Learning to write Chinese characters can be a daunting task for kids, especially if they have to learn them through traditional methods like tracing and memorization. But it doesn’t have to be!
With the right approach, you can make learning Chinese fun and interactive for your kids.
Here are 22 ways to get your kids excited about writing Chinese characters with hands-on activities that combines art, playing, storytelling, and more.
From painting Chinese characters to building with rocks – these creative ideas will help bring the language alive and easier for kids to learn how to write in Chinese. So let’s get started!
When my daughter was 3.5 years old, I had the privilege of taking maternity leave (welcome of my son) which allowed me to homeschool her for two years. One of the big challenges we faced was learning to write Chinese.
At first, I gave her tracing worksheets to start with. However, she didn't like them, so we stopped as I didn't want to make her do something she didn't enjoy.
I tried different methods to make my daughter like writing Chinese and since she likes art, we started painting Chinese words, and she loved it!
Then, during outdoor play, we gathered some rocks and branches to construct Chinese characters, and she loved it even more! Soon, we found many ways for my daughter to learn to write Chinese words while also having fun!
I am going to show you some activities that will help your kids enjoy writing Chinese characters.
These low-prep activities will also help them understand and memorize how to write each character.
22 Low-Prep Activities to Learn Writing Chinese Characters for Kids
You will need to write a Chinese character on a piece of white paper before you begin. Make sure that the character is large enough to fit the whole paper.
Here are 22 activities to help your kids learn to write Chinese.
1. Write Chinese Characters in the Air
As your kids learn how to write Chinese, let them practice by writing the characters in the air with their fingers.
This will help them learn how to form each character without the pressure of having to write it on paper right away.
2. Write Chinese Characters on the Glass
Draw the Chinese character on a glass window, and then have your kids trace over it using their fingers.
We love to do this during bath/shower time when the glass is already wet.
3. Let Your Kids Write Chinese Characters with Water
Grab a paintbrush and a container with water, you can easily draw Chinese characters on the construction paper with the brush. The best part is that this is dirty-free and lots of fun!
4. Write Chinese Characters on Mirror
Write Chinese characters on a mirror using dry-erase markers, and then have your kids practice tracing over it.
This is especially helpful for teaching younger kids how to write accurately since they can easily see their progress in the mirror.
5. Using Marker & Whiteboard
This is a great way to learn how to write Chinese letters for younger kids. Give them some whiteboard/washable markers and ask them to learn how to write each character.
6. Let Your Kids Write Chinese Characters on Blackboard with Chalk
Writing on a blackboard with chalk is an easy and fun way to learn Chinese characters.
It also gives kids the chance to erase their mistakes and practice again.
7. Use Chalk to Write on the Ground Outside
Let your kids practice writing Chinese characters with side walk chalk on the ground outside.
This will give them a different perspective and make it more interesting for them to learn. Best of all, it also includes outdoor time!
8. Dot Chinese Characters With Dotted Markers
Kids like to use dotted markers because they offer an interactive and creative way to explore arts and crafts projects.
The dot-to-dot nature of the markers requires kids to connect dots in order to create a picture or pattern, which can help them develop problem-solving skills.
Additionally, using dotted markers allows children to practice their fine motor coordination and improve their hand-eye coordination.
Dotted marker sets come in various colors which allow kids to explore the world of color mixing, creating an opportunity for artistic expression and exploration.
Give your kids some dotted markers and ask them to learn how to write each character by connecting the dots.
9. Trace Chinese Characters With Loose Parts
Loose parts are a great way for kids to explore their creativity and develop problem-solving skills.
These types of toys provide an open-ended play experience allowing kids to build, manipulate and assemble objects in any way they choose.
Loose parts such as blocks, legos, and other found materials can help children understand engineering concepts like balance and structure.
As children experiment with the pieces, they are refining their fine motor and hand-eye coordination skills.
Additionally, loose-part play encourages kids to express their ideas through items or structures that they have created on their own, boosting self-esteem and confidence.
Give your kids some toys that they can use to build things.
Ask them to learn how to write each Chinese character by building it with loose parts.
Here are some ideas of loose parts you can use:
- Magnetic Tiles
- Blocks
- Lego
- Wooden loose-part toys
- Plastic discs
- Wooden peg dolls
- Beans
- Buttons
10. Using Play Dough for Building Chinese Characters
Playdough is a great way for kids to express their creativity and explore different textures.
Playing with playdough can help to boost a child's imagination and encourage problem-solving skills.
The physical act of squeezing, rolling, and shaping the dough also helps to strengthen fine motor coordination and hand-eye coordination.
Playdough provides an opportunity for open-ended play, allowing children to create whatever they want and explore different colors by making their own shapes or shades.
Additionally, working with playdough can help boost self-confidence as children create something using their own ideas, shapes, and forms.
Do you have play dough at home? If so, then this activity is perfect for your kids.
Give them a piece of play dough and ask them to recreate the Chinese character with it.
You can make your own playdough recipe too!
