Though we agree having a teacher or classroom is probably one of the best ways to stay on task to learn putonghua, the reality is that many of us may not have time, or an ayi to cover the time, or the desire to add another thing to a busy-stay-at-home-mom schedule. Therefore, we suggest scheduling in some physical downtime and language study for you and your kids with children’s programs in Chinese. 
In 2002 the show was translated to Mandarin, giving new life to Po, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Tinky Winky. Some of the episodes were filmed especially for a Chinese audience, like when they’re running to get into the Chinese New Year parade. The heroes of the show may sound pretty naïve and repetitive, but what can be better than that repetition when you need to learn the basics?
This is a Chinese version of a well-known Japanese show, Magical Girls. The Chinese spin replaces the cartoon characters with life-sized and costume-dressed versions. The first season includes 52 full episodes about the adventures of two sisters from Earth and a fairy fighting the evil plans of magical villains. Though the dialogs are interesting, we admit some of the phrases might not be useful in every day circumstances.
Named among the most popular Chinese shows over the last 10 years, Boonie Bears is a favorite show for many children and grandparents. E. Pei, a reviewer from Amazon.com says, “I haven’t yet watched it in English, I’ve only watched in Chinese [despite]not knowing the language. It reminded me of classic Looney Tunes. Think Road Runner meets Coyote. My kids aged 3-5 love Boonie Bears so much we had a theme birthday party.” Note, Looney Tunes had guns, and so does the logger in Boonie Bears.
This show claiming to be the most popular Chinese cartoon ever created is about a goat flock living in a peaceful green oasis having to deal with a nasty wolf who always tries to eat them. The cartoon has over a thousand episodes. The creators worked on four big-screen movies. We’ll again warn parents that some gun violence might not be appropriate for your family.
This cartoon appeared after the success of the first Chinese children comics in the 1930s, all drawn by Mr. Zhang Leping. The show is about Sanmao, translated as “three locks of hair,” who is a poor orphan living in Shanghai. Sanmao is charming, optimistic, and became a real symbol of a true Chinese patriot. Thus, during his last adventures, he is fighting pollution. This is the perfect window for Chinese culture.
We also suggest checking 海的小纵队 (Aquanauts), Dora the Explorer, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Peppa Pig.
Photos: baike.sogou.com; v.61.com; animationmagazine.com; dramafever.com; chinawhisper.com
