It’s almost that time of year again! Luckily, the team at Art to Art has you covered with plenty of fun and easy Chinese New Year crafts for kids of all ages. We have something for everyone to enjoy, from art paper and artist paint crafts to a craft to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit and more! These Chinese New Year crafts for 2023 can also be used as home decor - it’s ultimately up to you! Read on to get inspired.
Overview:
- Chinese paper lanterns
- DIY fortune cookies
- New Year clay charms
- New Year candle holder
- DIY Lunar New Year fan
- Chinese dragon puppet
- Bunny rabbit origami
- Hanging citrus fruit
- Chinese New Year slime
- Chinese New Year stick puzzle
Why do people celebrate Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year focuses on letting go of negative things in your past and welcoming the new and the good for a prosperous New Year, according to Royal Museums Greenwich. People celebrate this day by worshipping ancient ancestors, removing evil spirits and praying for a good harvest.
10 Chinese New Year crafts for kids
1. Chinese paper lanterns
Try out this colourful craft that can be used to decorate your home or school. These are also super easy and can be made by children of all ages! Simply grab some coloured art paper in your favourite colour, an art pencil, craft scissors, craft tape, a stapler, a ruler and some glitter to decorate. Traditional lanterns are usually lit with a small flame and released into the sky, however these are a much easier alternative.
2. DIY fortune cookies
The kids will love creating these cute little fortune cookies. Not only are they great for Chinese New Year, they can also be used for other celebrations such as birthdays, Valentine’s Day, weddings and more! To make these you will need white and coloured art paper, adhesive foam squares, craft scissors, a fineliner pen, and a lid for tracing. The best part about this is you can get creative and customise the fortunes to your liking.
3. New Year clay charms
Red envelopes are a traditional gift for children and elderly people during Chinese New Year. They are filled with money and represent good luck and wishes for the year approaching. To make these cute lucky charms, you will need some polymer clay, gold acrylic paint, a rolling pin, a craft knife, a dotting tool and decorations such as rhinestones. Your kids can get creative with these little charms and decorate them however they like!
4. New Year candle holder
Recreate a traditional Chinese lantern with this easy candle holder craft. All you need to do is tear some red tissue paper and stick it to the outside of your jar with craft glue. Once the glue has dried, trim the excess tissue paper off the top, add in your electronic candle and decorate your jar with black paint.
5. DIY Lunar New Year fan
This is a great Chinese New Year activity for primary school and older students. Fans are commonly used during New Year ceremonies as fashion statements and art displays. They symbolise generosity and good luck. To make this craft you will need art paper, pop sticks, a hairband and some markers or paint pens to decorate.
6. Chinese dragon puppet
This fun and colourful Chinese New Year dragon craft is sure to be a hit with the kids this year! The dragon is a well-known symbolic creature in Chinese culture – symbolising strength, good luck, power and wisdom. To make these, grab some crepe paper, popsticks, markers, craft scissors, a ruler and some craft tape. This simple Chinese dragon craft can be completed in just 25 minutes and will keep the kids entertained for hours!
7. Bunny rabbit origami
To celebrate the Year of the Rabbit, we have added this cute origami rabbit craft onto our list. Rabbits in Chinese culture are known to be the luckiest sign and symbolises elegance, beauty and mercy. To get started, you will need some coloured paper, markers, printable Happy New Year messages and some cardstock paper.
8. Hanging citrus fruit
Yet again, we have another paper craft to decorate your home this Lunar New Year. Mandarins, known as ‘kam’ in Chinese (which sounds similar to ‘gold’), are traditionally eaten on Chinese New Year. Once eaten, they are supposed to bring riches into your life. To make these hanging fruits you will need coloured paper, brown yarn, craft scissors, a stapler and some craft glue. You can hang these up outside or in your room for some extra decoration.
9. Chinese New Year slime
Keep the kids entertained with this bright red Chinese New Year inspired slime. Slime is a popular craft to make and play with, and will be a guaranteed success for older and younger children (under parental supervision). To get started, grab some PVA clear glue, liquid starch, food colouring, gold sequins and glitter. Slime will generally last for a couple of weeks, just make sure to store it in an airtight container.
10. Chinese New Year stick puzzle
Teach your children important Chinese greetings with this fun popsicle colour puzzle. You will need some popsticks, an art pencil, a marker, craft tape, pom poms, a tray, a paint brush and acrylic paint. To make the activity more challenging, you can have a race to see who finishes the puzzle first or have children make their own puzzles for each other!
Get prepared for the Chinese New Year with Art to Art
We hope you’ve been inspired by our list of 10 Chinese New Year crafts for kids. And if you have, now is the perfect time to get in early and purchase some kids art supplies from Art to Art. We stock everything you need, from craft supplies and art mediums to canvas, art accessories and so much more! Shop online today and get free shipping over $100. Plus, get same-day dispatch Australia-wide when you order before 11am.
Chinese New Year crafts for kids: FAQs
How do we celebrate the Chinese New Year for kids?
Aside from these fun Chinese New Year crafts for kids, there are many ways to celebrate this special day with your kids. Some traditional activities include:
- Red clothes: Red is the colour of the Lunar New Year, so make sure to wear your best outfit as it represents new beginnings, luck and joy.
- Fill red envelopes: These little red envelopes are filled with money and given to children during dinner time. These symbolise luck and prosperity.
- Lucky dinner: It’s tradition to have a ‘lucky dinner’ that is filled with many symbolic meanings. Some foods that bring good luck include noodles, shrimp and pork dumplings, and whole fish.
- Learn about the Chinese Zodiac: As 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit, it’s good to learn about personality traits, morals and what makes them unique.
- Create your own lantern festival: If you cannot attend a lantern festival in your city, you can always create your own! Just buy some lanterns and hang them around your backyard.
What games do kids play on Chinese New Year?
There’s many Chinese New Year games children can play at home or school. From fun DIY’s to party games and more!
- Play chopsticks
- Give out fortune cookies
- Paint your face as the zodiac animal
- Get a dragon pinata
What are some Chinese New Year crafts for adults?
If you’re looking for some Chinese New Year crafts for adults, there’s plenty to keep you occupied! Some good ideas include:
- Mason jar lanterns
- Chinese New Year party crackers
- DIY red envelopes
- Ancient Chinese paper making
- Lantern pinata
- Chinese New Year polymer clay earrings
