Chinese New Year isn’t a holiday we’ve ever celebrated, but since we love learning about other cultures, I thought that it would be great to learn more about it this year. The kids know that Chinese New Year marks the beginning of a new year and are familiar with the Chinese Zodiac calendar. They understand that each year is represented by a different animal, with this coming year being the Year of the Goat/Ram/Sheep. Chinese New Year is celebrated on February 19th this year – to learn a little more about Chinese New Year and the Year of the Goat, check out our easy kids craft for a foam goat puppet, plus other ways to celebrate Chinese New Year with kids!
3 Ways to Celebrate Chinese New Year with Kids
1. Read books: One great way to help children learn about a culture is through reading. There are quite a few Chinese New Year children’s books available on Walmart.com and you may find some in your local store as well! Pick one up to read with your child in preparation for February 19th.
2. Make your own red envelope: One of the Chinese New Year’s traditions is to give children a red envelope with money inside as a gift. To partake in this tradition in your home, you can make your own red envelope with your kids and talk about its significance. For extra fun, add a bit of money to their red envelopes and surprise them with a gift!
3. Create a goat puppet in honor of the Year of the Goat: Using foam sheets and other basic craft supplies found at Walmart, we created a simple goat stick puppet to commemorate the Year of the Goat. Follow our how-to below, so you too can make this fun Chinese New Year craft with your kids!
How to Make a Goat Stick Puppet for Chinese New Year {Kids Craft}
Materials Needed:
- 3 Foam sheets in different colors (we used gray, white, and black) – If you purchase the peel-n-stick foam sheets, you’ll have minimal gluing.
- 1 jumbo craft stick
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Glue – I found wood glue or tacky glue work best for craft sticks!
- Googly eyes (optional)
- Black marker (optional)
1. Draw a circle on a foam sheet for the goat’s head. If you’d like, you can create a chin-like line by creating more of an oval towards the bottom, instead of making a full circle.
2. Draw your horns, ears, and a small goat beard on another color foam sheet.
3. Cut out all pieces and glue together (or stick together if using peel-n-stick foam sheets) to form the goat’s head.
4. Glue your craft stick to the back of the goat head, leaving enough room for your kids to grab the stick puppet.
5. Cut out two small black ovals to create nostrils and glue them onto your goat’s face. Alternatively, you can draw them in with a marker.
6. Add googly eyes or draw eyes with a black marker.
Chinese New Year provides a wonderful opportunity to speak with your children about traditions and learn more about the holiday. By taking advantage of cultural holidays and traditions, your children will be exposed to a variety of cultures right at home!
Have you ever celebrated Chinese New Year with your family?
All photos © Melanie Edwards/modernmami™
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