Here are some FUN ways to ring in the new year Chinese style!
Below are kid-friendly recipes that my family has used to celebrate Chinese New Year. They are REALLY yummy!
Chinese New Year Treats
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate morsels (16 oz.)
1 bag butterscotch morsels (16 oz.)
1 jar or can of salted peanuts
2 large bags of chow mein noodles
(1) Pour all morsels into a microwave-safe bowl and melt.
(2) Add peanuts and noodles into a large bowl. Stir in chocolate until peanuts and noodles are coated.
(3) Drop by teaspoons onto sheets of aluminum foil.
(4) Let them sit a few minutes to harden.
This recipe is enough for approximately 25 children. You can divide the recipe for a family. These are super yummy!
Chinese history is filled with dragons, which is why the dragon is a popular symbol for Chinese New Year. It is a symbol of strength, goodness, and good luck. So why not make some Good Fortune Dragon Tea?
Good Fortune Dragon Tea
7 cups water
2 tsps. lemon flavored instant tea mix
1 can frozen lemonade
4 cups cranberry juice
2 cups apple juice
1 cup orange juice
Heat water and tea. Cool. Add all other ingredients. Chill and serve. Since red is a symbol of luck, this red fruity tea has much good luck for the new year.
My family eats Chinese food with chopsticks for dinner with dragon tea and the Chinese treats and fortune cookies for dessert. I also pass out small red envelopes filled with quarters. My little ones make dragons and Chinese lanterns to decorate, and we play Chinese Checkers together.
This family celebration can lead to many lessons with your children, such as showing younger children where China is located on a map or globe and having older children write a paragraph about the Yin Yang symbol. We make designs with tangrams for math activities. I also like to read my kids the book, The Empty Pot by Demi, which is a beautiful story about always being honest.
My boys are completely hooked on the Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne so they enjoyed reading these dragon books-
If you only get one book on dragons to read with your child for Chinese New Year, this is the one. Dragons: Legends & Lore of Dinosaurs
is based on creation science and teaches fascinating facts and history while exploring the links between dinosaurs and dragons. It had vivid illustrations and interactive pages. Hands-down the best dragon book I've read!
Here is a cute writing activity called "fortune sticks" from Ana at www.Ingles360.blogspot.com. Click on the image to learn about this fun activity. I can't wait to try it out this year!
If you only get one book on dragons to read with your child for Chinese New Year, this is the one. Dragons: Legends & Lore of Dinosaurs
is based on creation science and teaches fascinating facts and history while exploring the links between dinosaurs and dragons. It had vivid illustrations and interactive pages. Hands-down the best dragon book I've read!
Here is a cute writing activity called "fortune sticks" from Ana at www.Ingles360.blogspot.com. Click on the image to learn about this fun activity. I can't wait to try it out this year!
Gung Hay Fat Choy!