11. Painting With Watercolors/ Washable Paint
Kids love to paint, so why not combine learning Chinese with art? Give them a brush and some watercolors, and have them learn how to write each character by using their artistic skills.
Read more about this method: 6 Fun Ways to Learn A Basic Chinese Character: 水
12. Q-Tip Painting for Writing Chinese
Give your kids a few Q-tips and have them use the cotton ends to learn how to write each Chinese character.
This simple activity is great for strengthening fine motor skills as well as helping with learning to write in Chinese.
Read more: How to Teach Chinese Writing Through Fun Q-Tip Painting Activity for Kids
13. Writing Chinese Characters by Using Chinese Brush and Ink
This activity is more suitable for older kids as it requires precise hand movements and some knowledge of Chinese characters.
Give your kids a Chinese calligraphy brush and ink, and ask them to learn how to write the words with different strokes.
Read more about this method: 10 Free Chinese New Year Banner Printables (Stroke Directions)
14. Salt Writing for Kids
Writing characters in salt is an excellent way to learn how to write Chinese.
Use a tray filled with salt, and have your kids use their hands or small paint brush to practice writing the characters.
Read more to make your own salt writing tray.
15. Mould Chinese Characters With Kinetic Sand
Kids love playing with kinetic sand because it is a unique sensory experience that allows them to explore their creativity and sensory development.
The tactile nature of the sand makes it inviting to touch, squeeze, and move around in any way they please.
Kids can use kinetic sand to create different shapes and figures, which helps them develop problem-solving skills.
Additionally, kinetic sand provides a safe environment for children to explore and practice their fine motor coordination.
Playing with kinetic sand can also help kids understand engineering concepts like mathematics and physics thanks to its ability to flow like water but act like a solid material.
Give your kids some kinetic sand and ask them to mold the Chinese character with the sand.
This is a great way to learn because it helps memorization, and also strengthens fine motor skills.
16. Using Nature Objects to Trace Chinese Characters
Nature play is a great way for kids to connect with the outdoors and explore their environment.
Using natural objects such as leaves, stones, sticks, and wood slices can encourage creative exploration, problem-solving skills, and open-ended play.
As children collect and use natural objects in their play they are promoting science and engineering concepts like balance, stability, and structure.
Additionally, nature play encourages children to express their ideas through items or structures that they have created on their own, boosting self-esteem and confidence.
Working with nature also promotes fine motor coordination and hand-eye coordination as children manipulate the materials around them.
This is a great way for kids to learn Chinese since it combines nature, play, and writing!
Ask your kids to gather out the objects as you go for a nature walk.
Once they have gathered the objects, start presenting the Chinese character on a piece of paper and also provide some glue to ensure some stability.
Read more: 7 Fun Learning Activities the Basic Chinese Character of ‘木’
17. Using Pom Pom Balls and Glue to Trace Chinese Characters
Pom poms are a popular craft item in many classrooms and homes because they offer an array of creative possibilities.
Playing with Pom Poms helps children learn about colors, and concepts like size and shape, and also help them develop fine motor skills as they learn to manipulate small objects.
Additionally, using different colored Pom Poms can help children learn to distinguish different colors and learn how to categorize them.
Using Pom Poms and glue can also be a great way for kids to learn Chinese characters!
To do this, you will need some glue (optional), pom poms, and paper.
Give your kids some pom poms and ask them to learn how to write each character by ‘drawing' them with pom poms.
This activity is fun, and tactile and encourages children to learn in a creative way!
18. Using Styrofoam and Golf Tees
Styrofoam is a great material that children can learn to manipulate and learn with. We always get a lot of styrofoam when we buy appliances or big products.
This is the best time to repurpose this material instead of throwing it out!
Using Styrofoam and golf tees helps children learn about concepts such as cause-and-effect, force, motion, and gravity.
It also encourages children to think logically and problem-solve while they play.
Additionally, manipulation of Styrofoam can also help children learn fine motor skills like hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
To do this, you will need some styrofoam, golf tees, and a hammer (optional).
Write down a Chinese character on a piece of styrofoam with a marker.
Give your kids some golf tees and ask them to pin the strokes with golf tees.
They can hammer each golf pin with the hammer for more fun!
This activity is fun, and it allows children to use their senses to learn in a creative way!
19. Use Tissue Paper and Glue to Trace Chinese Characters
Tissue paper is a great material that children can learn to manipulate and learn with.
Using tissue paper and glue helps children learn about concepts such as cause-and-effect, force, motion, and gravity.
It also encourages them to think logically and problem-solve while they play.
Additionally, manipulation of the tissue paper can also help children learn fine motor skills like hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
To do this, you will need some tissue paper, glue, and scissors (optional).
Write down a Chinese character on a piece of paper with a marker.
Give your kids some tissue paper and ask them to learn how to write each character by ‘tracing' them with tissue paper.
To make it more fun, you can give your kids some scissors and ask them to cut the tissue paper into small pieces before they glue them on the paper!
This activity is fun, and tactile and encourages children to learn in a creative way!
20. Sticking Dot Stickers
Dot stickers are one of the most popular craft items in many classrooms and homes.
