--- title: 5 Chinese New Year Crafts for Preschoolers (Easy Ideas) description: 5 Chinese New Year crafts for preschoolers, each with a picture and simple steps. Easy ideas for ages 3 to 5 using paper, paint, and glue. image: https://kindergarten-prep.com/hubfs/crafts/chinese-new-year-crafts-for-preschoolers-featured.png --- [![Kindergarten Prep](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hubfs/delivery%202.png)](https://kindergarten-prep.com) - TOOLS - [Kindy](https://kindy.kindergarten-prep.com/) - [Kg-readiness quiz](https://kindergarten-prep.com/kindergarten-readiness-assessment) - [Name tracer](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/name-tracing-worksheets) - CURRICULUM - [Preschool & Pre-K Curriculum](https://kindergarten-prep.com/preschool-homeschool-curriculum) - [For 3-Year-Olds](https://kindergarten-prep.com/preschool-curriculum-for-3-year-olds) - [For 4-Year-Olds (Pre-K)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/preschool-curriculum-for-4-year-olds) - [Play-Based & Hands-On](https://kindergarten-prep.com/play-based-preschool-homeschool-curriculum) - [Secular](https://kindergarten-prep.com/secular-preschool-homeschool-curriculum) - [Autism, ADHD & Speech Delay](https://kindergarten-prep.com/homeschool-curriculum-for-autism) - FREE WORKSHEETS - [All worksheets by theme](https://kindergarten-prep.com/preschool-printable-activities) - [Name tracing worksheets](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/name-tracing-worksheets) - [Dot marker worksheets](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/dot-marker-printables) - [Tracing worksheets](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/tracing-worksheets) - [Math worksheets](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/preschool-math-worksheets) - [Fine motor worksheets](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/fine-motor-activities) - [Cutting worksheets](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/cutting-practice-worksheets) - RESOURCES - [Crafts for preschoolers](https://kindergarten-prep.com/crafts-for-preschoolers) - [Show and tell: A to Z](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/show-and-tell-ideas) - [Letter activities: A to Z](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/letter-activities-for-preschoolers) - [About us](https://kindergarten-prep.com/about-us) [Log in](https://app.kindergarten-prep.com/) Preschool Crafts # 5 Chinese New Year Crafts for Preschoolers (Easy Ideas) 5 Chinese New Year crafts for preschoolers, each with a picture and simple steps. Easy ideas for ages 3 to 5 using paper, paint, and glue. [Kindergarten Prep Team](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/author/kindergarten-prep-team) Oct 17, 2026 --- Red paper, gold anything, and a dragon that moves. Here are 5 Chinese New Year crafts for preschool rooms, made in late January or February, each with a picture, supplies, and steps: a paper lantern, two dragons, and a lucky red envelope. A three-year-old decorates the lantern sheet with whatever markers are out and helps roll it once it is snipped. A five-year-old folds the accordion dragon and walks it along the table, then blows tissue fire out of the toilet roll dragon until it goes damp. ## Start here: three Chinese New Year crafts that always work [![Paper plate dragon twirler, an easy Chinese New Year craft for preschoolers ages 3 to 5](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/crafts/C281-2.webp?width=900&height=675&name=C281-2.webp)**Paper plate dragon twirler***Paint a plate, an adult cuts the spiral*](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/chinese-new-year-crafts-for-preschoolers#c281)[![Toilet roll dragon, an easy Chinese New Year craft for preschoolers ages 3 to 5](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/crafts/C073-2.webp?width=900&height=675&name=C073-2.webp)**Toilet roll dragon***Blow and the tissue fire flies*](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/chinese-new-year-crafts-for-preschoolers#c073)[![Paper lantern, an easy Chinese New Year craft for preschoolers ages 3 to 5](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/crafts/C143-4.webp?width=900&height=675&name=C143-4.webp)**Paper lantern***The paper lantern, decorate then fold*](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/chinese-new-year-crafts-for-preschoolers#c143) All 5 Easy for 3 year olds No paint ## 5 Chinese New Year crafts for preschoolers, with pictures [![Paper lantern, an easy Chinese New Year craft for preschoolers ages 3 to 5](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/crafts/C143-4.webp?width=900&height=675&name=C143-4.webp)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hubfs/crafts/C143-4.webp) ### 1. Paper lantern The child decorates a sheet of paper, it is folded and snipped along the fold, then rolled and a handle added. **You need:** red construction paper, 1 strip of red paper, gold star stickers, gold marker, clear tape How to make it 1. Fold the red sheet in half lengthwise. You snip straight lines from the fold toward the open edge, stopping before the edge. 2. Unfold it and roll it into a standing tube. 3. Tape the red strip across the top as a handle. 