Lunar New Year ideas for OSHC
14 DIY activities for a lunar new year at before and after school care or vacation care, usually run around January/February or Diwali (October/November). Pick and mix, or build a balanced day in one click.
Asian Cultures Food and Fun
Children try simple dishes, music and games from several Asian countries across one day, celebrating diversity in a hands-on way.
Panda Quest · Lunar New Year · Japan Day +1Bamboo Chopstick Pick-Up
Children use chopsticks to play pick-up sticks or move pompoms between bowls. Builds fine motor control and patience.
Japan Day · Lunar New Year · One-Minute Challenge Day +2Chopstick Challenge
Children practise using chopsticks to move pompoms between bowls, testing speed and precision.
Lunar New Year · Japan Day · Teamwork Day +2Chopstick Relay
Teams race to move pompoms between bowls using chopsticks in a fast relay.
Lunar New Year · Culture Celebration Day · Harmony Day +2Dragon Dance Parade
Groups move under a fabric dragon to drum beats, learning about a Lunar New Year tradition.
Lunar New Year · Cooking Day · Junior Chef Challenge +2Dumpling Folding
Children fold simple dumplings using ready-made wrappers and a filling, learning a Lunar New Year food tradition.
Knights and Fairies · Mythical Creatures · Medieval Times +3Egg Carton Dragons
Children paint egg carton strips and add wings and tails to make friendly dragons.
Panda Quest · Japan Day · Cooking Day +1Panda Rice Balls
Children shape cooked rice into balls and decorate them with nori to make panda faces. A tasty, creative snack.
Lunar New Year · Mythical Creatures · Paper Crafts Day +2Paper Dragon Stick Puppets
Children concertina-fold paper into a long dragon body, add a head and tail, then mount it on sticks to make it dance for the new year.
Diwali · Lunar New Year · Mooncake Festival +1Paper Lantern Garland
Children fold and cut coloured paper into lanterns and string them together into a bright garland to decorate the room.
Mooncake Festival · Lunar New Year · Paper Crafts Day +2Paper Lanterns
Children fold and cut coloured paper into lanterns to hang around the room for a festival display.
Lunar New Year · Paper Crafts Day · Culture Celebration Day +1Red Envelope Making
Children fold and decorate red envelopes and write good-luck wishes inside, learning about the custom of giving red envelopes at Lunar New Year.
Puzzle Day · Before School Calm Start · Challenge Day +1Tangram Challenges
Children arrange seven tangram pieces to make animals, people and shapes. A hands-on maths puzzle.
Lunar New Year · Animal Theme · Culture Celebration DayZodiac Animal Discovery
Children find their zodiac animal from their birth year, read about its traditional traits and compare animals with friends.