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Recent Posts: Motherly Notes
Member Post: Non-Native Mom’s Second Year Chinese Journey (5.5 Yr Old Reads Beyond Native Level) by Melissa C.
Book Review: 我最喜愛的中國神話 (My Favorite Chinese Fairy Tales)
Book Review: 每天一篇故事，10天學會150個成語 (10 Days, 150 Idioms)
Book Review: 迪士尼系列 , 三采文化 Disney Collections by Suncolor
Book Review: 棕色的熊、棕色的熊，你在看什麼, 從頭動到腳, 變色龍捉迷藏, Brown Bear, From Head to Toe, Chameleon, Eric Carle
Book Review: 蔬菜躲貓貓 Veggies Hide and Seek
Book Review: 誰吃掉了 Who Ate It?
Game:成語接龍 撲克牌 (10 盒) Idioms Playing Cards (10 Boxes)
Book Review: 好忙的遊樂園, 好棒的海灘 Busy Amusement Park, Amazing Beach
Book Review: 親子律動歡樂歌謠 , 小蜜蜂歡樂歌謠 , 卡布利島世界歌謠 , 歡唱世界童謠：兩隻老虎 Children’s Song Books
Category Archives: General
How I Taught My Toddlers Math (Ages 2-5)
Math is something that my husband and I are pretty focused on. My goals were to achieve the following: Before Age 3: Count to 100, know shapes and colors including harder shapes like rhombus, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, isosceles triangle, … Continue reading
Book Review: 屁屁偵探繪本(1-5冊) Butt Detective Picture Book Series (6th one: 屁屁偵探 噗噗！有兩個屁屁偵探？！)
Age: 3+ with parent, 5+ independent Please visit our Facebook group for more information! 屁屁偵探繪本(1-5冊) – Butt Detective Picture Books 1-5 屁屁偵探 噗噗！有兩個屁屁偵探？！ – 6th book (NEW) – 2 Butt Detectives? Who doesn’t like butt face? Come on! It’s a butt … Continue reading
Book Review: 二十一世紀人格養成繪本系列 – 21st Century Personality Development Series
Age: 3+ with parent, 5+ independent This is a set of 12 books with CDs in each book. It’s goal is to develop a better personality and gives topics on how to make the right choices, how to be happy, … Continue reading
Book Review: 花園裡有一隻老虎 There’s a Tiger in the Garden by Lizzy Stewart
Age: 3+ with parent, 5+ independent Please visit our Facebook group for more information! 花園裡有一隻老虎 There’s a Tiger in the Garden by Lizzy Stewart There’s an Amazon English Version: There’s a Tiger in the Garden This is a book about … Continue reading
Book Review: 不一樣的卡梅拉 系列 簡體書(Simplified Books – La Petite Poules Series by Christian Jolibois)
Age: 3+ with parent, 5+ independent http://www.MotherlyNotes.com Please visit our Facebook group for more information! You can buy off Amazon!!! Yay!!! 不一樣的卡梅拉 La Petite Poules Series by Christian Jolibois This set has 12 books and it’s a really cute series! It … Continue reading
Using Heart Attack As a Game to Learn New Chinese Characters 用“心臟病” 的遊戲來認國字
There are many card games that are used in our Facebook group and I decided to use one on a daily basis with my two kiddos. To my surprise, it hasn’t gotten old yet. Many people use the game heart … Continue reading
Using “Build Up” Method for Flashcards (20 Characters in 20 Minutes) – 如何用識字卡來認國字
Everyone does flashcards differently. I do a “Build Up” method that’s shown on the video and the steps are listed below. I led the example with my four year old in the video: Do a once over. Go over each … Continue reading
Posted in Big Kids, General, Kindergarteners, Reading (Chinese), Teaching Methods, Toddlers
Tagged flashcard method, learn chinese
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Book Review: 這是蘋果嗎？也許是喔，爺爺的天堂筆記本， 做一個機器人，假裝是我, Apple, Heaven, Robot
