Chinese New Year Crafts for Kids

The Chinese New Year is fast approaching and even you don’t celebrate it, you can teach your kids a little about it.  This year is the year of the Snake.  In the Chinese Zodiac there are 12 signs.  The snake is the 6^th sign. 

Here are a couple of fun crafts you can do with your kids for the Chinese new year.

Being the year of the snake, why not have your little ones make their own.  It is an easy craft that all ages will enjoy.  (Found on pinterest)

Materials:

construction paper (2 or 3 colors)
small scrap of red construction paper
scissors,
scotch tape or glue,
wiggly eyes (optional)
black marker

 

 

Instructions:

1.  Cut about 16 strips of construction paper 2 inches wide and 10 inches long 

2.  Make your first strip of construction paper into a ring and tape or glue it together

3.  Slide your next strip of construction paper through the ring and tape or glue it into a ring

4.  Repeat the process until you have a long chain of construction paper rings.

Tongue:

5. Cut a tongue shape from red construction paper (Y shaped)

6. Fold a small tab at the end and glue it onto the head (the front construction paper ring)

Eyes:

7. Glue on wiggly eyes or draw eyes on with a marker.  You can even make the eyes out of construction paper.

Another fun craft I enjoyed when I was in school was making a Chinese Drum.

What you'll need:

paper plates
popsicle stick
string
beads
hole punch
glue
scissors

optional for decorating:

paint
stickers
construction paper
glitter

Instructions:

1. Lay one paper plate face up and glue the popsicle stick to the edge of it to make a handle.

2.  Put a line of glue all around the rim of the plate and place the other plate face down on top of it.  Allow the glue to dry.

3. Once the glue has dried punch 2 holes along the rim of the plate on opposites sides of each other.

4. String some beads onto two pieces of string, then thread the string through the holes and tie a knot.

5.  Now you can shake the drum back and forth.  The beads will hit either side of the plate and make a "drumming" noise.

 

Feel free to decorate the drum any way you'd like.  If you choose to paint, you may want to paint before you punch the holes in it.

Want more?  Check this link for a fun lantern craft that is great for all ages.