Chinese New Year Party Ideas for Kids

Full of symbolism and cultural significance, Chinese New Year is one of the most important, and festive traditional Chinese holidays. Because it is based on the Lunar Calendar the date of Chinese New Year changes every year. Chinese New Year is typically a time when families across generations get together, so any celebration usually involves kids. To ensure that children have a good time, keep them in mind as you plan the festivities.

Having a Chinese New Year party designed for kids is a great opportunity to teach the next generation the cultural traditions and share with them the significance of the holiday. Encourage guests to wear red, the traditional color of Chinese New Year. To add to the fun, have a contest for best Chinese New Year outfit and award a prize to the child who shows the most spirit.

Decorating for the event can be a fun task assigned to the kids. Set up a craft station with plenty of materials to create paper dragons, paper chains, and red envelopes that they can fill with chocolate coins. Hang up Chinese paper lanterns to add to the festive atmosphere.

Keeping the kids busy and happy with games might be the biggest challenge. For a fun learning game, print out the Chinese zodiac without the pictures of the animals, and have kids match the animal to its name on the wheel. For a twist on a classic party game, play "Pin the Tail on the Rabbit", or tiger, horse, monkey—you get the idea.

Whether you're planning to host a small party or a big one for friends in the community, be sure to plan ahead of time for an unforgettable celebration.