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Olympics Inspire Kids to Learn About China

by Dan Sanford8/11/2008 3:14:50 PM

Books and games about China are fast disappearing off the shelves of educational stores in Bellingham as parents see this Summer Olympics in Beijing as a rare chance to inspire education in social studies.

Find Mission: China at Launching Success Learning Store.
Photo courtesy Dan Sanford.

The Games of the XXIX Olympiad began on August 8 and will continue through August 24. Athletes from over two hundred countries and territories will compete in 302 events in 28 sports during the Beijing Games.

Whether kids get started with questions about international sports competition or jump immediately into subjects about China, the next couple of weeks is clearly a time for mom and dad to fast track their child’s cross cultural knowledge.

At Launching Success Learning Store in Bellingham, special 2008 Olympics and China displays have been up for a month and nearly 3/4 of the items for sale there are now gone. An Excavation Kit of Terra Cotta Warriors has been one of most popular. Distributed by Corners of the World, this clay mold hiding a soldier figure of the first Chinese emperor Qin Shi Haung comes with small pick and a brief guide to the ancient Xian tombs.

A similar item intriguing first-time China explorers is the game Mission: China by Xeko. Created by entrepreneurs in Seattle, the game is part of a conservation series of trading card games that lead players into an exploration of the natural landscape. The starter set comes with an ecological map of China.

To find out about other global games and activities to help kids learn about China, contact Launching Success Learning Store at (360) 527-2641.