Chinese picture dictionaries help make learning Chinese easier for children. Adult learners using Chinese dictionaries without pictures have to know how to count the strokes of radicals for easier lookup. Kids with their picture dictionaries, on the other hand, can get familiarized with the dictionary’s content through the pictures and then work through the Chinese words later on. Smaller children who are learning to read English can also refer to the dictionary to practice reading English words.

ChildBook.com offers several Chinese picture dictionaries that will interest your child. Some dictionaries already have colored pictures. Some dictionaries double as coloring books. Children are more likely to remember pictures they themselves colored.

If you are thinking of getting your child a Chinese picture dictionary, here are some reminders to maximize its use:

1. Decide whether you want to get your child a Simplified Chinese or Traditional Chinese picture dictionary.
2. Pick whether your child will like a colored dictionary, or those with pictures that can be colored.
3. See the features offered in the dictionary. These will differ among the dictionaries so keep in mind what will match your child’s needs and your anticipated needs for later if you also intend to use it as reference. Chinese picture dictionaries have more or less the following:

• Pictures. Check the quality of the drawings if they appeal to your child.
• English word
• Chinese character
• Pinyin equivalent
• Use the word in a sentence

4. Once you have the dictionary, smaller children may like to pore over the pictures first so let them.
5. You can sit with your child later and point out pictures in the dictionary and the Chinese words for these.
6. Encourage your child to open the Chinese picture dictionary when ever the child is interested in anything in daily life, ex. birds. You can ask them to get the book and you can both look over the Chinese word for bird. You can also look at the sentence provided if the dictionary has it.

If you want to encourage your child to remember more words, Chinese flash cards can be of great help to repeat and practice Chinese words already learned.

As your child grows, encourage him or her to use a Chinese dictionary often. It is a vital tool when studying for school. As your child progresses and remembers more Chinese words, you will eventually have to get your child a non-picture Chinese dictionary.