Hi need2learnchinese,
How wonderful that you've found a Chinese tutor and are encouraging your daughter to learn Chinese. I do hope that my posting will help inspire others to learn languages. The earlier that kids are in contact with language learning, I think the easier it is for them to pick up the language. But I don't think there's intense urgency (I didn't start learning languages, i.e. French and Chinese, until I was in high school).
I do hope that the language learning goes well for your daughter. However, if your daughter doesn't seem keen on learning Chinese, don't be surprised. Apparently some inter-country adoptees are more keen on trying so hard to assimilate into their adoptive culture and may even resist any association with their birth culture (see the second blue paragraph in the following web page
Suggestions for AParents ) Even when I studied Chinese language as a teenager in China and then at university, I still saw myself as a Caucasian learning a foreign language.
The interest within the USA for learning Chinese is definitely increasing
Non-Asians Show A Growing Interest In Chinese Courses - Free Preview - The New York Times
Here's a useful web site for learning Chinese.
Learn Chinese Characters However, I'm not sure if this site has much that's geared towards primary school kids. I do recommend Oxford University Press' "Let's Go" books
Oxford University Press | Let's Go
These books are oriented towards Chinese kids who want to learn English. However, I use the books to teach myself Chinese vocabulary since they have pictures as well as both Chinese and English translations of everyday vocabulary. Unfortunately I haven't come across many picture-oriented textbooks for learning Chinese.
Hopefully your daughter will enjoy learning Chinese as much as I have. It really is a very colorful language and my Chinese language skills have helped TREMENDOUSLY in me in my search and reunion journey.
Yours,
Ripples