I always enjoy attending Maker’s Faire.
Every time I attend the event I meet many creative people. In addition, I experience a lot of surprises.
However, what interests me the most at every Maker Faire is seeing children can easily engage in building, creating, and designing. Kids ask questions. They are curious about the out-of-the-box designs. And, children are eager to make their own design with the materials provided to them at the event.
Making something is a hands-on experience.
At the same time, when kids are making something they are also playing. Playing with a purpose. They are seeking solutions when they are making things. Kids are figuring out how things work at the same time.
Make. Play. Learn.
We can combine these elements when we introduce or teach a new subject, a new concept, and a new language to our children.
Learning through making. It is not filling out blanks. There are no worksheets. Your child might be sitting down but she is busy working, creating, thinking, and innovating.
Learning becomes active.
Everyday Chinese expressions you can use:
【English – traditional Chinese – pinyin – simplified Chinese】
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Let’s make. = 我們來做。 wǒmen lái zuò. 我们来做。(Literally, this sentence means: we come make/do.)
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Let’s play. = 我們來玩。 wǒmen lái wán. 我们来玩。(Literally, this sentence means: we come play.)
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Let’s learn. =我們來學。wǒmen lái xué. 我们来学。(Literally, this sentence means: we come learn.)
With the invitation and the three power action words: Make. Play. Learn. You need materials that your child can use to start MAKING. Do you need to buy anything? No. You have plenty of resources at home that you can use.
Use papers or recycled papers to make art. Need ideas? Here are 28 of them to get you started.
Go legos? Use them differently. How about making something with lego pieces in the water? Your child will find out it is quite different from putting the pieces together on the floor. Right there, the wheel is spinning in the head of your child.
He might ask,
Why are the pieces floating?
How do I put pieces together in the water?
Can I add more water?
What you can do is to provide simple guidance in Mandarin during your child’s making and creating.
【English – traditional Chinese – pinyin – simplified Chinese】
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one piece: 一個 yī gè
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two pieces: 兩個 liǎng gè
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three pieces: 三個 sān gè
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put one piece down 放一個 fàng yī gè
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one more: 再一個 zài yī gè
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put one more piece down 再放一個 zài fàng yī gè
When you need more Chinese words there are resources you can use: Pleco and MDBG English-Chinese online dictionary are two of my favorites.
What is your plan for a Mommy and Me or Daddy and Me at home? What is your child going to make? What are you making together?
Does making cookies count? Of course!
Are you talking about baked cookies, pretend cookies, or play dough cookies…?
Have fun making, playing and learning with your child!
Image by Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett
