking children. Uncle Kai Stories 凯叔讲故事 is a popular Chinese children's audio platform designed primarily for ages 3–12. The app offers more than 50,000 pieces of content, including adaptations of Chinese classics such as Journey to the West and Romance of the Three Kingdoms, traditional poetry and culture, history, science, original mysteries and adventures, audiobooks, and bedtime content. Because it is made for native Chinese-speaking children rather than specifically for language learners, it can provide young learners with extensive natural Mandarin listening exposure. The app is free to download, but much of the library requires a paid membership or in-app purchase. Available on iOS.
Free / Paid
★ Stands out for its large collection of free printable Chinese worksheets covering a wide range of ages and skill levels. WuKong Education offers hundreds of free printable Chinese worksheets for children ages 3–18, with materials for beginners through more advanced learners. Practice includes pinyin, Chinese character writing and stroke order, and reading exercises. Resources are available through their website and apps: iOS and Android. For more Chinese learning tips and resources, visit their Instagram.
Web-Based & Apps - Free / PaidChinese Learning YouTube Channels
★ Gentle, slow-paced Mandarin videos help young children learn through songs, play, and everyday routines. 宝贝中文 | Baobei Chinese is a free YouTube channel for babies, toddlers, and young children, with Mandarin videos covering first words, pronunciation, vocabulary, gestures, nursery songs, numbers, colors, shapes, daily routines, and Chinese culture. Clear speech, repetition, music, and interactive activities make the videos especially suitable for children who are just beginning to understand or speak Mandarin. Watch on YouTube or Bilibili. Baobei Chinese also releases children's songs on Spotify and Amazon Music.
You Tube Channel
★ Catchy original songs and animations make beginner Mandarin vocabulary and phrases easier to remember. Chinese Buddy uses music to teach pinyin, tones, vocabulary, useful phrases and other beginner Mandarin topics, making it especially useful for children, families and teachers. Many animated songs are free on YouTube, while additional songs and teaching materials are available through their website and the Chinese Buddy store. You can also listen to Chinese Buddy music on Spotify and Apple Music.
You Tube Channel
★ Simple Mandarin songs provide an easy way to practice listening and vocabulary through repetition. Ezy Mandarin is a free YouTube channel featuring Mandarin children’s songs, nursery rhymes, and other song-based videos, many with lyrics that make it easier to follow along. The channel is useful for children, beginners, and other learners who enjoy practicing Chinese through music.
You Tube Channel ★ Combines teacher-led Mandarin lessons with animated songs, stories, character practice, and cultural activities for children. Little Chinese Learners [Simplified Chinese] is a free YouTube channel designed to help children learn Mandarin through native-teacher lessons, animated stories and songs, vocabulary, Chinese character writing, and cultural topics. Families who want more structured learning can use the Little Chinese Learners program on their website, which offers 5-day lesson plans, games, worksheets, crafts, read-aloud books, progress tracking, and both free and paid membership options. They also provide free Chinese activity packs and a separate Traditional Chinese YouTube channel.
You Tube Channel
★ Free, child-centered Mandarin videos turn everyday questions into engaging lessons on science, culture, life skills, and more. Mama Laoshi 媽媽老師 is an educational YouTube channel for children, with engaging Mandarin content covering everyday life, science, technology, engineering, arts, math, animals, Chinese culture, hands-on activities, and practical skills. Videos are designed around children’s natural curiosity. Watch on YouTube, learn more on their website, or listen to the free Ask Mama Laoshi podcast. An optional paid Mama Laoshi Club membership adds exclusive videos, printables, interactive opportunities, and other member benefits.
You Tube Channel
★ A free 26-episode series introduces young learners to basic Mandarin through short, engaging lessons with Elmo. Fun Fun Elmo 乐乐Elmo is a Sesame Workshop Mandarin program for children that uses animation, songs, repetition, and live-action footage filmed in China to introduce tones, vocabulary, Chinese characters, and stroke order.
You Tube ChannelShows & Cartoons
★ A huge library of Mandarin nursery rhymes, songs and cartoons for young children. BabyBus Traditional Chinese (寶寶巴士 - 中文兒歌童謠 - 卡通動畫) is a free YouTube channel featuring Mandarin children's songs, nursery rhymes, animated stories and educational cartoons covering topics such as safety, daily habits, colors, numbers and general knowledge. The content is designed primarily for preschool-age children and can provide plenty of entertaining native Mandarin listening practice. BabyBus also offers videos, stories and a large collection of children's learning apps through their website. Their apps include games and activities covering Chinese, math, science, safety and everyday life. A Baby Bus app is available on Android and iOS.
