These Chinese New Year crafts and activities are simple to set up and fun to do together with the kids! My kids (ages 6 and 10) share a fascination with China, so these activities were a big hit with them! Who knows? These festive crafts may even bring you a bit of good luck!
Chinese Character Writing
Print out worksheets to learn how to write some simple Chinese characters. You can find several printable Chinese character worksheets for kids here.
Chopstick Transfer Trays
Set out a tray with two bowls. Fill the left bowl with gold coins and leave the other one empty. Invite your child to transfer the coins from the left bowl to the right using only chopsticks! For younger kids, a set of tongs would also work.
Lucky Gold Coin Math
Lots of possibilities here. Use gold coins to practice counting, sorting (by size), adding, subtracting, probability (flip a coin several times and graph the results)!
Dragon Puppet Show
Use paper bags and construction paper to craft up some dragon puppets. Put on a show!
Related — How to Build a Simple Shadow Puppet Theater
Paper Lantern Handmade Card
Cut up red cupcake liners and attach to card stock with double sided tape to look like lanterns hanging on a line. Add washi tape streamers or gold glitter glue, if desired. Allow the glue to dry completely, and mail your handmade card to someone special!
Paper Lantern Parade
Use construction paper, scissors, and a stapler to craft up some paper lanterns. March around the house for a festive paper lantern parade! Learn how to make paper lanterns with this step-by-step tutorial.
Chinese Take Out Dinner
Order take out from your favorite Chinese restaurant. Added bonus — order a new entree or appetizer you have never tried before!
Read Your Chinese Horoscope
These can be great fun to read! Your Chinese horoscope is dependent on the year that you were born. Click here for your Chinese horoscope.
Pass the Fortune Cookie
This is played just like “hot potato”. Participants sit together in a circle. While the music is playing, they take turns passing a fortune cookie around. When the music stops, the player holding the fortune cookie is “out”. The last player left wins!
Lucky Chinese New Year Play Dough
Mix gold glitter into red play dough! The glitter stays in the play dough like magic.
Have fun!!
