How it works
How our Mandarin lessons for kids work
One-to-one, or as a pair
Your child has the teacher’s full attention, or shares the lesson with one sibling or friend. It’s all online, so there’s no travel.
30 minutes to 2 hours
Lesson length depends on your child’s age and focus.
Parents can sit in
Just ask, and you’re welcome to join the lesson.
Planned around your child
Lessons follow your child’s age, interests and pace, and can fit around their school terms or your homeschool timetable.
The foundations
What children learn first
It’s different for every child, but the first lessons usually cover the foundations, such as:
- Pinyin, the alphabet-based spelling that shows how Mandarin words sound
- The four tones, for example mā, má, mǎ and mà
- Greetings, such as 你好 (nǐ hǎo, hello) and 再见 (zàijiàn, goodbye)
- Counting, from 一 (yī, one) upwards
- Everyday phrases, such as 谢谢 (xièxie, thank you)
To see what children learn at each age, from 5 to 14, see our Mandarin courses for kids.
For a taste before the first lesson, try our free Week 1 pack with Hui Hui the red panda, then Week 2 for family words.
Every starting point
Who the lessons are for
Complete beginners
Children starting from zero, beginning with sounds, tones and simple words.
School learners
Children learning Mandarin at school who want extra one-to-one practice to keep up.
Children who hear Chinese at home
Children who understand some Chinese from family and want to speak more, or to read and write it.
Homeschoolers
Families who want Mandarin as a regular subject, with a teacher for speaking and tones.
From a parent
In a parent’s words
★★★★★
“My son, Max, has been learning Mandarin with WillyChina for three years now. Not only is he learning a new language, he is also discovering a new culture, and I’ve seen his growth as a young human continue to flourish with each lesson. I am excited about his future and I’m happy that he’s fallen in love with the Chinese language and culture.”
Getting started
How to start Mandarin lessons for kids
Book a free intro call
A 30-minute call to talk about where your child is and what they need.
Get a plan and a price
We plan lessons around your child, and confirm the lesson length, times and price with you.
Start learning online
Your child joins one-to-one lessons from home, and you’re welcome to sit in.
Wherever you live
Lesson times
Lessons are available from 7am Thailand time. That suits:
We’ll find a time that works for your family on the intro call.
The research
When should children start?
There’s no single best age. A study of classroom learners found that an early start pays off only with enough exposure, and that older starters tend to learn faster.
Children can get better at hearing Mandarin tones with practice. In one training study with 6- and 8-year-olds, it worked best for the 8-year-olds. The third tone, the one that dips and rises, is the trickiest for many children.
Regular practice matters most, so start when you can keep it regular.
Homeschooling?
Mandarin around your homeschool
Mandarin fits well around a homeschool timetable. Our guide shows how to add Mandarin to your homeschool plan, with hours by age and a sample 10-week term.
Price
What lessons cost
Lessons start from US$36 an hour. Every child’s lessons are customised, so we confirm the price with you after the free intro call.
About WillyChina
Lessons from a bilingual teacher
WillyChina was founded by Will, a native Mandarin speaker who was born in China and raised in Australia, so he grew up between both languages. He has spent more than a decade teaching Mandarin one-on-one, to learners in more than 20 countries, and today WillyChina teaches learners of all ages, from young children to business professionals.
Our Mandarin lessons for kids are taught in English and Mandarin, so your child knows what to do and hears natural Mandarin from the first lesson.
Questions
FAQs
What age can my child start?
From age 5. Lessons run from 30 minutes to 2 hours, set by your child’s age and focus, and you’re welcome to sit in.
Do I need to speak Mandarin?
No. Lessons are taught in Mandarin and English, so your child is never lost, and you don’t need any Mandarin to support them.
Can two children learn together?
Yes. Brothers and sisters, cousins or friends can share a lesson, with two children at most so both get lots of practice. We confirm the price for two on the intro call.
How long are the lessons?
From 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on your child’s age and focus.
How much do lessons cost?
From US$36 an hour. Every child’s lessons are customised, so we confirm the exact price with you after the free intro call.
We don’t live in Australia. Can my child still take lessons?
Yes. Our Mandarin lessons for kids are online, so families anywhere can join. Lessons are available from 7am Thailand time; see the lesson times above.
Living in Australia? For school and Year 12 questions, see Mandarin for kids in Australia.
Sources. Starting age: Carmen Muñoz, University of Barcelona, GALA conference paper (2010). Tones: Kasisopa and colleagues, Frontiers in Psychology (2018); Lin, Pollock and Li, Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (2025).
Photograph by Vitaly Gariev.
Start learning
See if lessons suit your child
Start with a free 30-minute intro call, and we’ll plan lessons around your child.
Book a free intro call