Part 1: Part 2: Age: 5+ Independent Please visit our Facebook group for more information! 這是蘋果嗎？也許是喔 – Is this An Apple? Maybe! 爺爺的天堂筆記本 Grandpa’s Heaven Diary 做一個機器人，假裝是我 – Robot Be Me This has to be one of the favorite authors in the group. … Continue reading
Book Review: 我的語文小書包 , 我的自然小書包, 我的故事小書包, My Language, Science, Story Backpack Series
Part 1: Part 2: Age: 3 – 5 independent Please visit our Facebook group for more information! 我的語文小書包 (20本平裝圖畫書+4片CD) – Language Backpack 我的自然小書包(20本平裝圖畫書+4片CD+2片DVD) – Science Backpack 我的故事小書包 (20本平裝圖畫書+4片CD) – Story Backpack Here are three backpack series. Each backpack set has 20 little books … Continue reading
Book Review: 便便大冒險, 遊樂園大冒險, Poop Adventure, Amusement Park Adventure (Science Books)
Age: 3+ with parent, 5+ independent (or with parent due to no phonetic assistance) Please visit our Facebook group for more information! 探索人體消化排泄與食物分解循環：便便大冒險 – Poop Adventures 探索人體感官與神經傳導：遊樂園大冒險 – Amusement Park Adventures This is a set of lift the flap books that … Continue reading
Member Post: How My Child and I Both Learned Chinese (Melissa C.)
Intro: Melissa is one of our creative moms on our Facebook Group Motherly Notes. Her dedication to her children, her dedication to herself, and the crafts they do at home always BLOW MY MIND away!!!! I have forever grateful that … Continue reading
Posted in General, Reading (Chinese), Teaching Methods
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Book Review: Grace 說恆心 – Grace Said Persistence
Age: 3+ with parent, 5+ independent Please visit our Facebook group for more information! Grace 說恆心 Grade said Persistence Grace 說專心 Grace said Focus Grace 說耐心 Grace said Patience This is the story about persistence and perseverance. I really love this book and … Continue reading
Book Review: 阿黛兒與西蒙美國旅遊記 – Adele and Simon in America , 阿黛兒與西蒙東方歷險記 (China), 阿黛兒與西蒙巴黎放學記 (Paris)
Age: 3+ with parent 6+ independent Please visit our Facebook group for more information! 阿黛兒與西蒙美國旅遊記 Adele and Simon in America 阿黛兒與西蒙東方歷險記 Adele and Simon in China (no zhuyin) 阿黛兒與西蒙巴黎放學 Adele and Simon in Paris I love love love this set of books. It’s … Continue reading
Posted in Chinese Books Review, General, Picture 0-5, Picture 5+, Picture Books, Reviews of Books, Toys, Etc.
Tagged Adele and Simon in America, Adele and Simon in China, Adele and Simon in Paris, Chinese Children Picture Books, 阿黛兒與西蒙美國旅遊記, 阿黛兒與西蒙巴黎放學, 阿黛兒與西蒙東方歷險記, learn chinese, learn mandarin
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Book Review: 公雞的新鄰居 Chicken’s New Neighbor
Age: 2+ with parent, 5+ independent Please visit our Facebook group for more information! 公雞的新鄰居 Chicken’s New Neighbor This is the story of a Chicken who lived next door to an empty house. Then one day, the house looks like a … Continue reading
Book Review: 挖鼻孔好好玩 It’s Fun Picking Your Nose
Age: 2+ with parent, 5+ independent Please visit our Facebook group for more information! 挖鼻孔好好玩 It’s Fun Picking Your Nose Yes, yet another boogers book. They are popular in this household for their very educational values! This one is about an … Continue reading
Book Review: 阿文的小毯子 Owen
Age: 3+ with parent, 5+ independent Please visit our Facebook group for more information! 阿文的小毯子 Owen This one is a Caldecott winner and it’s super cute. Everyone know a kid always has his or her lovey and this is the … Continue reading
Member Post: How Her Child Read Chinese Fluently Before 5 (by Valen S.)
