Starting each class with the Hello Nǐ Hǎo song is a routine for the kids in my Chinese immersion program.
They are toddlers, preschoolers, and babies. My youngest student was three months old. But, I first met baby J when he was a tiny newborn in a Babybjön carrier with his dad. Baby J was about 2 months old and her parents were ready for him to join my class for the little ones.
People sing when they are happy. We sing when we are having a good time. How about kids?
Kids sing and learn!
Singing leads to literacy development. Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers love music. So feed them music and songs in the langauge you want to introduce to them.
Babies can recognize a song before they can talk. Tots enjoy wiggle to the music. Preschoolers love singing and they show their enthusiasm by singing with great energy.
As soon as I start singing the Nǐ Hǎo song, the little ones know the fun is about to begin. It is a signal and it is a routine.
When you are setting up a target language routine at home. You can do the same. The target language we are talking about here is Mandarin Chinese.
Singing, playing and acting are fun. Play music chair with Chinese nursery rhymes. Singing and acting it out the words and actions. If you need some inspiration you can see how my students sing the Ugly Little Duckling song in the Happy Chinese playgroup playlist.
You just need a few songs to start with. A fun one is the Happy Birthday song in Chinese. It is the tune you and your child already know. There are only 6 Chinese characters and it is simple. Learning the song to get ready for an upcoming birthday celebration.
Why not pick a theme song for your Chinese play time?
If you want to have some background Chinese music you can use your smart speaker to do the streaming. Let’s sing, have fun, and learn together with the kids!
Music is the movement of sound to reach the soul for the education of its virtue. -Plato
image by Devon Christopher Adams
