Decorating Fans for Chinese New Year

Craft activity for kids in decorating fans for Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year is an important Chinese holiday the begins on January 31st and runs over many days. I’m sad to say that I’ve never experienced the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations, although it is on my list of things to do.

Splashes of red and gold colours are significant in that the red symbolises good fortune and the gold (or yellow) is considered lucky and providing a sense of freedom.

He is a simple craft that you can do with your children and makes for the perfect opportunity to tell them a few interesting facts about Chinese new year and how it’s celebrated.

You will need

• Paper Fans (or you can simply fold your own using this technique)
• Red and gold paint
• Paint brush
• Red glitter (optional)

I decided to let my little Possum (2 years) to squirt the paint onto the fan and add glitter.

With her natural curiosity she closed up the fan and ‘smooshed’ the paint together, mixing the two colours. Wonderful and a great learning experience to see how they combined and changed the overall look of the fan.

Of course the painting experience wasn’t going to ever end there!
Next it turned into a fabulous finger painting activity.

My little girl once had such a problem with getting messy hands and feet.
Now she seems to really love it and is much more familiar with the texture of the paint.

Next we placed the fans on the grass to dry in the sun before having fun using them as they are intended and for imaginative play. Remember, these fans were decorated by a 2 year old toddler. I think they look absolutely stunning and would make a beautiful piece displayed on a wall or given as a gift.

What do know or like most about Chinese new year celebrations? 

For more toddler made art

• Cherry Blossom Paper Lanterns
• Fun Activity using Wool
• Leaves on contact paper
• Aboriginal clapping sticks

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