Happy Chinese New Year!

2025 is the year of the snake. Let’s dive into the understanding of this event and how it is celebrated.

What is Chinese New Year?

• It’s a big celebration that marks the start of the new year on the Chinese calendar. People say goodbye to the old year. They welcome in the new one with family, food, and fun.

The Chinese Zodiac:

• There are 12 animals that represent each year. This year is the year of the snake. Kids can learn about their animal sign and others, such as the rat, ox, tiger, and so on.

Red Decorations:

• People decorate their homes with red because it’s a lucky color. You might see red lanterns, red envelopes (which contain money and are given to children), and other red items.

Family Time:

• Chinese New Year is all about family. People come together to eat special foods and spend time with loved ones. The holiday often involves big family dinners with lots of yummy food.

Traditional Foods:

• Traditional foods like dumplings, rice cakes, and sweet oranges. These foods are believed to bring good luck and good fortune in the new year.

Lion Dance:

• A fun part of Chinese New Year celebrations is the lion dance. People dress up as a lion and dance to music to bring good luck and chase away bad spirits. The lion dances around with people clapping and cheering.

Fireworks:

• There are usually fireworks and loud sounds to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck for the year ahead.

Red Envelopes:

• Red envelopes are given to children and unmarried adults as a way to share good luck and blessings. The envelopes usually contain money. This is a fun and exciting part for kids, who enjoy receiving these special gifts.

Explaining to preschoolers about Chinese New Year:

“Chinese New Year is like a giant party! People wear red clothes, decorate with bright lanterns, and eat yummy foods like dumplings and rice cakes. Families come together, and there are exciting things like lion dances, fireworks, and even little red envelopes filled with money! The holiday is a time to say goodbye to the old year. It is also a time to say ‘hello’ to a new year full of good luck and happiness.”

By breaking the celebration down into these simple concepts, preschoolers can start to understand the excitement of Chinese New Year. They can also appreciate its traditions.

This Chinese New Year Activity Book offers a variety of learning exercises. These activities are fun-filled for preschoolers. They are all based on the Chinese New Year, specifically the Year of the Snake.

The pages included are:

1. Colouring-in front cover

Children can use crayons or felts. They can practice colouring in between the lines and decorating the first page of their activity book.

2. Tracing Worksheet

With fun relevant images of the Chinese New Year, children can follow with a pencil the dotted lines. There are zigzag, curvy and straight lines to get through!

3. Colour & decorate the Red Envelope

Preschoolers colour the envelopes red and decorate the envelopes with glitter, sequins etc..

4. Colour in the Lanterns

Another colouring in worksheet, preschoolers can get into practicing colouring in between the lines using a ray of colours.

5. Cut & Paste the Lanterns

Adult supervision is necessary in this activity. Children cut out the lanterns below and use glue to stick it on the empty spaces above.

6. Find the difference

On this activity page, preschoolers identify the differences among the images. They circle the ones that are not the same.

I hope your preschoolers enjoy this FREE printable activity book!

>>>Click this link to get your FREE Chinese New Year Activity Book<<<<<