My son is almost seven and he has spiraled back to an interest he had in Japanese writing a bit less than a year ago. It did not take him long to remember what he taught himself last year, so I am trying to find recommendations so he can learn more things.
He has books for Katakana and Hiragana. He knows all the syllable characters and how to form them. He has a bilingual folktale story (that he isn't that interested in because of the story subject matter) and a book that is a brief introduction to Kanji in kind of a poem form, that is supposed to include a selection of words from the first two levels of study in Japan..
He has a few websites that he looks at, too, but I was trying to find something that teaches the Kanji in a more methodical way, but that is colorful and fun and geared for kids. He is not yet ready for much grammar or the social aspect of the language. I know he would need both of those if he wanted to be fluent in the language, eventually, but I am more interested in him enjoying his special interest than with him acquiring fluency. That can come later if he is interested. He is hyperlexic, so it is more of an interest in the lettering system and vocabulary. So a focus on vocab and forming the pictographs would be perfect for him.
Edited to add that he not into manga or anime. It is purely a hyperlexic based interest.
19 Mar 2012, 8:30 am
