The lunar new year marks a festive season celebrated by billions worldwide. 2022 is the year of the water tiger in the eastern zodiac, a sign of strength and movement. The lunar new year festivals are full of symbols that make great decorating and crafting projects for children! Let’s go through 5 fun ideas to try at home:
Chinese Paper Fans
- Cut a piece of 8″x11″ red paper in half (folded lengthwise).
- Write warm messages on the fan lengthwise, you can even practice Chinese characters!
- Fill the paper with decorations such as glitter and drawn images
- Fold the paper in half-inch accordion-style folds
- Tie up the bottom end with a nice ribbon or crafting tape
Voila! You have a fan that is both decorative and usable for the lunar near year.
Easy Origami Animals
If you are new to creating origami with children, keep these tips in mind: Use BIG paper that is largely disposable to you, as there will be some failures along the way! It really helps the process if you have made the origami yourself beforehand. Take a few minutes before a lesson to refresh your memory
https://origami.guide/origami-for-kids-animals/
Chinese drum (from paper plates!)
The pellet drum has two heads on it, one forming the front and one forming the back. There are also two pellets on the sides of the drum. To play it, you hold the stick between your two hands and swing it back and forth so that the pellets hit the heads to mark in the lunar new year.
You will need two paper or plastic plates, and note that you will be painting/seeing the outside of the paper plates and not the inside. Once the paint has dried, attach a wooden dowel or stick to the inside of one of the plates. The youngsters next construct pellets by attaching bells to a string. They then attach the string with pellets to the edges of their plates using tape. To secure them in place, use a staple where the strings connect to the plate.
Tissue Paper Flower Blossoms
Pretty pink flower blossoms are a staple of the lunar new year. You will need tissue paper (of any color, but traditionally they would be pink) and some sticks from shrubs or trees outside.
Make the corners of the tissue paper (all 4) touch and then crinkle the bottom of the tissue paper so that it holds this flower blossom shape. Once you have created enough to cover a small twig or branch, glue them onto the branch at nice intervals. These make a beautiful lunar new year centerpiece.
Printed Dragon Masks
For an easy festive lunar new year experience, dress as dragons! Use the printable templates available at the link below to pick out a dragon mask. The kids can then color it to their own style (you will find many variations are possible!). Once the mask is colored, a simple Popsicle stick at the bottom will turn it into a holdable mask.
https://www.redtedart.com/diy-dragon-mask-printables/
Sources:
https://www.redtedart.com/chinese-new-year-crafts-kids/
https://socalfieldtrips.com/13-easy-to-make-chinese-new-year-crafts-for-kids/
https://chalkacademy.com/chinese-new-year-crafts-activities-kids/
https://www.giftofcuriosity.com/chinese-new-year-drum-craft-for-kids/