Valen did her post in our Facebook Group in Chinese but I will translate it as best as I can here. You can visit our group to get advice from more crazy moms and dads and how they taught … Continue reading
Posted in General, Reading (Chinese), Teaching Methods
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How to Elevate Reading Comprehension in Chinese (Age 5+) 如何提升閱讀理解能力
My biggest issue in having my girls advance in reading comprehension is … “comprehension.” Ok, that sounds dumb. It’s a pain explaining a phrase every single sentence and you really want to give up sometimes. It’s tedious during reading and … Continue reading
Member Post: How We Learned Mandarin With Perfect Accent
We have an amazing member in our Facebook Group. They speak Cantonese at home but Jennifer C (an amazing mom) was determined for her children to learn the proper tones for Mandarin. She suggested: Put the phonetic guides next to … Continue reading
Book Review: 外公的大衣 My Grandfather’s Coat
Age: 3+ with parent, 5+ independent Please visit our Facebook group for more information! 外公的大衣 My Grandfather’s Coat This book has a no fail crying spell on me every time I read it so I apologize for the bad read in … Continue reading
Book Review: 阿摩的聰明藥 Gorilla’s Smart Pill
Age: 3+ with parent, 5+ independent Please visit our Facebook group for more information! 阿摩的聰明藥 Gorilla’s Smart Pill Yet another booger book! This is the story of the Gorilla who secretly ate a booger which he likes to do but the … Continue reading
Book Review: 黑貓與花貓，吱吱，喵嗚！Black Cat and Bengal Cat, Squeak Squeak , Meow!
Age: 3+ with parent, 5+ independent Please visit our Facebook group for more information! 黑貓與花貓 Black Cat and Bengal Cat 吱吱 Squeak Squeak 喵嗚 Meow! This is a set of three cat books. This set doesn’t have zhuyin or pinyin. Words are not … Continue reading
Posted in Chinese Books Review, General, Picture 0-5, Picture 5+, Picture Books, Reviews of Books, Toys, Etc.
Tagged 黑貓與花貓, 吱吱, 喵嗚！, 宮西達也
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Chinese 注音 Zhuyin Phonetic Magnets Contest!
Let’s have some fun in our Facebook Group! I have uploaded a song we’ve sang growing up (my kids at least) that I’ve made up to help them remember Zhuyin. I am having them sing it (please don’t judge as … Continue reading
Posted in General
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Zoob to the Rescue on a Winter Storm Day
We are snowed in today and the kids are home. This means I have from 6:30am in the morning until about 8:30pm. That’s a long time with the kids at home! I always take out open ended toys when they … Continue reading
Posted in Big Kids, General, Kindergarteners, Toddlers
Tagged early childhood education, Open Ended Toys, toys, Zoob, Zoob Junior
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Book Review: 公主怎麼挖鼻屎？ How Do Princesses Pick Their Nose?
Age: 3+ with parent, 5+ independent Please visit our Facebook group for more information! 公主怎麼挖鼻屎？ How Do Princesses Pick Their Nose? This is a story about animals debating about how princesses pick their nose. Some said she eats them, some say … Continue reading
Posted in General
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Book Review: 鼻屎大冒險 Adventures of Booger 鼻屎大冒險2：鼻屎總動員 Adventures of Booger 2
Age 3+ with parent, 5+ independent Please visit our Facebook group for more information! 鼻屎大冒險 Adventures of Boogers 鼻屎大冒險2：鼻屎總動員 This is the story about a booger who has never left the nostril until one day, he met with the booger from … Continue reading
Book Review: 子兒吐吐 (中英雙語書+CD) Spit Out The Seeds!
