Have you ever wondered how we come up with our printable ideas at Lingo Buddies? While Pinterest offers endless inspiration, the real magic happens when I observe children at play and witness their learning in action.

As a former teacher, I’ve had firsthand experience guiding students through the process of learning a new language. Now, as a mom, I see things from a fresh perspective. This dual lens shapes the way I design our worksheets for learning Mandarin Chinese.

Let’s face it—many traditional worksheets rely on rote repetition, the classic “practice makes perfect” approach. But for children aged 3 to 8, this stage of exploration is about making sense of the world. The last thing I want is for their introduction to Mandarin to feel dull or disconnected. My goal is to bridge the gap between language learning and their everyday lives. It’s this connection—linking words to their world—that makes learning stick and fosters a lifelong love for Mandarin.

Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day) is a very important holiday in China and Taiwan and Chinese ethnics in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. It’s a holiday that honors the dead relatives and ancestors. In a way it’s similar to Memorial Day in the US, but instead of commemorating those that served in the military, it commemorates those that passed away in your family. On Qingming Festival, families all gather at the graveyard to sweep the tombs of their ancestors and deceased relatives.

Ever heard of ‘Good Night Gorilla’ 晚安大猩猩? It’s one of those timeless classics that kids just can’t get enough of, and parents secretly love too! Picture this: a wordless book filled with expressive illustrations that practically beg you to make up your own story as you go along. It’s like a creative free-for-all every time you open it!

I swear, my kiddo and I have made a game out of finding all the hidden gems in those illustrations. You’ve got your flashlight, your moon, a sneaky little balloon…oh, and don’t forget about that mischievous gorilla and his zoo pals! Every night, it’s a new adventure.

Valentine’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to teach children about love!  Their love for grandparents, parents, teachers, playmates, siblings, relatives, friends, and even pets!  Not only that, your children can learn how to express their love by making something special with their hands.