4. Your child sticks gold stars on the top and bottom bands and draws a wobbly gold line along the top. [![Paper plate dragon twirler, an easy Chinese New Year craft for preschoolers ages 3 to 5](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/crafts/C281-2.webp?width=900&height=675&name=C281-2.webp)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hubfs/crafts/C281-2.webp) ### 2. Paper plate dragon twirler The child paints a paper plate, it is cut into a spiral and a dragon head is glued to the end so it spins when hung. **You need:** 1 paper plate, green paint, green paper, red paper, 2 googly eyes, 1 short piece of string, tape and glue How to make it 1. Your child paints the plate green. Let it dry. 2. Cut the plate in one long spiral from the rim to the middle. 3. Cut a green oval and glue it on the outer end as the head, with 2 googly eyes and a small red paper flame at the tip. 4. Tape the string to the middle of the spiral. 5. Hold up the string and watch the dragon twirl. [![Toilet roll dragon, an easy Chinese New Year craft for preschoolers ages 3 to 5](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/crafts/C073-2.webp?width=900&height=675&name=C073-2.webp)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hubfs/crafts/C073-2.webp) ### 3. Toilet roll dragon The child covers a tube, adds pom pom eyes and nostrils, and glues tissue streamers in one end to blow as fire. **You need:** 1 toilet paper roll, green construction paper, 4 green pom poms (2 large, 2 small), 2 googly eyes, red, orange and yellow tissue paper, glue How to make it 1. Wrap the roll in green paper and glue it. Lay it on its side. 2. Glue the 2 large pom poms side by side on top at the back end, with a googly eye on each. 3. Glue the 2 small pom poms side by side on top at the front end as nostrils. 4. Cut tissue strips and glue them inside the front opening so they stream out as fire. [![Accordion dragon puppet, an easy Chinese New Year craft for preschoolers ages 3 to 5](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/crafts/C310-1.webp?width=900&height=675&name=C310-1.webp)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hubfs/crafts/C310-1.webp) ### 4. Accordion dragon puppet The child folds a paper strip into a concertina body and glues a head and tail to two craft sticks. **You need:** 1 long strip of red paper, red paper, 2 craft sticks, 2 googly eyes, yellow paper, 2 feathers, glue How to make it 1. Fold the red strip back and forth like a fan, about two fingers wide per fold, into the body. 2. You cut a red dragon head with 2 yellow paper horns, and a pointed red tail. 3. Your child glues the 2 googly eyes on the head and draws a smiling mouth. 4. Glue the head to one end of the body and the tail to the other. 5. Glue the 2 feathers behind the head, then one craft stick behind the head and one behind the tail. [![Lucky red envelope, an easy Chinese New Year craft for preschoolers ages 3 to 5](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/crafts/C311-1.webp?width=900&height=675&name=C311-1.webp)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hubfs/crafts/C311-1.webp) ### 5. Lucky red envelope The child folds a red paper template into an envelope, decorates it with gold and tucks a paper coin inside. **You need:** red construction paper, gold crayon, gold star stickers, gold paper, glue stick How to make it 1. Fold a small envelope from red paper and glue its sides. 2. Your child draws gold swirls on the front and sticks on gold stars. 3. Cut a round gold coin. Your child slips it into the envelope so its top edge peeks out of the opening. [Free · 30 questions · about 4 minutes **Is your child on track for kindergarten?