Age: 3+ with parent, 5+ independent Please visit our Facebook group for more information! 子兒吐吐 (中英雙語書+CD) Spit Out The Seeds! This is a very creative book. It’s about a big faced pig who loved to eat and one day, he … Continue reading
Book Review: 永遠愛你 Love You Forever
Age: 3+ with parent, 5+ independent Please visit our Facebook group for more information! 永遠愛你 Love You Forever I had waited a while before I was brave enough to read and recommend this book. We’ve had this book for years and … Continue reading
Book Review: Guji Guji
Age 3+ with parent, 6+ independent Please visit our Facebook group for more information! Guji Guji This book does not have phonetic guide (zhuyin) and will need a parent to read with the child unless if the child knows how … Continue reading
Book Review: 阿迪和朱莉 Lion and the Rabbit
Age: 3+ with parent, 5+ independent Please visit our Facebook group for more information! 阿迪和朱莉 This is an extremely cute book on a little lion and little rabbit. The little lion was taught to catch rabbits for food and taught … Continue reading
Using Little Flashcards For Games and Phrases
Here I printed the most frequently used 500 words on cardstock paper and then used a paper slicer and cut them up into little cube cards (not all perfect cubes but that’s okay because I wanted to do it … Continue reading
Using Reusable Sheets to Learn Chinese Phonetics ㄅㄆㄇ
Many friends have asked me when to start writing or learning the phonetic system in Chinese and in my article My Journey in Teaching My Children Chinese, I mentioned that I always started them early. Toddlers have very less refined motor … Continue reading
Book Review: 小小孩最愛問百科書套書 Larousse Why Book and How Things Work
Age: 3+ with parent This is a book to be read wit parents who can read Chinese without zhuyin or pinyin assistance. The book is beautiful with lots of illustrations and it’s two books that asks “Why” questions and how … Continue reading
Book Review: 工藤紀子 系列2 工藤紀子 Series 2 小修與沃特, 海盜船 , 冬天是什麼樣子？ , 叢林之王
Please visit our Facebook group for more information! This is the same author as the Little Chicken, Penguin, and Wild Cat Series. These are their comic books and one new book with little bear and one with the life of … Continue reading
Book Review: 工藤紀子 系列 小雞，野貓軍團，企鵝 Little Chicken, Wild Cats, Penguin Series
Please visit our Facebook group for more information! Age: 3+ (with parent or independent) Everyone loves the Little Chicken Series. This author is known for being very random! The stories are super cute and it’s told through pictures. Because this … Continue reading
Posted in Chinese Books Review, General, Picture 0-5, Picture Books, Reviews of Books, Toys, Etc.
Tagged Chinese Children Picture Books, Chinese Preschool, early childhood education, 野貓軍團烤麵包, 野貓軍團開火車, 野貓軍團飛上天, 野貓軍團壽司店, learn chinese, 小雞逛遊樂園, 小雞逛超市, 小雞過生日, 小雞過耶誕節, 小雞到外婆家, 小雞去露營, 小企鵝搭火車, 小企鵝搭郵輪, 小企鵝搭飛機, 小企鵝搭巴士, 小企鵝歡樂旅程, 工藤紀子
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Book Review: 賴馬系列 Author 賴馬 Lai Ma Series
My video got cut off so here’s the second video: Please visit our Facebook group for more information! https://www.facebook.com/groups/motherlynotes/ Age: 3+ with adult, 5+ independent I love this author because his books are full of fun and information and a … Continue reading
Posted in Chinese Books Review, General, Picture 0-5, Picture 5+, Picture Books, Reviews of Books, Toys, Etc.
Tagged 猜一猜 我是誰？, 生氣王子, 金太陽銀太陽, 勇敢小火車：卡爾的特別任務, 十二生肖的故事, 帕拉帕拉山的妖怪, 愛哭公主, 慌張先生, 我變成一隻噴火龍了！, 我和我家附近的流浪狗, 早起的一天
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Interviews With Parents Who Have Successfully Taught Their Children Chinese
We frequently get asked the questions of how to teach our children Chinese in the states and there’s a lot of resistance from children here in the states. All sorts of problems come up and every family has a different … Continue reading
Doodle the Day Away & Improve Motor Skills While You’re At It!
