Fun Chinese Dragon Crafts for Kids of All Ages
Chinese Dragons make the perfect Chinese New Year craft! Whether it is the Year of the Dragon or any other Zodiac Animal year, the dragon always features a big part of the Lunar New Year celebrations. As does the sometimes “forgotten” Chinese Lion (many people think he is “just” a smaller dragon)! Here are our favourite Chinese Dragon Crafts to make with kids.
Chinese New Year Dragon Crafts
When is the Year of the Dragon?
After the Year of the Rabbit, follows the Year of the Dragon. The calendar years for the dragon are:
1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036
This year, is the year of the WOOD Dragon and it falls on February 10th, 2024 (Chinese New Year) and ends on January 28th, 2025 (Chinese New Year’s Eve).
Let’s celebrate with some gorgeous Chinese New Year Dragon Crafts!
Paper Chinese Dragon Crafts & Dragon Printables
Simple Chinese Dragon Origami
Make a Dragon Origami Head (with Wings) – this is based on a popular and super easy origami bat project. It focusses on the chinese dragon’s face. Then we show you which features you will need to cut to turn it into a dragon’s head with wings. We especially love the simple flames! So fun!
This is a simple craft that requires some coloured paper, scissors, glue and black markers.
Chinese Dragon Puppet Craft
This is the first of two of our Chinese Dragon Puppets for Chinese New Year – Paper Dragon Puppet craft. It is another long term favourite among my readers in are these fire breathing dragons – made with construction paper, popsicle sticks and our free printable template of the head, tail and feet! This paper dragon puppet is especially popular with our preschoolers!
Kids will love to fold the paper and make this flexible dragon puppet – perfect for some dragon dances reflecting Chinese culture. Love the tissue paper streamers to use as the fire! The accordion fold is perfect for those fine motor skills and easy to do. You can print onto colored paper or simply use crayons to color it in with younger kids. Older children can take their time and work in more detail. So what are you waiting for, grab your glue and scissors and let’s make this fabulous Lunar New Year classic!
Don’t have popsicle sticks? Use chopsticks or strong paper straws as your puppet handles instead!
Fully Printable Dragon Finger Puppet
Another great Chinese New Year Dragon is our paper dragon finger puppet printable. A wonderful dragon coloring page and craft in one! Get your colorful markers, a pair of scissors and your glue stick (to add the finger tabs) and you are all sorted to make this cool printable puppet craft!
Build a Dragon – Free Printable Dragon – big or small
With the Year of the Dragon heading towards us, we have a fantastic Printable Chinese New Year dragon for you – make it short, make it super long. Use it to decorate builletin boards, or classroom doors and windows.. this is a fun dragon printable to get everyone involved!
3d Chinese Dragon Coloring Pages
Super fun 3d Dragon Coloring Page! A great activity for some mindfulness time! With a full set of 12 Zodiac Animal Coloring Pages available too. This is a lovely one, where you can mix and match your art supplies, you can use crayons, colored markers or watercolors!
Lunar New Year Paper Doll Party Celebrations
Even our set of Paper Dolls is joining in this Lunar New Year Celebrations, with her very own Dragon Costume for the Dragon Dance!
Dragon Printable Bookmarks/ Dragon Chocolate Wrapper
The popular dragon design, is also available as fun little Dragon Bookmark Printable or Chocolate Wrapper! Good fortune, comes in sweet treats, right!?
Super Simple Chinese New Year Card Drawing Prompts
Part of a set of 12 Zodiac Animals, I have a super simple Greeting Card Drawing Prompt!
Paper Plate Dragon DIY Ideas
Paper plate Dragon Twirler
Another nice and easy kids craft for Chinese New Year is this Dragon Twirler! Have fun painting your paper plate red- this will be your dragon’s body. Then colour in your free printable template and assemble it all together
More Chinese Dragon Crafts & Activities
Egg Carton & Toilet Roll Chinese Dragon
Now we have our very own toilet roll dragon puppet, you can check out.. but it is more oa “generic dragon craft” – perfect for St David’s Day… if you want more of a Toilet Roll CHINESE Dragon, do check out this one by the lovely Pink Stripey Socks (such a great blog!). A perfect craft to add to your Chinese New Year celebrations.
Handprint Dragon Puppets for Younger Children
Use handprints to make a lovely Handprint Dragon Puppet! Similar to the printable I shared above, he is a gorgeous handprint version from Baa Baa Beep. You could combine their craft with our printable to make this a really easy Preschooler Chinese New Year Dragon! Such a gorgeous Chinese Dragon Craft for toddlers and preschoolers for sure!
Cardboard Chinese Dragon Puppets
A lovely way to combine gold, black and red for this gorgeous Dragon decoration. China Family Adventure, drew their own Dragon Head.. again if you don’t feel confident do so, use our dragon puppet template at the beginning of this post printed on red paper or to trace!
Hope you have enjoyed this collection of Great Crafts for Chinese New Year and that you have wonderful New Year Celebrations. Wishing you prosperity and good fortune.
Chinese Lion Crafts for Kids
Now how about some of those lovely Dancing Lion Crafts too?
Chinese New Year Activites and Crafts for Kids
Or check out our extensive collection of Chinese New Year Activities – including paper fortune cookies, paper lanterns and fans to make..
