When we're not busy stuffing our faces with pineapple tarts, we're breaking out the art kit and making some DIY Chinese New Year crafts with the kids!
Chinese New Year is almost here! If you need some help keeping the kids entertained over the festive period – we’re here to help! We’ve already turned plates into dinosaurs during the school holidays, and now we’re creating snakes out of toilet rolls and pineapples out of washi tape with these fun DIY decorations! Gong xi fa cai, everyone!
Chinese New Year craft ideas for kids
1. Snake puppets
There’s nothing scary about this snake puppet by Alpha Mom. Get creative with some plastic cups and coloured tissue paper, and use wooden chopsticks as handles to make the snake ‘come to life’. This one is sure to keep the kids entertained!
2. Toilet roll snake craft
Slide into the Year of the Snake with this easy-peasy snake craft by Red Ted Art made from a toilet roll! Not only is this a simple and fun craft, it’s a good way to re-use toilet rolls and reduce waste. Get the paint ready to make the snake uniquely yours or use cut-up coloured paper from recycled sources like magazines to decorate your snake.
3. Pineapple washi tape prints
This is an oldie, but a goodie when it comes to Chinese New Year crafts for kids. The pineapple washi tape print by Delineate Your Dwelling continues to make an appearance in our households over the festive season as a great way to entertain the kids. Plus, it actually looks pretty cute – we reckon you’ve also got yourselves a handmade gift for the relatives. Winning!
4. Chinese New Year pellet drums
This is one bangin’ Chinese New Year craft project, and we bet it’s something that the kids will have fun doing! This is a recreation of a traditional Chinese instrument known as bolang gu (pellet drum). All you need are two paper plates, red and gold paint, strong chopsticks, string, and two bells. Follow Gift of Curiosity‘s tutorial, and kiddos will have a field day with these.
5. Baby food jar lanterns
If you have empty baby food jars lying around, this is a great, artsy way to reuse them. Artsy Momma came up with a craft project that turns the jars into Chinese New Year lanterns, and we’re digging them.
6. Chinese lantern sun catcher
Want a simple, straightforward craft that’ll keep the kiddos busy for a couple of hours? This is it. Check out The Gingerbread House, which listed down the steps to create this lantern sun catcher. Place these on the windows when you’re done, and admire your house as it transforms into a gorgeous red hue.
7. Bunny finger puppets
If your kiddo was born in the Year of the Rabbit, try this cute bunny craft with them! These puppets are easy enough for the littles to make and are another activity that’ll keep them preoccupied once they’re done. Head over to I Heart Crafty Things, which has the printable template and a how-to video. Hoppy Chinese New Year!
8. Pop up zodiac animal card
Wish someone a Happy Chinese New Year with this adorable card! According to Red Ted Art, you need to cut out animal shapes (like a rabbit as seen above or a dragon for this year’s zodiac animal), create a special fold so that the animal can pop up, and stick everything down in place. We had fun making this, and we’re certain the kids will, too.
9. Good luck ornaments
Usher in loads of good luck into your home this lunar new year with an easy-peasy paper ornament! Gather your colourful markers, purchase some embroidery floss at any Chinese store, and follow the instructions listed on Made With Happy. Who knows: you might be blessed with bountiful luck after hanging these up!
10. Homemade fortune cookies
Kids will love making these little parcels of luck: homemade fortune cookies by Crafts by Amanda. We also love that it requires minimal materials: scrapbook paper, glue dots and white paper. And, hey presto – you’ve got yourself some super-duper fortune cookies!
11. Chinese paper lanterns
We all know and love Chinese lanterns as part of CNY festivities, so we think these pretty Chinese lantern instructions by First Palette make the perfect Chinese New Year craft!
12. Handmade tiger card
Simple Everyday Mom came up with this craft activity for Valentine’s Day, but we think it’s fitting to make these for lunar new year celebrations too! Once done, pen down all the auspicious CNY greetings and send them to the folks you want to wish bountiful blessings to.
13. Ang bao fish!
Put those ang baos to good use by recycling them into these fun CNY fish! Head on over to Sub Merryn for the lowdown on how to make these cute little fishy friends in no time!
14. Goldfish kite
After you’re done with the annual spring cleaning, spruce up your home with these illuminating goldfish kites! It will look really mesmerising when that (random) gust of wind blows and perhaps bring more luck into your life too? Activity Village has the tutorial to make this easy craft.
15. Zodiac animal bookmark
Fancy a little dragon huffing at the corner of your page? We love the whimsy of this craft activity. Engage the kiddos during the Chinese New Year festivities with this dragon bookmark by RedTart. Follow the clean instructions above. Looking for more dragon-themed craft? RedTart has it all!
Have fun crafting these Chinese New Year activities, folks!