Chinese New Year is a festive time filled with joy and excitement, and there are many games that kids can enjoy during this special celebration. From traditional games to creative crafts, here are 14 fun activities that kids can play during Chinese New Year:
1. Dragon Piñata: A dragon-shaped piñata filled with treats can be a hit at any Chinese New Year party. Kids can take turns trying to break it open with a stick while blindfolded.
2. The Chopsticks Game: This game tests kids’ dexterity and concentration. Place a bowl of small objects, such as candies or marbles, on a table and challenge the kids to pick them up using chopsticks within a certain time limit.
3. Pin the Tail on the Rabbit: Similar to the classic game “Pin the Tail on the Donkey,” this Chinese New Year version involves blindfolding the kids and having them try to pin a tail on a picture of a rabbit.
4. Red Pockets Treasure Hunt: Hide red pockets (small envelopes filled with money or treats) around the house or yard, and let the kids search for them. The child who finds the most red pockets wins a prize.
5. Catch the Dragon’s Tail: This game is played with a long dragon-shaped cloth or rope. The kids form a line, with the front person holding the “head” of the dragon. The objective is for the person at the back to catch the “tail” by chasing and tagging the person in front.
6. Face Painting: Set up a face painting station where kids can have their faces adorned with traditional Chinese New Year symbols, such as dragons, flowers, or the zodiac animal of the year.
7. Make Chinese New Year Paper-Chain Dragons: Kids can get creative and make their own paper-chain dragons using red and gold paper. They can decorate the dragons with glitter, sequins, or other craft materials.
8. Mandarin Pairs: This game helps kids learn and practice Mandarin Chinese vocabulary. Prepare flashcards with Chinese words or phrases and have the kids match the pairs by finding the corresponding words.
9. Lantern Making: Provide kids with materials such as colored paper, scissors, and glue to create their own Chinese lanterns. They can decorate the lanterns with Chinese characters or symbols.
10. Chopstick Relay Race: Divide the kids into teams and set up a relay race using chopsticks and small objects like cotton balls or ping pong balls. Each team member must use the chopsticks to pick up a ball and pass it on to the next person in line.
11. Chinese Calligraphy: Teach kids the art of Chinese calligraphy by providing them with brushes, ink, and paper. They can practice writing Chinese characters or their own names in a traditional style.
12. Fortune Telling Game: Create homemade fortune tellers, also known as “cootie catchers,” with Chinese New Year-themed fortunes inside. Kids can take turns asking questions and revealing their fortunes.
13. Tangram Challenge: Tangrams are ancient Chinese puzzles made up of seven geometric shapes. Give kids a set of tangram pieces and challenge them to create different shapes or figures using all the pieces.
14. Lion Dance Parade: Organize a Lion Dance parade where kids can make lion masks or dress up as lions. They can march around the house or neighborhood to the beat of festive music, bringing good luck and warding off evil spirits.
These games and activities are not only entertaining but also provide opportunities for kids to learn about Chinese culture, traditions, and language. Whether playing traditional games or engaging in creative crafts, kids can have a memorable and enjoyable time during Chinese New Year.