Lunar New Year (LNY) is one of my favorite times of the year—it’s colorful, filled with mouth-watering food, and celebrated with traditions that bring the whole family together. This year, as we welcome the Year of the Snake, I wanted to make it extra special for our little one. Chloe is learning incredibly fast lately and copying our every move, so I’ve been thinking about more creative experiences for her to try.
Here are 8 simple activities I’ve tried or plan to try this year with my toddler leading up to Lunar New Year. These are easy to set up and perfect for little hands and short attention spans. I hope they inspire some joyful moments for you and your family too!
1. Paper Lanterns Craft
Paper lanterns are a classic Lunar New Year decoration. They’re also an easy and kid-friendly activity. You can make some beautiful lanterns from construction paper or cardstock. It’s the craft I want to try most this LNY!
For materials, you’ll need red and yellow construction paper (cardstock is even better), glue, ruler, pencil, scissors, and stickers. Red symbolizes good fortune, while yellow/gold represents wealth.
To make the lanterns, follow this step by step YouTube video. Here’s a quick overview of what to expect: fold a piece of paper lengthwise, cut slits along the folded edge, and then roll it into a cylinder. Chloe loved sticking star-shaped stickers on the lanterns while I handled the cutting and gluing. Hang your creations around your home as fun DIY decor, and a sweet reminder of the craft you and your little one created “together” (mostly you)!
Note: the video shows a cutter being used for the vertical lines, but please use kid-safe scissors instead if you try this activity.
2. Make Tangyuan (Sweet Rice Balls)
Tangyuan, or sweet rice balls, symbolize family togetherness. They are one of the easiest Chinese New Year recipes to make and taste delicious. Plus, the soft, squishy dough is perfect for toddler sensory play!
Here is the recipe I always use. You’ll mix glutinous rice flour with warm water to form dough. You can even add beet juice or matcha powder to make colorful tangyuan.
The fun part is, you can give a bit of dough to your toddler and let them roll little balls or just squish it in their hands. Watching my toddler delightfully play with the dough and then taste the boiled tangyuan was so much fun!
You can also make delicious, creamy sesame filled tangyuan. These are a little trickier to make so I wouldn’t recommend bringing in your toddler to help with the filling. But they will certainly enjoy helping you eat them once they’re ready!
3. Bake or Steam Nian Gao
Nian gao is a sticky rice cake that symbolizes prosperity. While the traditional version takes time, you can make an easy steamed or baked version at home. My go-to is the baked version so that I can fully step away from the kitchen while it’s in the oven. I make this Lunar New Year treat every year because whole family loves it – and it’s easy!
Using glutinous rice flour, sugar, and coconut milk, you can whip up a delicious nian gao with minimal ingredients. Glutinous rice flour can be easily found at an Asian supermarket, such as Ranch 99 or Lion Market.
Chloe enjoyed passing me the materials (such as the whisk for stirring the batter), stirring the batter together, and nibbling on the baked nian gao. Pro tip: cutting it into small pieces makes it easier for little ones to eat.
Note: do not feed to little ones if they’re only about 1 year old or younger. The nian gao is very sticky and soft, making it easy to choke on.
4. Draw Lunar New Year-Themed Flash Cards
Turn Lunar New Year symbols into a learning activity! Create simple flashcards with drawings of snakes (for the Year of the Snake), lanterns, red envelopes, and dumplings. For sturdier cards, use 200+ gsm watercolor paper or cardstock. I also mentioned drawing flashcards in this post. There you can find more easy activities to help your little one learn as they’re absorbing everything like a sponge!
I used my Ohuhu markers to make colorful cards, and my toddler loved naming the objects and matching them to the real items in our home. It’s a fantastic way to introduce Lunar New Year traditions while sneaking in some early learning.
5. Dress Up in Festive Outfits
Lunar New Year is the perfect excuse to dress up! Red and gold outfits are traditional and symbolize good fortune. This year, Target has adorable Lunar New Year outfits for both adults and toddlers. The line is limited edition and designed by Asian American artists. Think red dresses, cute jackets, or fun graphic tees!
Their LNY clothes were so festive and I couldn’t resist. I bought myself this body-hugging maxi dress and a red, dumpling-covered onesie for Chloe. We’re excited to wear them together in the next few weeks. Pictures will be up on my IG (@kailinexplores) in case you’re curious how they turned out!
6. Create a Mini Sensory Bin
Sensory bins are always a hit with toddlers, and a Lunar New Year-themed one is no exception. Fill a bin with red and gold toddler-friendly items you can find around the house. Here’s some inspiration: try pom-poms, plastic coins, toy snakes, and red envelopes.
My toddler loved exploring the textures, filling the envelopes, and pretending to hand them out. It’s a great way to engage their senses and teach them about the holiday. Best of all, cleanup is a breeze—just dump everything back into the bin!
7. Watch a Lunar New Year Parade
Here in the Bay Area, we have the annual Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco Chinatown. I didn’t know this, but it’s recognized as one of the top ten parades worldwide! It’s an illuminated nighttime event featuring elaborate floats, lion dancers, and a 268-foot-long Golden Dragon. This year it’s scheduled for Saturday, February 15, 2025. The parade starts at Market Street and 2nd Street.
If you can’t attend a parade near you, find a fun video of Lunar New Year parades online. Dragon and lion dances, colorful floats, and festive music are sure to captivate your toddler. You can even make it more interactive by giving your toddler ribbons to wave around and dance with!
8. Make a Bouncy Snake
Since 2025 is the Year of the Snake, a snake-themed craft is a must! Use red or yellow cardstock to create a simple snake outline in a swirl. The swirl causes the snake to “bounce” when you cut it out. If you’d like to make this, see the full instructions here.
Once it’s cut, let your toddler decorate it with stickers (and markers if they’re older).
Fun tip: One extra element we added was cutting small circles out of old red envelopes. Then we glued them onto the snake – it really elevated the look and added some sparkle and color! Watching Chloe proudly display her “snake” around the house was priceless.
Cooking and crafting are fun ways to celebrating Lunar New Year at home with a toddler. These 9 fun activities will help you create lasting memories while teaching your little one more developmental skills. Whether you’re making tangyuan, getting artsy with your paper lanterns, or dressing up in cute outfits, each moment can be filled with joy and learning.
Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy, and prosperous Year of the Snake! 🐍
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