What Chinese New Year is
Chinese New Year, also called Spring Festival, marks the start of a new year on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. Its date changes each year, falling in late January or February, and celebrations traditionally last about 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival. Families often clean their homes, share a reunion meal, decorate with red, give red envelopes and enjoy parades and performances such as lion and dragon dances.
A simple way to explain it to children: “Chinese New Year is a special time when many families get together, eat good food, and wish each other a happy, healthy new year. Red is a lucky color, and lanterns bring light.”
Each year is linked to one of twelve zodiac animals, which repeat in a cycle. Check the current year’s animal with a reliable calendar before you plan.
A note on teaching respectfully
- Ask families first. If you have families who celebrate, invite them to share their own traditions, foods or stories, and let them decide how much to take part. Do not expect any child to represent a whole culture.
- Avoid a “costume” approach. Dressing children in generic “Chinese” outfits can come across as stereotyping. Focus on activities and meaning instead.
- Say “Lunar New Year” too. Many other communities, including Vietnamese (Tet) and Korean (Seollal) families, celebrate around the same time with their own customs. Naming this helps avoid suggesting there is only one way to celebrate.
- Be specific. Avoid broad statements about “Asian culture”. Practices differ by region and by family.
- Skip the clichés. Fortune cookies, for example, are not a traditional Chinese custom, so they do not belong in a Chinese New Year unit.
A five-day lesson plan
Each day takes about 20 to 30 minutes, with room to add free play.
Day 1: What is New Year?
Talk about how your own families welcome a new year. Then introduce Chinese New Year in simple words, using photos or a picture book. Make a red and gold “welcome” display together. Let children talk about colors that feel lucky or happy to them.
Day 2: The Nian story, told gently
The classic legend tells of a creature called Nian that villagers frightened away with the color red, loud noises and light. For this age, tell a gentle version: “A long time ago, people told a story about a monster named Nian who was afraid of red, light and noise. So people put up red decorations and made lots of happy noise to keep Nian away.” Leave out any frightening detail about harm to people. Let children make safe noise, such as clapping or shaking a shaker, and decorate a paper “Nian” with silly colors to take away any fear. If a child seems frightened, reassure them that it is only a story.
Day 3: Lanterns and light
Make simple paper lanterns: fold a sheet of red or yellow paper lengthwise, make cuts from the folded edge nearly to the other side, then open it, roll it into a cylinder and tape the edges. Add a paper handle. Adults should do the cutting for younger children; older children can practice with our cutting activities for pre-K. Use battery tea lights or just display the lanterns. Do not use real flames near paper lanterns.
Day 4: Red envelopes and giving
Red envelopes (often called hongbao in Mandarin) are traditionally given with money as good wishes. For this activity, children decorate paper envelopes and put in a drawing or a kind message to give to a friend. Do not put coins in the envelopes, because coins are a choking hazard for young children. You can mention that grown-ups traditionally give them to children, and leave out details of amounts.
Day 5: Parade day
Children make dragon or lion puppets from paper bags, or a simple long paper dragon that a line of children carries. Add music and a gentle parade around the room or yard. Lion and dragon dances are meant to bring good luck, so you can say that the parade is a way to share good wishes. Keep noise levels comfortable. For more on movement and music with this age group, see the importance of dance for preschoolers.
Craft and activity ideas
- Paper lantern: see Day 3.
- Handprint or paper-plate zodiac animals: pick one or two animals, rather than all twelve.
- Sensory bin: red paper, red envelopes (empty), paper lanterns, and larger items to feel and talk about. For children who mouth objects, avoid small items and loose rice or beans.
- Color matching: sort red and gold paper pieces, ribbons and large pom-poms (see how to introduce colors in preschool).
- Number play: count lanterns on a string.
- Calligraphy-style painting: try large brushes and black paint on paper, and see what shapes they can make. Talk about how writing in Chinese uses characters. If you show a character, check with a speaker of the language first.
Food and snack ideas
Food is an important part of the festival, and varies by region and family. Some dishes you might hear about include dumplings, noodles, rice cakes, tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls) and oranges or mandarins.
If you serve food:
- Check allergies first, including wheat, soy, egg, sesame and nuts, and follow your program’s food policy.
- Choking hazards: whole grapes, hard candies, nuts, sticky rice balls and whole pieces of fruit can be a choking hazard for young children. Cut round foods into small pieces, and supervise all eating. Sticky or chewy foods such as tangyuan are best left to older preschoolers, if served at all, in small pieces.
- Chopsticks: children can try training chopsticks with a grown-up nearby, but give a fork or spoon too.
- Dumplings can be a fun cooking project when made with parents; many families have their own traditions for making them.
Books and music
Picture books often used for this theme include Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin, Happy Chinese New Year! A Festive Counting Story by Jannie Ho, and Chloe’s Lunar New Year by Lily LaMotte. Preview any book to check it suits your group, and see our best preschool picture books for more read-aloud ideas. Add simple instruments such as drums, shakers or bells for a parade.
Safety notes
- Do not use real firecrackers, sparklers or open flames in any classroom or child activity. Use paper, music and clapping for the sound and light.
- Keep scissors for adults or older children with supervision.
- Check any small parts, such as bells, beads and sequins, for choking risk, and avoid them for under 3s.
- Avoid coins or small tokens in sensory activities with young children.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to say Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year?
Both are used. “Chinese New Year” is common in English-speaking classrooms, while “Lunar New Year” includes other communities who celebrate. Follow what your families prefer, and consider mentioning both.
Do I need to teach all twelve zodiac animals?
No. Preschoolers can enjoy learning about one or two animals, perhaps the animal of the current year and one of their own interest.
Is the Nian story too scary?
It can be. Tell a gentle version, focus on the fun noise and decorations, and leave out any harm.
What if I have no families who celebrate?
You can still teach it. Use books, photos and music made by people from the community, and avoid claiming to be an expert. Consider contacting a local community center or library for resources.