We love this pen. We love this pen. It’s not some new product but we love it. I forgot about this until I looked at our old photos. You melt plastic from a pen and they stick together to form … Continue reading
Book Review: 白熊的內褲 (White Bear’s Underwear)，叫我第一名 (First Place)，小小迷路 (Lost Little Owl)，不行 (No!)
This is a collection of 4 books. Links below: 白熊的內褲 （White Bear’s Underwear) Age (0-3) – Super cute book about a bear trying to find his underwear and it’s a guess and look book where you can peep into what the … Continue reading
Posted in Chinese Books Review, General, Picture 0-5, Picture Books
Tagged Chinese Children Picture Books, 白熊的內褲, learn chinese, 叫我第一名, 小小迷路, 不行
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Learn Your First 2400 Chinese Characters
In efforts to help everyone in my Facebook Group track their progress of their children’s Chinese study, I’ve compiled the most frequently used 2400 characters. If you can’t read independently after this list, I’ll be very surprised! Some people may … Continue reading
Get Your Child to Teach You Something Using a Whiteboard!
I’m always thinking of more ways to make learning more dynamic because it helps with memorization and internalization of the material. Luckily, I found my kids to love “teaching” me stuff because it makes them feel empowered with their knowledge. … Continue reading
Posted in Big Kids, General, Kindergarteners, Toddlers
Tagged Dry Erase Board, early childhood education, learn chinese
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Doing Arts with Watercolor Pencils & Book Review: 十二生肖的故事 Story of the 12 Zodiac Animals
I’m working on a project with my little one for her school and it took forever to do only because we wanted it to look pretty. We modeled all the animals after 賴馬’s book: 十二生肖的故事: This book tells the story … Continue reading
Fast Way to Acquire Language? Karaoke for Kids
One of the fastest ways for kids to start learning how to read another language is through singing their favorite songs! I remember when I first started teaching my kids Chinese and English, we always played their favorite songs and … Continue reading
Book Review: 未來領袖 CEO 菁英計劃 : Leaders of Tomorrow Book Set
Age: 5+ independent This is a set of 47 picture books and 47 CDs and one parent manual. There’s one CD for each book. The CDs do not follow the book verbatim but I find it easy to listen to … Continue reading
Brain Game for Kids (and Adults): Think Fun Hoppers
Age: 5+ (or for those who don’t eat toys anymore) You can buy it on amazon: Think Fun Hoppers Game We have had this game for over two years now and it’s one that repeatedly gets taken out because it … Continue reading
Posted in Big Kids, General, Kindergarteners, Toddlers
Tagged Brain Games, early childhood education, educational toys, Hoppers, Hoppers Game, Think Fun, Thinkfun, toys
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Book Review: 王文華的品德故事屋 Developing Good Character Collection
Age: 3 (read to), 5+ 王文華的品德故事屋 1 – Set 1 Good Character Collection 王文華的品德故事屋 2 – Set 2 Good Character Collection This set is not really there for it’s “pictures” but they are picture books. What I love about this set is … Continue reading
Learning Chinese Characters With Stickers
One of the moms on our Facebook group showed a video of her daughter putting stickers on a Chinese character chart. How “wonderful” is that? Stickers + Kids = WIN. I used to give them stickers for everything. Did you … Continue reading
Posted in Big Kids, General, Kindergarteners, Toddlers
Tagged early childhood education, learn chinese, learn mandarin
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Book Review: 愛智繪本系列 Love Wisdom Picture Book Collection
Age: 3+, 5 independent This is a series of picture books (I have 44 of them) that teach some love and wisdom in each one. The words are simple and they have CDs with each book of audio reading and … Continue reading
There’s No Other Way Around Knowing How to Write Chinese!
My five year old writes Chinese. We’ve started her on 康軒國語課本（一） Kang Xuan First Grade Material this year and their writing worksheets are okay for a five year old but for my three year old who sooooooo eagerly wants to … Continue reading
I Hate Doing Flashcards! Please Spit Them Out Automagically For Me!
