Chinese New Year Party for Kids

This month, the Chinese welcome the Year of the Ox. The festivities will take place over a two-week period filled with dancing, feasting, and joy. This is a wonderful time to carry on a holiday tradition celebrated not only in China, but around the globe! Chinese New Year is a great holiday to enjoy with your kids, not only by making merry, but also by learning about the meaning of the New Year for people in China.

There are many ways to kick off the Year of the Ox with your kids. Have a party or simple gathering of friends or family to celebrate the holiday together.

Make invitations with red construction paper. Given that it is the Year of the Ox, cut out or draw pictures of oxen for added festivity. Write, “Kung Hei Fat Chow” for “Happy New Year” in Chinese. Ask the guests to wear red to your New Year celebration!

For Decorations:

Use red balloons, streamers, and tableware throughout your party area. Place an ox in the center of your party table with red balloons attached. At each place setting, have a small red envelope with coins inside, a traditional gift given at the Chinese New Year. Have the kids take these envelopes home for their goody.

Pictures of oxen or other Chinese Zodiac animals, red lanterns, and any sort of posters that show China would be great additional decorations.

For Activities:

1. Kaboose has a good collection of crafts, printables, and other fun Chinese New Year resources to enjoy with your guests.
2. Enjoy a Chinese spice game. In small bowls, put out samples of Chinese ingredients or foods, such as soy sauce, tofu, scallions, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, baby sweet corns, ginger, green tea, rice, lemongrass, cashew nuts, etc. Have the kids taste each one to determine what they are.
3. Introduce the kids to the Chinese New Year animals. Ask each child which year he was born, and then tell him about his corresponding animal (such as their personality traits). Have the kids make pictures of their Chinese Zodiac animal.
4. Provide the kids with thin sheets of red paper and pens, and have them write down words and wishes for the New Year. They can either take these home or exchange wishes with one another.
5. Make something fun together in the kitchen, like fortune cookies.
6. Have the kids make paper lanterns. After they have made their lanterns, have a parade around your neighborhood just like the Chinese tradition.
7. FamilyFun.com also has additional ideas for games and activities. They have a great Chinese Checkers Cake if you are looking to bake something!
8. If this is a slumber party, have the kids try and stay awake as long as they can. Chinese tradition says the longer the kids stay awake, the longer the parents live!

For the Menu:

Serve dumplings, Asian veggies (snow peas, baby corn, etc.), fried rice, wonton soup, egg rolls, fortune cookies, and orange slices. Have the kids use chop sticks to eat their food!

Additionally, check out Fancy Fortune Cookies for yummy flavors! Serve Chinese tea as a special drink, and perhaps a fruit-flavored ice cream as well.