Chinese New Year marks the beginning of the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. Families get together to exchange gifts, eat special dishes, and decorate their homes during this festival.
This traditional celebration is an excellent experience and learning opportunity for children and allows them to indulge in Chinese culture.
That is why we would like to introduce you to some engaging Chinese New Year activities for kids in 2026.
5 Fun Chinese New Year Activities for Kids
From crafting traditional paper lanterns to painting new year posters, check out these fun Chinese New Year activities for kids.
1. Chinese dragon paper puppet
In Chinese tradition, dragons symbolize power, good luck, and strength. That is why you can see dragon illustrations, puppets, and decorations during Chinese festivals and celebrations. Hence, it is no wonder the dragon is an essential zodiac sign amongst the 12 zodiac signs of Chinese astrology.
So, making your children create a dragon paper puppet is a creative way to introduce them to Chinese culture while having fun.
Children will be intrigued while making and playing with this dragon puppet and learn more about its significance and history. Add to the fun by including accordion folds to the dragon’s body, as it makes it easy to wiggle and wave these puppets around when the children play.
2. Traditional Chinese paper lanterns
No Chinese celebration is complete without bright paper lanterns hanging around. Traditionally crafted in red and golden colors, Chinese paper lanterns have been a part of Chinese culture since the ancient times of 230 BC!
Here is an interesting Chinese New Year fact for kids. During the “Lantern Festival” in China, celebrated on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar year, people bring together paper lanterns to honor the first full moon of the year.
Many Chinese New Year videos show children taking these paper lanterns to temples and solving puzzles on the lamps. This activity marks the last ritual in celebrating the Chinese New Year.
These paper lanterns take less than a minute to make and can be beautiful decorative pieces for your child’s room. It’s a great Chinese New Year art activity for kids and is often enjoyed by grown-ups too!
3. Colorful Tangram puzzles
Engaging your children in creative activities like solving tangram puzzles is a great way to learn while having fun. Tangram puzzles are a popular Chinese New Year activity for kids, with a history dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE). A Tangram puzzle is made up of a large square divided into seven geometric shapes:
Five triangles
A smaller square
A parallelogram
Although Tangram puzzles are traditionally made of wood or metal, you can create them with craft paper and cut them into various shapes and pictures.
To add to the fun, you can replace the shapes with pictures of animals and birds or even let your children come up with their own picture ideas. Once they finish cutting the exciting shapes, decorate them around the room to portray your children’s creativity and skills.
4. Chinese hand drum
Children are fond of music and playing instruments like the drums, piano, etc. Another fun Chinese New Year activity for kids is making a hand drum. It’s easy and enjoyable to do, and even grown-ups may recall their childhood memories of playing with hand drums.
Even grown-ups might remember their childhood memories of playing with hand drums. Also known as rattle drums, this hand drum originated in ancient China around 475-221 B.C. and became immensely popular during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
Making this cute little hand drum is pretty simple. It would require basic materials like a stick, thermosol sheets, small clay balls, paint, ribbons to decorate, etc.
Let your child's imagination shine as they draw illustrations, paint, and decorate these hand drums. It is a great fun activity since your children can play music and even use it as a showpiece.
5. Chinese good luck symbols
Making your children create Chinese good luck posters is a great Chinese New Year craft. It is a great way to enhance their art & craft skills and teach them about the various good luck symbols.
Like every part of the world, people see the Chinese New Year as a fresh beginning and hope to bring good luck. Belief in luck is a cultural part of China and other Asian countries. One can find many Chinese good luck symbols decorated in homes and markets.
There are seven main good luck symbols in China which are as follows:
Chinese good luck character: "福"
Chinese good luck birds: Magpie, Cranes
Chinese good luck animals: Dragons, Phoenixes, Deers, Elephants
Chinese good luck numbers: 8, 6, 9
Chinese good luck colors: Red and Yellow
Chinese good luck plants: Bamboo, Pine trees
Chinese good luck fruits: Apple, Pomelo, Oranges
Once the good luck symbol posters are ready, you can use them as decoration or teaching aids.
Chinese New Year Food Activities for Kids
What’s a celebration without delicious food? Chinese New Year is a great opportunity to involve kids in the kitchen by making festive treats that are fun and easy to prepare. Here are a few simple, kid-friendly recipes to celebrate the holiday:
1. Dumpling-Shaped Snacks
While making actual dumplings might be a bit complicated for younger kids, you can make simple, dumpling-shaped snacks using ingredients like fruit, cheese, or crackers.
How to do it:
Use round crackers or biscuits and spread cream cheese or peanut butter between them.
Let kids fold the crackers into "dumpling" shapes.
Serve with a dipping sauce for extra fun.
2. Orange-Based Treats
Oranges are a symbol of good luck during Chinese New Year. You can make simple snacks using orange slices or use them to decorate cupcakes or cookies.
How to do it:
Slice oranges and serve them as a refreshing snack.
For a fun twist, dip the slices in chocolate or yogurt for a sweet treat.
3. Rice Cake Treats
Sticky rice cakes are another staple during Chinese New Year. You can make simple versions using rice crispy treats shaped like coins or lucky symbols.
How to do it:
Make rice crispy treats and cut them into small circles.
Decorate with edible gold or sprinkle with colored sugar to symbolize wealth.
Musical Chinese New Year Activities for Kids
Music plays an important role in Chinese New Year celebrations, with traditional songs often accompanying dances and parades. Why not add a musical twist to your celebrations with these fun activities?
1. Chinese New Year Song and Dance
One of the best ways to engage kids in the celebration is by teaching them a simple Chinese New Year song or dance. Music helps children connect with the holiday in a meaningful way, and dancing to the rhythm brings joy and excitement.
How to do it:
Teach kids a simple Chinese New Year song, like "Gong Xi Gong Xi" (a popular Chinese New Year song).
Add a dance routine to go along with the song.
Let kids perform for family members or even put on a small talent show.
2. DIY Instruments for Parade Music
For older kids, making homemade instruments like tambourines, shakers, or drums can add to the fun. These DIY instruments can be used to play along with Chinese New Year music, giving kids a sense of involvement.
How to do it:
Use empty cans, beads, and rubber bands to create makeshift tambourines.
Fill jars or bottles with rice or beans for homemade maracas.
Let kids decorate their instruments and perform together.
FAQs about Chinese New Year Activities for Kids
Are there free Chinese New Year activities for kids?
Yes! Many activities, like DIY crafts, free printable worksheets, and storytelling, require little to no cost. You can use materials you already have at home to create fun and meaningful experiences.
What are the best Chinese New Year activities for kids at home?
Simple crafts like lantern-making, zodiac animal masks, and red envelope scavenger hunts are great for home-based fun. These activities can be customized to fit the age and interests of your child.
What games to play for Chinese New Year?
Games like bingo, scavenger hunts, and firecracker crafts are perfect for Chinese New Year. These games are easy to set up and incorporate cultural themes that kids can learn about.
Bring on the celebration!
These fun and creative Chinese New Year activities are a great way to have fun while teaching your child more about Chinese culture. Through simple crafts, food, music, and games, the Chinese New Year becomes something kids can truly experience, not just observe.
If you’d like to take that cultural curiosity a step further, LingoAce offers carefully designed Mandarin Chinese courses for children. Our lessons combine language learning with stories, culture, and real-life context, making Chinese feel natural and engaging. Sign up for a free trial class and let your child explore Mandarin in a way that feels just as fun and meaningful as these Chinese New Year activities for kids.
