Chinese New Year Activities

It's that time again in Hawaii when we celebrate Chinese New Year! Here are some great activities I've put together for my daughter to celebrate the Year of the Dragon.

Check out Craft Jr. on how to make this printable paper dragon puppet.

Paper lanterns from Kaboose.

Glittered firecrackers, also from Kaboose.

Fortune cookie recipe at AllRecipes.com

Butterfly Magnet

Here's a great craft for preschoolers. Stick a strip magnet to the back of a clothespin and wrap a piece of chenille stem around the top for antennae. Paint a coffee filter with watercolors and let dry. Then scrunch the paper in half and insert it into the clothespin for a cute toy that little ones can display on the fridge.

Recycled Watercolor Bunting

My daughter loves to paint. Oh, boy, does she love to paint. She's such a fan, I have to keep paints and a jar of water out at all times for her to paint throughout the day. Since I can't keep every single painting she has ever made, I have to come up with some other ideas for what to do with them. Here's an idea for a pretty bunting made from recycled watercolor paintings. I hung ours over my daughter's play area.

Spooky Hidden Ghost Painting

I made this fun Halloween activity for my three year old that effectively kept her entertained while I cooked a meal. I drew ghosts on a piece of white paper in white crayon and then let her "find" them by painting over them with watercolors.

Hammered Autumn Leaf Bunting

For one of our next projects, I hope to make this beautiful hammered leaf bunting. We don't technically have autumn here, but green leaves are just as pretty as colored leaves. It would be so much fun to make a bunting for inside the house with beautiful leaves found in nature and it's such a simple craft. Check out Morning Sun Rae to find out how to make them.

Recycled Bat and Pumpkin

Halloween is my favorite time of year! I have craft ideas I've been saving up all year long until October rolls around and we can finally pull them out. So far this week, we've made a little recycled vampire bat and a festive pumpkin that will make a great centerpiece for Thanksgiving as well.


For the pumpkin, you can use any size brown paper bag. We used craft paper that was used to pack some items that arrived in the mail. I balled up some of the craft paper and wrapped a square piece around it which I tied tightly at the top with a piece of yarn. I let my daughter paint the pumpkin and once it was dry, we used a brown chenille stem for the vines and some green construction paper for pumpkin leaves. I just pushed the tip of the chenille stems through the base of the leaves before curling the ends with a pencil.


The bat is made from a toilet paper tube. Fold the top of the tube in half to create a crease on each side, then fold the two top sides down into each other to make ear shapes. Paint the entire bat black. Once dry, you can glue on googly eyes or paper eyes or you can paint them on. We used red glitter and glue to make sparkly, spooky eyes. Little scraps of white paper glue on for the teeth. The wings are just hands traced on construction paper and cut out. You could also make some super cute owls the same way using brown construction paper and leaving the toilet paper tube unpainted.

Recycled Inch Worm Catarpillar

Here's a simple, cute, recycled craft I made with my three year old using one old paper towel tube. You could also use a couple of toilet paper tubes. Cut the sections out and secure them together at the bottom using staples. I let my daughter paint the whole thing green (she loves getting to do the painting part of crafts) and then we glued on a face and stuck chenille stem antennae through his head once he was all dry. It's surprisingly sturdy and my daughter loves carrying it around the house and playing with it.

Jellyfish in a Bottle

If this little homemade jellyfish in a bottle isn't just THE coolest thing ever, I don't know what is. Thanks so much to Bhoomplay's Blog for sharing this fantastic idea!

Homemade Terrariums

I love these little homemade terrariums from Analog Me SO much! Check out the cute little animals used in some. For complete directions, head over to the blog and see how to make them. It's so easy!

Homemade Marbles

Last Friday, our homeschool group made these fun homemade marbles using Sculpey clay. You can use Fimo or any other brand, just be sure to use the heavier clay, not the lightweight foam type. The clay is soft enough to be worked by little hands and it takes only a couple of minutes to make each marble. We tried different designs and mixed colors as you can see. Once finished, just smooth them as best you can with your fingers and bake them in the oven for fifteen minutes until hard. Our marbles are a modern version of old Civil War era marbles kids used to make from clay.

Sparkly Dragonflies from Nature

These sparkling dragonflies from Twig and Toadstool are the perfect nature activity. You don't need much to make these beautiful toys. I love the idea of making a mobile with them. I also love the idea one reader had about using mussel shells from the beach instead of maple seeds. Here in Hawaii, we have the shells, but not the seed pods.

Treasure Stones

These treasure stones found over at Sew Can Do are just TOO COOL! What a great gift activity. They would make excellent party favors for a dinosaur-themed party and the kids can help make them.

Easy Felt Shapes

Here are some really nice play shapes you can easily make at home from felt. These shape sets can be used for all kinds of games and math activities for younger and older kids alike. Head over to Origami Mommy for a tutorial on how to make them.

Clay Heart Necklaces

These beautiful and inexpensive heart necklaces are made from clay and would make great gifts for grandmothers or moms for any special occasion. We'll save this idea for Christmas this year. Check out Muffin Tin Mom for tips on how to make them.

Painted Doily Garland

This is such a pretty craft and great for kids of all ages! Check out Whatever to find out how you can make them with your kids.

How to Make Your Own Hourglass

I love this activity from Paris Bourke. All you need are a couple of bottles or jars, some twine, glue, sand or salt and you're set. What a great way to teach kids about passing time. You could also use it if you do time outs and need a timer or if you time things like hand washing. They are also pretty enough to set out as decorations, maybe in a nautical themed bathroom.

Homemade Ice Cream in a Baggie

We don't have money or space for an ice cream maker. That's why I think this ice cream in a baggie idea is fabulous. Head over to 2 Little Hooligans to learn how to make it.

Easy Paper Pinata

If you're looking for an easy pinata craft for parties, try this simple one with the kids by Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom. All you need are treats, a paper bag, some ribbon, staples, hole punch, glue and some crepe paper.

Stone Dolls

I just adore these stone matryoshka dolls by maya*made! How pretty! I'd love to have a few around the house, just for decoration. I think my daughter would also enjoy playing with them, maybe even tucking them into little beds. So simple: all you need is a rock and a white paint pen.

Hawaii Volcanologist Lecture at Hilo Library

On Friday, our homeschool group took the kids to enjoy a neat lecture by our local volcanologists. We started out with some reading to the kids and looking at books while they did their setup.


The lecture included a slideshow as well as some very neat videos. You can see some of the awesome footage of our volcanoes erupting at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website.


The best part was when the speakers brought some kids up to try on the various articles of protective clothing used when studying the volcanoes and collecting lava samples. The kids also got a good first-hand look at all of the equipment used by the volcanologists.

In all, it was a really neat experience for the kids, especially seeing the clothing and getting to dress up. For more information about volcanoes and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, visit the USGS website for more. There is also information on current earthquakes caused by the volcanic activity.

More volcano info:
Hawaii Center for Volcanology
An Awesome Interactive Volcano Explorer
Volcano Links and Lesson Ideas