Everyone has been saying how useful flashcards are and giving a lot of credit to how “informative” the cards are. I always always always share my resources. I use: http://www.archchinese.com No, I am not a crazy mom (ok, maybe a … Continue reading
Book Review: 奇奇系列 – Ricky Rabbit Book Series by Guido van Genechten
Age: 3+ assisted, 5+ independent This is the collection by Guido van Genechten. It’s a series of cute books that was translated. I found five and I’m not sure if there are more. I showed the five books in the … Continue reading
Book Review: 紅色小電車系列 Little Red Electric Train Series
Age: 3+ assisted This series is really simple and uber cute!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, I’ll admit, I bought it because I loved the pictures when I saw it. Was it too easy to read for my 5 year old? Probably but I … Continue reading
Book Review: 寶寶第一套科學繪本 Baby’s First Science Picture Books
Age: 3+ assisted, 5+ independent reading This is a simple set of science books that teaches kids about why you fart, where water goes after you flush, where do babies come from, etc. You can buy them as a set … Continue reading
Why Using Textbooks To Teach Chinese May Not Be the Most Efficient Way To Teach Reading
Chinese textbooks bore me to death and they will surely bore my kids to death. Do we do it? Yes, for the worksheets. Do we read it? Not really. We jump straight to worksheets to practice some writing. Plus, their … Continue reading
“Glow in the Dark”, “Bouncy”, “Balls” … Enough Said
Alex Toys Craft Glow in the Dark Bouncy Ball Bonanza We buy science kits to kill time during weekends. We tell ourselves we’re at least educating the kids while they play during the weekend and let’s face it: projects take … Continue reading
Bellz Game – Time Killer, Strategy Developer, and Motor Skills for Kids
I love games that are educational and I love games that seem dumb and fun with hidden educational qualities inside. This is one of them. The strategy of this game is whoever gets 10 bells through the magic magnet wand … Continue reading
Book Review: 莉莉尋貓記+小偵探莉莉 LILY CHERCHE SON CHAT &Lily mène l’enquête
Join me on Facebook for more information: https://www.facebook.com/groups/motherlynotes/ 莉莉尋貓記+小偵探莉莉(2書一套) LILY CHERCHE SON CHAT &Lily mène l’enquête Age: 3+ Adapted from a French book, this is a cute picture book that’s full of beautiful pictures! It’s a search and find book. … Continue reading
Where to Buy Books in the States? How to Navigate 博客來 (Books.com.tw)?
There are always questions on how to buy from Taiwan easily and have it shipped to the USA. I have to be honest, it’s EASY, SUPER EASY. So easy that it is dangerous!!! It is the reason why my library … Continue reading
Posted in General
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Book Review: 短耳兔系列 – Short Eared Rabbit
Suitable Age: 3+ with parent, 5+ by themselves This series is composed of 3 books, all hardcover. Each story again gives a lesson. 短耳兔系列 – 全3冊 – Entire Series and Collection (link shows where to buy) By Individual Titles and where … Continue reading
Book Review: 小蠶豆系列 – Fava Bean Collection
Age: 3-5 with parents, 5+ read by themselves This set contains 5 books. You can find them in the following links: 小蠶豆和好長好長的豆子– Fava and the Long Bean 小蠶豆的床 – Fava’s Bed 小蠶豆的一天 – Fava’s Day 小蠶豆的新床 – Fava’s New Bed 小蠶豆與小(魚將)魚 – Fava and … Continue reading
Book Review: 好多好吃的米飯 (Yummy Rice)，好多好吃的草莓 (Yummy Strawberries)，好多好吃的雞蛋 (Yummy Eggs)，好多好吃的馬鈴薯 (Yummy Potatoes)
Books can be purchased through this link: 好多好吃的米飯 (Yummy Rice)，好多好吃的草莓 (Yummy Strawberries)，好多好吃的雞蛋 (Yummy Eggs)，好多好吃的馬鈴薯 (Yummy Potatoes) Recommended Age: 2-5 This is a really cute set of books we have right now and it deals with food, how you cook it, … Continue reading
