Chatting in Chinese for your kids through USChinaKidsClub
This is an interesting program. It sets up chats between kids in the United States (and elsewhere) and China, half in Mandarin and half in English.
What seems useful about it is that there’s a facilitator, to keep the kids talking. We did some “video pen pal” like tries in our grade school and mostly the kids just giggled and didn’t say much. Having specific topics — “Furnishing my ideal bedroom” for example — helps focus them. And the facilitator makes sure things keep happening.
This might be something for parents looking to give their kids practice speaking Chinese over the summer. They’ve got a handy dandy schedule so you can see when there’s overlap between times kids in China are awake and kids in the U.S. Generally there’s an up to six hour window each day when there’s a good overlap.
Here’s an example of how it works.
I would imagine it’s most useful for kids who have had a few years of immersion, so they can speak Chinese. I haven’t actually tested it and would love to hear from parents who’ve used the service.
The cost is $80 for four 45 minute sessions. There’s a $20 trial so you can get a sense of it.
They have a more structured program for schools, but with COVID-19 they’re finding U.S. parents want to set things up over the summer to keep their kids engaged with Chinese.
You can find their website here.
Mandarin Immersion Parents Council 
Several months ago, a friend posted information about the US China Kids’ Club on a Mandarin immersion Facebook page. She said that they were accepting students and that her son was happy with the program. I immediately signed up my older daughter and I haven’t regretted it. She loves her teacher and “classmates,” and she looks forward to her Saturday morning sessions. The teacher executes fun, engaging and interactive lessons with the students. I believe that my daughter’s confidence in her ability to speak Chinese has grown since she became a part of this program. We hope that her teacher, and the program, will stick around for years to come. I’m hoping to eventually have my 6-year-old daughter join the program also.
The teacher in this club is very patient, and this program is a great medium to connect both students from China & USA.
I’ve got two boys, Joseph and Johann, enrolled in this program, they are 9 and 11 years old. Convenience is what the program attracts us: you can take class online at home; and also we could communicate with family in China to accommodate the time when to meet. For achievements: my children are very lazy in learning Chinese. However, what I found right now is that they are getting more and more interested in Chinese culture. And they even speak Chinese to me! Although, we hope they could speak more. You see, it’s the only educational program in this summer that can keep my children sit there to study for an hour. Advice I’d like to give the program is maybe it’s a great thing to let two kids meet each other in real life. In this way, they will become real buddy, and have more appreciation. The COVID seems to last for a long time, especially here in California. After the situation get’s better, we will travel to China to see the boys’ Pals.