You Tube Channel
★ Full episodes and feature films provide hours of entertaining native Mandarin listening for children. 熊出没 Boonie Bears is Fantawild’s official Chinese-language YouTube channel for the popular animated series. The free channel features Mandarin episodes, compilations, full-length movies and music videos centered on the adventures of the bear brothers and Logger Vick. Learn more about the series and films on their website, or follow Boonie Bears on Instagram and Facebook.
You Tube Channel
★ A long-running Taiwanese preschool series filled with stories, songs, animation and everyday lessons. Fruity Pie (水果冰淇淋) is a free Mandarin children’s program from Taiwan Public Television Service that has aired since 1998. Led by Granny Fruity and a cast of colorful characters, episodes use short dramas, animated stories, songs and playful challenges to teach young children about emotions, manners, healthy habits, relationships and everyday life. You can learn more and browse episodes on the official program page, play activities on 水果E學園, and follow updates on Facebook.
You Tube Channel
★ A large Taiwanese children’s channel with Mandarin stories, songs, early literacy, science, and educational cartoons. Lele TV - 樂樂TV, produced by 親子天下 for children ages 3–8, is a free YouTube channel featuring animated stories, nursery songs, character and Zhuyin learning, idiom stories, science and animal videos, drawing activities, and other educational programs. Most content is in Mandarin, with some Taiwanese and Hakka programming as well. The broader 親子天下小行星 brand also offers the 小行星 website, the paid 小行星幼兒誌 preschool magazine, and online children’s courses. 親子天下 also offers an audio storybook app with thousands of stories, songs, and educational audio in Mandarin, Taiwanese, and English. Available on Android and iOS.
You Tube Channel
★ Taiwanese children’s programming provides plenty of songs, stories, educational shows and natural Mandarin listening practice. momokids親子台 is a free YouTube channel from Taiwan featuring children’s songs, animated programs, stories, family shows, educational videos and other entertainment for young viewers. Because much of the content is made for native-speaking children rather than Chinese learners, it can also provide useful exposure to everyday Mandarin and children’s vocabulary. More programs, videos, games and activities are available on their website. MOMO also runs the educational momo學學樂 YouTube channel, which includes Mandarin learning and preschool content, and the momo愛唱歌 channel for children’s songs and sing-along videos.
You Tube Channel
★ Familiar Peppa Pig stories provide extensive Mandarin listening practice for young learners. 小猪佩奇 中文官方 - Peppa Pig is the official Chinese-language Peppa Pig YouTube channel, offering free Mandarin episodes, longer compilations, songs, and preschool-friendly stories featuring Peppa, George, their family, and friends. Familiar everyday situations and repeated language make the videos useful for children building listening comprehension and everyday vocabulary. Watch the YouTube channel or browse its playlists. More Peppa Pig videos, activities, and character content are available on their website.
You Tube Channel
★ Free Mandarin songs, stories, and early-learning videos give young children plenty of colorful listening practice. 碰碰狐 Pinkfong Baby Shark 儿歌·故事 is Pinkfong’s official Simplified Chinese YouTube channel, featuring animated nursery rhymes, Baby Shark songs, children’s stories, and educational videos for young children. Pinkfong also produces the Bebefinn Simplified Chinese channel and offers additional Chinese and bilingual children’s content on their website. Its Pinkfong Baby Shark app includes Chinese-language content and is available on Android and iOS.
You Tube Channel
★ Hundreds of free Mandarin cartoon episodes provide extensive listening practice through entertaining stories for children. 喜羊羊與灰太狼動畫-官方中文頻道 (Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf Official Chinese Channel) features Mandarin episodes, movies and other videos from the long-running Chinese animated series about the adventures of the goats of Green Grassland and their frequent encounters with Grey Wolf. The large collection is free to watch on YouTube, making it especially useful for learners who want substantial native children's content for listening practice. Creative Power Entertaining provides additional information about its animation series and movies on their website, and learners can also compare content with the separate official English channel.
You Tube Channel
★ Free Mandarin cartoons, songs, and early-learning videos for young children. 巧虎TV（台灣巧連智官方頻道） is Benesse Taiwan’s official YouTube channel for children ages 2–6, featuring Mandarin-language 巧虎 cartoons, sing-along music, learning videos, and kid-friendly lessons on everyday routines, safety, emotions, and basic concepts. Benesse Taiwan also provides parenting information, activities, and details about its educational products on their website.
You Tube Channel
★ A huge collection of Taiwanese Mandarin children’s songs, cartoons, movement videos and educational programs. YOYOTV is the official YouTube channel for Taiwan’s EBC YOYO TV, with children’s programming that includes YOYO點點名, sing-along songs, dance and movement videos, cartoons, games and educational content. More programs, videos and children’s activities are available on their website, with updates on Facebook and Instagram. The free YOYOTV app also offers videos, program and event information, and activities. Available on iOS.
You Tube ChannelNotice an account that’s no longer active? Please let me know so I can keep these recommendations up to date.
