As childminders, introducing children to the rich tapestry of global cultures is a key part of their development. Chinese New Year, one of the most widely celebrated cultural events in the world, offers a perfect opportunity to engage children aged 0-5 in meaningful, fun, and EYFS-aligned activities that foster cultural awareness, understanding, and creativity.
Here's why celebrating Chinese New Year with young children is so valuable, and how it fits seamlessly into your daily practice.
1. It Fosters Respect for Diversity
Chinese New Year celebrations introduce children to a different culture, teaching them to appreciate and respect diversity. Learning about new traditions, foods, and customs helps broaden their horizons, paving the way for an inclusive mindset.
The EYFS Understanding the World area of learning highlights the importance of exposing children to diverse communities:
Practitioners must guide children to make sense of their physical world and their community by exploring, observing, and finding out about people, places, technology, and the environment.EYFS 2021)
Celebrating Chinese New Year offers practical ways to explore these concept whether through learning about the symbolic significance of the color red, tasting Chinese dishes, or listening to stories like The Great Race.
As early years professional Penny Tassoni notes:
Introducing children to different festivals creates a sense of belonging and encourages them to think about the world beyond their immediate environment.
2. It Develops Communication and Language Skills
For children aged 0-5, storytelling, singing, and role-playing are powerful tools for developing communication skills. The story of the Chinese zodiac animals, for example, is ideal for interactive storytelling. Use puppets or simple props to help younger children engage while learning new vocabulary like dragon or celebration.
Incorporating songs such as Gong Xi Gong Xi adds a rhythmic element, supporting phonics and musicality. The EYFS Communication and Language framework encourages practitioners to expose children to rich, varied language through engaging contexts.
3. It Encourages Creative Expression
Chinese New Year is bursting with creative possibilities! From making paper lanterns to painting cherry blossom trees or creating dragon masks, these hands-on activities support the Expressive Arts and Design strand of the EYFS. Craft activities also help children refine their fine motor skills as they cut, glue, and paint.
Child psychologist Dr. Amanda Gummer highlights the importance of creative learning:
Creativity helps young children develop problem-solving skills, builds confidence, and strengthens their ability to express themselves.
A simple activity like designing red envelopes (hongbao) for imaginary gifts combines creativity with cultural learning.
4. It Builds Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (PSED)
Celebrating Chinese New Year gives children opportunities to share, collaborate, and celebrate together. For example, organizing a pretend New Year parade or a shared meal of Chinese snacks can promote turn-taking and cooperation. These social experiences nurture children's emotional intelligence and align perfectly with the EYFS PSED goals.
As early years specialist Alistair Bryce-Clegg emphasizes:
Young children thrive in environments that encourage celebration and collaboration. It helps them feel a sense of community and strengthens their bonds with others.
5. It Links to Numeracy and Problem-Solving
Chinese New Year activities can also integrate mathematics. Counting zodiac animals, creating simple patterns with red and gold beads, or sorting items by size when preparing a sensory bin can all support childrens early mathematical development.
The EYFS Mathematics strand encourages practitioners to help children develop an understanding of numbers, patterns, and problem-solving in practical and engaging ways. Chinese New Year provides endless opportunities for this.
Practical Activity Ideas for Childminders
Here are a few activity ideas tailored for 0-5-year-olds:
Messy Play: Create a red and gold sensory bin with rice, pom-poms, and zodiac animal figures.
Cooking, Making dumplings or spring rolls with the children, and discussing the significance of food during the celebration.
Storytelling: Share the tale of The Great Race using props, puppets, or simple drawings. Role Play: Set up a pretend Chinese restaurant with menus, chopsticks, and play food.
Craft: Help children make paper dragons or red envelopes for imaginative play.
How Chinese New Year Supports EYFS Goals
EYFS Area
Activity
Outcome
Communication & Language
Retelling the zodiac story
Builds vocabulary and comprehension.
Understanding the World
Exploring traditions and foods
Develop cultural awareness and respect.
Expressive Arts & Design
Making dragon masks and lanterns
Encourages creativity and fine motor skills.
Personal, Social & Emotional
Group parade or shared meal
Promotes social bonds and collaboration.
Mathematics
Counting zodiac animals or sorting objects
Strengthens early math concepts.
Conclusion
Chinese New Year is more than just a cultural celebration it’s an opportunity to provide rich, engaging learning experiences for children that align with the EYFS framework. By incorporating storytelling, crafts, sensory play, and group activities, childminders can create a joyful atmosphere that promotes cultural awareness, creativity, and collaboration.
As childminders, you have the unique opportunity to open children's minds to the world, one celebration at a time. So why not embrace Chinese New Year this year? It's an investment in their growth, understanding, and happiness.
Reference List
Department for Education. (2021). Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage.
Bryce-Clegg, A. (2015). Best Practice in the Early Years. Featherstone Education., P. (2020). Child Development: An Illustrated Guide. Hodder Education.
Gummer, A. (2017). The Importance of Creativity in Early Childhood Education.
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