Chinese Character Flashcards for Kids

Each of these picture flashcards teaches one of a child’s first 48 Chinese characters. The characters are simplified, the pinyin carries tone marks, and the English word sits under each one. Six cards cover each of eight themes: numbers one to six, nature (sun, moon, mountain, water, fire, tree), body, family, animals, food, opposites and colors.

Front and back

The front is for recognizing: a big block-letter character in its theme color, a picture, the pinyin and the English. The back is for the grown-up and child to work through together. It numbers each stroke in order, gives two or three everyday words that use the character (火车, 火山 and 大火 for 火), a short sentence in Chinese with an English line under it, and a tracing row where the child traces the gray character before writing one alone. The last line is a small game that changes from card to card, like counting the eggs in the fridge for 蛋 or meowing for 猫.

Five games on the how-to-use page

Read the card aloud, find the character that matches an English word, play memory with six cards face down, hunt the house for the real thing, or put two cards together to make a word such as 大人 or 小心. The page suggests starting with one theme of six cards and adding the next once those feel easy. The cover marks the set for ages 3 to 8.

Printing and cutting

Each sheet holds four cards with dashed cut lines, and every card comes out at 3.5 x 5 inches. The instructions call for card stock of 120 gsm or heavier, printed in color at actual size. Laminating is optional but lets the tracing row be used again with a dry-erase marker. A rubber band per theme keeps the eight stacks apart.

Questions

Are the characters simplified or traditional?

Simplified. Every card also shows the pinyin with tone marks and the English word.

How do I print the backs so they line up?

Print double-sided and choose flip on long edge. The backs are already mirrored on the page, so each back lands behind its own front.