Teaching your child Simplified vs Traditional Chinese

A common question I hear from Chinese and Taiwanese American parents is: should I teach my child Simplified Chinese or Traditional Chinese? Honestly, there is a lot of overlap between the two writing systems, and kids who get solid exposure to one can often transition or recognize parts of the other.

For me, the decision was pretty straightforward. I grew up learning Simplified Chinese and pinyin in Chinese school on Saturdays. That’s what my parents read, what the rest of my extended family reads, and what I’m most comfortable with. We also visit family in Mainland China regularly, so Simplified naturally fits our daily life and our connection back home. When I became a parent, it made sense to continue with the language system I knew best and could confidently pass on. I made an effort to look specifically for Simplified Chinese children's books (and that's why I include pinyin guides with my books!).

But every family has a different story. Some Chinese American families grew up with Traditional Chinese because their parents are from Taiwan, Hong Kong, or communities where Traditional was more common. Others live in areas with stronger resources for one system over the other - maybe the local Chinese school teaches Traditional, or all your child’s cousins are learning Simplified, or the books you can reliably access happen to be in one format. Or even more complicated, perhaps you learned Simplified but your partner learned Traditional?

At the end of the day, especially for families where Mandarin is not the community language, the most important thing is choosing the system that’s most accessible and sustainable for you. That might be the script you were exposed to growing up, the one your parents or in-laws can help reinforce, the version your child’s teacher can support, or simply the one that matches the books and resources you can actually get your hands on.

There’s no “right” choice here. Both Simplified and Traditional Chinese open the door to culture, stories, and connection. What matters most is building a routine that feels doable and consistent. If your goal is to raise a child who feels connected to their heritage, either system will get you there, as long as it works for your family’s real life.

If you want help finding books in Simplified Chinese with English and pinyin for early readers or heritage speakers, that’s exactly why I started Lotus Leaf Books. And if your family uses Traditional Chinese, there are wonderful resources out there for that path too. The best choice is the one you feel confident continuing tomorrow and the next day.