Using dot stickers helps children learn about colors, size, and shape, and also develop fine motor skills as they learn to manipulate small objects.
Additionally, using different colored dot stickers can help children learn to distinguish different colors and learn how to categorize them.
To do this, you will need some dot stickers and paper.
Write down a Chinese character on a piece of paper with a marker. Give your kids some paper and dot stickers.
Ask them to learn how to write each character by ‘tracing' them with the dot stickers.
21. Write on an Easel
Writing on an easel is a fun way for kids to learn Chinese characters. By writing on an easel, children learn about different concepts such as balance, symmetry, and proportion.
The easel also allows them to see the character from different angles which can help them learn how to write it better.
To do this, you will need an easel, chalk, and a few Chinese characters written on a piece of paper.
Write down the characters on the easel with chalk. Give your kids some chalks and encourage them to learn how to write each character by ‘tracing' them with the chalks.
Another way is to have rolling paper ready on the easel so your kids can write with markers instead of chalk.
22. Write Chinese Characters With Puffy Paint
Writing with puffy paint is a fun and creative way for kids to learn Chinese characters.
Puffy paint helps children learn how to write by creating an interesting 3-dimensional effect, which can help them remember the character better.
To do this activity, you will need some puffy paint, paper, or cardstock paper, and Chinese characters are written on it.
Give your kids the puffy paint and the characters. Ask them to learn how to write each character by ‘tracing' them with the puffy paint.
You can also encourage your kids to be creative and design their own characters with puffy paint.
This activity is great for developing fine motor skills and creativity
Read more: 10 Free Chinese New Year Banner Printables (Stroke Directions)
How Do I Teach My Child to Write Chinese Characters?
Here are some tips to help teach your child to write Chinese characters:
- Start slowly by introducing one character at a time. Focus on one character until they have mastered it before introducing the next.
- Use visual aids like pictures, diagrams, or flashcards to help them understand and remember the character.
- Break down complex characters into smaller parts and strokes in order to make the process easier for them.
- Allow them to practice writing the character multiple times in different creative ways.
- Encourage them by praising their progress and helping them appreciate the complexity and beauty of each individual character.
What Are the Easiest Chinese Characters?
The easiest Chinese characters to learn are those that are made up of simple strokes and radicals.
Some examples include 一 (one), 二 (two), 八(eight), and 口(mouth). These characters will help children learn the basic strokes and radicals necessary for forming more complex characters.
Additionally, these characters can also help children learn about counting and numbers, which can be a great way to learn Chinese!
Here are the top 20 easiest Chinese (with pinyin) characters for kids to learn and write:
- 一 (yī) – one
- 人 (rén) – person
- 大 (dà) – big
- 日 (rì) – sun/day
- 口 (kǒu) – mouth
- 小 (xiǎo) – small
- 田 (tián) – field/farm
- 山 (shān) – mountain
- 月 (yuè) — moon/month
- 天 (tiān) — sky/day
- 工 (gōng) — work
- 手(shǒu) — hand
- 火 (huǒ) – fire
- 年 (nián) – year
- 見（jiàn）— to see
- 行（xíng）— to walk/go
- 金（jīn）— gold/money
- 雨（yǔ) — rain
- 止（zhǐ) — stop
- 刀 (dāo) — knife
Conclusion
Here are 22 fun ways for kids to learn to write Chinese characters:
- 1. Write Chinese Characters in the Air
- 2. Write Chinese Characters on the Glass
- 3. Let Your Kids Write Chinese Characters with Water
- 4. Write Chinese Characters on Mirror
- 5. Using Marker & Whiteboard
- 6. Let Your Kids write Chinese Characters on Blackboard with Chalk
- 7. Use Chalk to Write on the Ground Outside
- 8. Dot Chinese Characters With Dotted Markers
- 9. Trace Chinese Characters With Loose Parts
- 10. Using Play Dough for Building Chinese Characters
- 11. Painting With Watercolors/ Washable Paint
- 12. Q-Tip Painting for Writing Chinese
- 13. Writing Chinese Characters by Using Chinese Brush and Ink
- 14. Salt Writing for Kids
- 15. Mould Chinese Characters With Kinetic Sand
- 16. Using Nature Objects to Trace Chinese Characters
- 17. Using Pom Pom Balls and Glue to Trace Chinese Characters
- 18. Using Styrofoam and Golf Tees
- 19. Use Tissue Paper and Glue to Trace Chinese Characters
- 20. Sticking Dot Stickers
- 21. Write on an Easel
- 22. Write Chinese Characters With Puffy Paint
Learning Chinese characters can be fun and engaging for kids if it is approached in the right way. In this article, we have provided 22 creative ways that parents and teachers can use to help kids learn how to write Chinese characters. From using Pom Poms and Glue to Tissue Paper and Dot Stickers, these activities are sure to spark a child's interest while giving them an opportunity to learn something new. We hope you found some useful ideas here on how you can make learning Chinese more enjoyable for your kids. What is your favorite way to teach your kids to write Chinese? Share your ideas in our comment box below!