** Answer 30 questions about what your child does today, and you get a report like this one: Every area at a glance: strong, on track, or worth a little time The one or two areas to focus on first Simple things to do at home for each area How many months you have until kindergarten starts Get my child's free report → ![Example kindergarten readiness report with a bar for each area: language, social-emotional, math, thinking, fine motor and literacy](https://kindy.kindergarten-prep.com/report-preview.png)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/kindergarten-readiness-assessment?utm_source=kp-blog&utm_medium=card&utm_campaign=crafts-chinese-new-year-crafts-for-preschoolers&utm_content=mid) Nothing matches that filter. Clear it and try again. ## Lanterns and dragons with a 3 year old Decorating comes first, cutting second. Let the child cover the lantern sheet and the plate with paint and stickers, then do the folding and the spiral cut yourself once dry. A three year old can paint, stick and blow the tissue fire out of the tube dragon. Folding the lantern, cutting the spiral twirler and pleating the accordion puppet need an adult, with the child pressing the folds flat. The dragon puppet is for a parade through the house. Two craft sticks, one in each hand, and the body ripples when the child walks. Hang the lantern and the twirler from a doorway so they turn in the draft. Put a paper coin in the red envelope and let the child hand it to a grandparent. [Free · 30 questions · about 4 minutes **Before you go: see where your child is for kindergarten** A report with every area at a glance, what to focus on first, and things to do at home. Get my child's free report →](https://kindergarten-prep.com/kindergarten-readiness-assessment?utm_source=kp-blog&utm_medium=card&utm_campaign=crafts-chinese-new-year-crafts-for-preschoolers&utm_content=bottom) ## More crafts for preschoolers - [February crafts for preschoolers](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/february-crafts-for-preschoolers) - [Letter D crafts for preschoolers](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/letter-d-crafts-for-preschoolers) - [January crafts for preschoolers](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/january-crafts-for-preschoolers) - [Christmas crafts for preschoolers](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/christmas-crafts-for-preschoolers) - [All crafts for preschoolers, by theme, holiday and letter](https://kindergarten-prep.com/crafts-for-preschoolers) × [**Free:** is your child on track for kindergarten? Get the report](https://kindergarten-prep.com/kindergarten-readiness-assessment?utm_source=kp-blog&utm_medium=card&utm_campaign=crafts-chinese-new-year-crafts-for-preschoolers&utm_content=bar) × [Preschool Crafts](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/tag/preschool-crafts) ## Similar posts Preschool Crafts ### [11 Zoo Crafts for Preschoolers (Easy Ideas)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/zoo-crafts-for-preschoolers) 11 zoo crafts for preschoolers, each with a picture and simple steps. Easy ideas for ages 3 to 5 using paper, paint, and glue. Kindergarten Prep Team Oct 11, 2026 Preschool Crafts ### [3 Letter Z Crafts for Preschoolers (Easy Ideas)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/letter-z-crafts-for-preschoolers) 3 letter Z crafts for preschoolers, each with a picture and simple steps. Easy ideas for ages 3 to 5 using paper, paint, and glue. Kindergarten Prep Team Oct 17, 2026 Preschool Crafts ### [6 Fish Crafts for Preschoolers (Easy Ideas)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/fish-crafts-for-preschoolers) 6 fish crafts for preschoolers, each with a picture and simple steps. Easy ideas for ages 3 to 5 using paper, paint, and glue. Kindergarten Prep Team Oct 11, 2026 ![Untitled design (66)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(66).png) Kindergarten Prep helps parents give their three to five year olds a strong start at home: through play, conversation and hands-on moments, guided with intention. ### Menu - [Kindy](https://kindy.kindergarten-prep.com/) - [Log in](https://app.kindergarten-prep.com) - [KG-readiness quiz](https://kindergarten-prep.com/kindergarten-readiness-assessment) - [About us](https://kindergarten-prep.com/about-us) ### Compare - [Kindy vs ABCmouse](https://kindergarten-prep.com/compare/kindy-vs-abcmouse) - [Kindy vs Khan Academy Kids](https://kindergarten-prep.com/compare/kindy-vs-khan-academy-kids) - [Kindy vs Time4Learning](https://kindergarten-prep.com/compare/kindy-vs-time4learning) - [Kindy vs The Good and the Beautiful](https://kindergarten-prep.com/compare/kindy-vs-the-good-and-the-beautiful) - [Kindy vs The Peaceful Preschool](https://kindergarten-prep.com/compare/kindy-vs-the-peaceful-preschool) - 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