Chinese New Year Activities For Kids

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is one of the most exciting and culturally rich holidays celebrated around the world. The festivities are full of color, tradition, and joy, making it a wonderful opportunity to introduce children to the customs and history of this ancient celebration. Whether you are looking for crafts, games, or educational activities, there are plenty of engaging ways to get kids involved in the spirit of Chinese New Year.

In this blog post, we will explore a variety of fun and educational Chinese New Year activities for kids that will not only entertain them but also teach them about the traditions and symbolism behind this special holiday.

1. Chinese New Year Lantern Craft

Lanterns are one of the most iconic symbols of Chinese New Year. Traditionally, families hang colorful lanterns to decorate their homes and light up the streets during the Lantern Festival, which marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Creating paper lanterns is a simple and fun craft activity that kids can do to get in the spirit of the holiday.

Materials:

• Colored construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue or tape
• Markers or stickers (optional)

Instructions:

1. Start by cutting a piece of construction paper into a rectangular shape (about 6 inches by 8 inches).
2. Cut slits along the long edge of the paper, leaving about 1 inch on either side to form the lantern shape.
3. Roll the paper into a cylinder and secure it with glue or tape.
4. Attach a handle made from a strip of paper at the top of the lantern.
5. Decorate the lantern with markers, stickers, or even Chinese symbols and designs like the dragon, plum blossoms, or the character for “fu” (good fortune).

This activity allows children to explore their creativity while learning about the importance of lanterns in Chinese culture. They can also use their lanterns as decorations for the home or carry them around as part of a festive celebration.

2. Chinese Zodiac Animal Masks

Each year of the Chinese zodiac is associated with a specific animal, and each of these animals has unique traits and symbolism. Kids can learn about the 12 Chinese zodiac animals by creating their own animal masks to represent their zodiac sign or simply to have fun with the animals of the year.

Materials:

• Printable Chinese zodiac animal templates (can be found online)
• Colored markers, crayons, or paint
• Scissors
• Glue
• Elastic string or yarn (for mask strap)

Instructions:

1. Print out templates of the Chinese zodiac animals or draw your own designs.
2. Let kids color and decorate the animals with bright colors, adding details such as patterns, fur, or scales.
3. Cut out the masks and make small holes on either side of the mask.
4. Attach an elastic string or yarn to the holes so the mask can be worn around the child’s head.

This activity not only helps children understand the significance of the animals in the Chinese zodiac but also encourages them to embrace their creativity while learning about Chinese culture.

3. Red Envelope Craft (Hongbao)

In Chinese culture, it is customary to give red envelopes (hongbao) filled with money during Chinese New Year as a symbol of good luck and prosperity. While the actual money-filled envelopes are typically given to children and unmarried adults, you can create your own version of the red envelopes for kids to decorate and fill with their own “lucky wishes.”

Materials:

• Red construction paper
• Gold or yellow markers, stickers, or glitter
• Glue or tape
• Small pieces of paper for writing wishes

Instructions:

1. Cut the red construction paper into a square or rectangle shape.
2. Fold the edges to form an envelope, securing them with glue or tape.
3. Let kids decorate the front of the envelope with Chinese symbols like “福” (fu, meaning good luck), “春” (chun, meaning spring), or even their own creative designs.
4. Write a lucky message or wish on a small piece of paper and insert it into the envelope.

The red envelope craft allows children to participate in a beloved Chinese New Year tradition while also encouraging them to think about good fortune and the act of sharing blessings.

4. Chinese Calligraphy

Chinese calligraphy is a beautiful and ancient art form that has been practiced for thousands of years. While it may seem intimidating at first, Chinese calligraphy can be a fun and educational activity for kids, especially when focusing on simple characters related to Chinese New Year.

Materials:

• Brush or marker
• Ink or paint (optional: use black marker for ease)
• Paper

Instructions:

1. Teach kids about the meaning behind common Chinese New Year symbols, such as the character for “fu” (福) which means good fortune, or “chun” (春), which means spring.
2. Demonstrate how to write these characters using brush strokes or markers.
3. Encourage kids to practice writing the characters on paper or make their own artwork by combining these symbols with decorative designs.

This activity introduces children to the art of Chinese writing while helping them understand the deep symbolism of certain characters during Chinese New Year. It’s a perfect way to foster a love for learning and creativity.

5. Chinese New Year Bingo

Games are always a hit with kids, and a Chinese New Year-themed Bingo game is an excellent way to familiarize them with the holiday’s customs and symbols. You can use Chinese New Year-related images like dragons, lanterns, fireworks, and lucky symbols on the Bingo cards.

Materials:

• Printable Chinese New Year Bingo cards (can be found online)
• Markers or coins for covering spaces
• List of corresponding pictures or words for calling out

Instructions:

1. Print out the Bingo cards with Chinese New Year-themed images or words.
2. Call out the images or words related to Chinese New Year, such as “dragon,” “red envelope,” or “fireworks.”
3. Kids cover the corresponding images on their Bingo card with markers or coins.
4. The first one to complete a row, column, or diagonal shouts “Bingo!”

This interactive game helps children learn about Chinese New Year symbols while also encouraging social interaction and friendly competition.

6. Cooking Chinese New Year Treats

Chinese New Year is also a time for delicious food, and kids can get involved in making simple, traditional treats. One popular food item during the holiday is dumplings, which are believed to bring wealth and prosperity. You can teach kids how to make simple dumplings or other festive treats like sweet rice balls (tangyuan), which are eaten during the Lantern Festival.

Materials:

• Dumpling wrappers or rice flour (for tangyuan)
• Fillings (ground pork, vegetables, or sweet fillings)
• Cooking supplies

Instructions:

1. Introduce kids to the different fillings used in Chinese dumplings or rice balls.
2. Let kids help wrap the dumplings or form the rice balls.
3. Cook the dumplings or rice balls together and enjoy them as part of your Chinese New Year celebration.

This activity not only teaches children about Chinese culinary traditions but also encourages them to appreciate food as a central part of the celebrations.

Chinese New Year is a wonderful opportunity for kids to learn about Chinese culture, traditions, and symbols in a fun and engaging way. From crafting paper lanterns to playing Bingo, each activity offers a unique chance to introduce children to the vibrant world of Chinese New Year. Whether you’re looking for crafts, games, or cooking activities, these ideas will help make the holiday more meaningful and enjoyable for kids of all ages. By participating in these activities, children not only have fun but also gain an appreciation for the cultural significance of this important festival.