# Mandarin for Preschoolers: First Words Activity Book Colour, circle, match and count first Mandarin words with Bao the panda, for ages 3–5 and a grown-up Source: https://www.saymei.app/resources/downloads/mandarin-for-preschoolers ## At a glance - Level: Kids 3–5 - Format: Kids workbook · PDF · 28 pages · US Letter (prints on A4) - Price: Free · free with a saymei account · updated Oct 27, 2026 ## Download Free with a SayMei account, on the workbook's page: https://www.saymei.app/resources/downloads/mandarin-for-preschoolers. SayMei emails a copy too. ## A line from the workbook 你好，宝宝！ (Nǐ hǎo, bǎobao!) — Hello, little one! ## By the end you can - Your child will say hello and goodbye. With a wave each time: the hand movement helps a young child remember the word. 再见 (zàijiàn): goodbye - Your child will name mum, dad and baby. Family words say the same sound twice, like ma-ma and ba-ba, with the second one soft and short. 我爱妈妈。 (Wǒ ài māma.): I love mum. - Your child will name a cat, a dog and a fish. Then circle and count them in a farm picture. 猫 (māo) even sounds a bit like a cat's miaow. 猫 (māo): cat - Your child will name red, yellow and blue. Every colour word ends in 色 (sè), "colour", so listen for sè at the end, then colour each picture the right colour. 红色 (hóngsè): red - Your child will count from 1 to 5. One finger for each number, then count small groups of ducks, balloons and stars and circle the number. 三个苹果 (sān gè píngguǒ): three apples - Your child will name eyes, nose and mouth. Touch each part of their own face as they say it, then finish drawing a face. 鼻子 (bízi): nose - Your child will name snacks, toys and feelings. An apple, a banana and water; a ball, a car and a book; happy, crying and a hug. 我要水。 (Wǒ yào shuǐ.): I want water. - Your child will say goodnight. Say goodnight and sleep at bedtime, then trace Bao's path to bed and count the stars. 晚安，妈妈！ (Wǎn'ān, māma!): Goodnight, mum! ## What's inside - Topic 1: Hello and Goodbye · Wave Hello, Wave Goodbye - Topic 2: My Family · Who Is Who? - Topic 3: Animals · Find the Animals - Topic 4: Colours · Colour It In - Topic 5: Numbers 1 to 5 · Count and Circle - Topic 6: My Face · Draw a Face - Topic 7: Fruit and Drinks · Snack Time - Topic 8: Play Time · Toy Box - Topic 9: Feelings · How Do They Feel? - Topic 10: Bedtime · Time for Bed - Cards: Picture Word Cards 1 · Picture Word Cards 2 ## How to use this book Ten topics, each a picture page to say together and an activity page to colour, circle, match, count or trace. Five minutes a day is plenty: do one page, then stop while it's still fun. - Week 1: Hello, family and animals. Topics 1 to 3. You read the words aloud; your child points, waves and colours. No reading or writing is needed yet. - Week 2: Colours, numbers and my face. Topics 4 to 6. Count on fingers, and touch your own face as you say eyes, nose and mouth. - Week 3: Snacks, toys and feelings. Topics 7 to 9. Say the word before snack time or play, like 我要水 when your child wants water. - Week 4: Bedtime and cards. Topic 10, then cut out the 16 picture word cards on pages 23 and 24 to play with. - Every day: Say it two or three times. Use a big smile and a gesture. Praise every try with 很好! (hěn hǎo, very good) and repeat the word yourself instead of correcting. ## Who it's for Children aged 3 to 5 and the grown-up sitting with them: parents, grandparents, nannies and preschool teachers. The grown-up reads; the child points, colours and copies. Before you start: Nothing, for either of you. Every word has pinyin and English, and to hear any sound you can tap it on SayMei's free pinyin chart at saymei.app/tools/pinyin-chart. ## Is three too young to start Mandarin? No. The book is made for ages 3 to 5: no reading or writing is needed, pages take about five minutes, and every activity is pointing, colouring, circling, counting or tracing with a grown-up. ## I don't speak Chinese. Can I still use it with my child? Yes. Every word has pinyin and English, and the Mei Lin says tips tell you how to say and teach each one. You can hear any sound on the free pinyin chart. ## What comes after this book? For ages 5 to 9, the Mandarin for Kids series continues with books on colours, numbers and shapes, food and snacks, my body and clothes, and school. ## Is this workbook free? Yes. The whole 28-page PDF is free, and you can look through its pages here before you download. There's no card and nothing to pay. ## Do I need a SayMei account? Yes, to download the PDF, and the account is free: sign up with Google, Apple or your email address. With it we email you a copy of the workbook, keep every workbook you download on your account on all your devices, save your place in the free online practice, and you can practise speaking with Mei Lin, SayMei's AI tutor. ## How do I print it? The PDF is US Letter size. On A4 paper, choose "Fit to page" (or "Scale to fit") in the print dialog so nothing is cut off. Print the whole workbook or only the pages you need; colour looks best, and black and white works too. ## Can I print copies for my class or my children? Yes. Print as many copies as you like for your own class or family. To share it, send this page: everyone can download their own copy. Version 2026-10, updated Oct 27, 2026.