Chinese New Year Activities and Easy Crafts for Preschool

Chinese New Year is a joyous and vibrant holiday that can be fun to celebrate in the preschool classroom. Here are some simple craft and activity ideas to help your students learn about and embrace the traditions of this special holiday. Do check out my 100 Days of School Freebie!

Chinese New Year is a time for families to come together, clean their homes, and welcome in the new year with hope and optimism. It is also a time for children to learn about the customs and traditions of this ancient holiday. Check out these Valentines Day Activities!

One of the most iconic symbols of Chinese New Year is the dragon dance. You can create your own dragon using craft supplies like construction paper, scissors, and markers. Your child can help to design and decorate the dragon, using their imagination and creativity.

Another fun activity for Chinese New Year is making red envelopes. These envelopes, called "hongbao" in Chinese, are traditionally given as gifts during the holiday. You can use red construction paper and decorative stickers to create your own envelopes, and even fill them with a small treat or toy for your child to enjoy.

Chinese New Year is also a time for delicious food and treats. You can introduce your preschooler to some traditional Chinese dishes, and even let them help with the cooking. This can be a fun and educational activity that teaches kids about different cultures and cuisines.

Why 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit?

The Chinese New Year is celebrated annually according to the Chinese calendar, which is a lunisolar calendar that is based on both the lunar phases and the solar cycles. Each year in the Chinese calendar is associated with one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, and the animals are believed to have unique characteristics that are associated with the people born in that year.

The Chinese zodiac predicts that the Year of the Rabbit will occur in 2023. The Year of the Rabbit is thought to be a time of diplomacy, charm, and grace, and people born during this time are thought to be intelligent, gentle, and artistic.

Chinese New Year is a time for celebration and coming together with loved ones. It's also a great opportunity to introduce your little ones to new cultures and traditions. One fun way to do this is by doing Chinese New Year crafts and activities with your preschoolers.

Preschool Activities Ideas for Chinese New Year

In the preschool classroom, there are many fun and engaging ways to celebrate Chinese New Year. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Create lanterns in red and gold to adorn the classroom. To create lanterns, cut circles of red and gold paper and assemble them with glue. They look festive when hung from the ceiling.

2. Use a paper bag and construction paper to make a dragon puppet. Construction paper dragon features should be cut out and adhered to the paper bag. Let the kids use their puppets to recreate the Chinese New Year parade after adding some yarn for the dragon's mane.

3. Have the kids use cardboard tubes and beads to create their own noisemakers. Make holes in the cardboard tubes, then string beads onto it. The children can shake the tubes to create noise during the celebration by tying the string to the ends of the tubes.

4. Using paper cutouts of the zodiac animals in red and gold, create a Chinese New Year mobile. Children can spin the mobile while identifying the various animals by taking turns. Hang the mobile from the ceiling.

5. Hold a dumpling-making event and let the kids assist with filling and encasing the dumplings. During the celebration, prepare the dumplings and serve them as a snack.

6. Have the kids use construction paper to create their own tangrams. Cut out seven pieces in various shapes, and then let the kids use them to make their own artwork.

7. Hold a dragon dance activity where the kids can take turns playing the head and tail of the dragon. Allow the kids to dance around the classroom while you play some traditional Chinese music.

8. Using construction paper in red and gold, create a Chinese New Year calendar. Allow the kids to decorate the calendar with cutouts of the zodiac animals after having them cut out the numbers and glue them on.

9. Have the kids use red and gold construction paper, stickers, and other materials to create their own Chinese New Year cards. Allow them to personalize the cards with their own messages, then let them distribute them to friends and family.

10. Create a Chinese New Year dragon puppet. Use colorful construction paper, glue, and scissors to create a dragon puppet that your students can use to act out the traditional dragon dance.

11. Create a Chinese zodiac chart. Use a large piece of paper to create a chart that shows the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. Have each student cut out and color the animal that corresponds to their birth year and glue it onto the chart.

12. Hold a Chinese New Year parade in your class, and let the kids parade around the room dressed in red and gold. Allow the kids to wave their lanterns and noisemakers while you play some traditional Chinese music.

13. Hold a Chinese New Year feast. Invite parents to bring in traditional Chinese dishes to share with the class. Encourage your students to try new foods and learn about the customs and symbolism associated with each dish.

Preschool Craft Ideas for Chinese New Year

Let's Check out some more fun Chinese New Year Crafts for your Preschool and Kindergarten kids:

1. Chinese Lantern Sun Catchers – The Gingerbread House
2. Chinese New Year sensory bin – Gift of Curiosity
3. Chinese Paper Lantern Printable - Zippi Kids

Check it out here

1. Chinese New Year Noise Maker Craft  - Activities for Kids
2. Simple Jar Chinese Paper Lantern Craft – Blissful Domestication
3. Simple Chinese New Year crafts: Paper plate dragon – Kiddy Charts
4. Chinese New Year Fan Printable -Zippi Kids

Check it out here

1. Cupcake Liner Dragon Craft - I Heart Crafty Things
2. Easy Paper Dragon puppet craft for Chinese New Year – Crafts by Ria
3. How to Make an Egg Carton Dragon Craft – I Heart Crafty Things
4. Chinese Red Envelope Craft - Zippi Kids
   
   
5. Chinese New Year Red Envelope craft - First Palette
6. How to Make a Chinese Rattle Drum – Blissful Domestication
7. Paper Plate Dragon – Messy Little Monsters
8. Handprint Dragon Craft - Zippi Kids
   
   

9.  Recycled Mason Jar Lantern  

10. How to make Chinese lanterns – Nuture Store
11. Paper Plate Hand Fans - The Pinterested Parent
12. Cheese Chinese Lanterns – Danya Banya
13. Chinese New Year Name Hats Printable-  Zippi Kids

Check it out here

1. Egg Carton Dragon Puppet – Messy Little Monsters
2. Moveable Chinese Dragon Paper Plate Craft – Crafts on the Sea
3. DIY Fortune Cookies - Unsophisticook 

4. Make a Paper Plate Lantern Craft

5. Sensory play with spice play dough for Chinese New Year

In conclusion, Chinese New Year is a great opportunity to introduce your preschoolers to new cultures and traditions. Crafts and activities, like making a dragon dance or red envelopes, can be fun and engaging for kids. You can also incorporate traditional foods and treats into your celebrations, providing a well-rounded and enjoyable experience for your little ones.