A fair few parents are starting to buy Chinese lessons for their children, with some schools in the UK experimenting with the idea too.

The theory: as China becomes an even bigger economic power in the years to come, it’s a good idea to start Western children learning its language earlier, to give them a useful workplace skill in the future.

If you’re nodding your head at the idea, you may like Kids Learn Mandarin Beginner. Released by Fingerprint Digital, it gets young children started with Mandarin.

Well, we say ‘young’ – the app is aimed at 2-8 year-olds, which is quite a wide range. It includes a numbers lesson, eight games, a video and 20 digital stickers for free, with 11 more lessons unlockable as in-app purchases up to a maximum of £5.49 for the lot.

With everything unlocked, kids will learn more than 240 Mandarin words by playing games hosted by a cuddly panda named Pei Pei. Music videos and Chinese character writing exercises are also included.

The app also uses Fingerprint’s system of in-app messaging between children and parents – good for encouraging them on their progress – as well as helping you see what they’re learning, and recommending other apps from the publisher’s network.

Kids Learn Mandarin Beginner is a free download on the App Store, for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.