The Mom I Want to Be

Sheet A4 white paper

Colored pop sticks

Colored cupcake liners

Thin double-sided sticky tape (DSST)

Bright green paper

Bright buttons

Other embellishments such as cotton balls, paper or foam shapes, stickers, sequins, small cupcake liners, material flower shapes, glitter glue, glitter, etc

Craft Glue

 

Cut out leaf shapes from the bright green paper. Lay a strip of DSST along the back of 3 or 4 pop sticks (these will be the flower stems).  Remove the backing from the DSST and adhere the base of two green paper leaves onto the DSST, so that the leaves will stick out from behind the pop stick stems. Adhere the pop sticks onto the A4 white paper along the bottom, evenly spaced. Place a small piece of DSST on the back of cupcake liners, and adhere them at the top of each of the pop sticks to be the flowers. Embellish your flowers – use the pictures provided for inspiration and let your imagination run wild. Use DSST or glue to place a button at the centre of each flower.

 

Pranks (as long as they are harmless!) can be lots of fun for everyone. Today is the day to put sugar in the salt shaker, tell someone he has a big bug crawling on his head, or call and leave silly message on the answering machine. Plan your day “end to the beginning,” or try serving dinner in reverse order. Even if you know what your little one is up to, play along; you don’t want to deprive him or her of that gleeful moment of yelling, “April Fool’s!”

In China, the New Year is a time of family reunion. Family members gather at each other’s homes for visits and shared meals, most significantly a feast on New Year’s Eve. In the United States, however, many early Chinese immigrants arrived without their families, and found a sense of community through neighborhood associations instead. Today, many Chinese-American neighborhood associations host banquets and other New Year events.

Chinese New Year ends with the lantern festival on the fifteenth day of the month. Some of the lanterns may be works of art, painted with birds, animals, flowers, zodiac signs, and scenes from legend and history. People hang glowing lanterns in temples, and carry lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon.

In many areas the highlight of the lantern festival is the dragon dance. The dragon—which might stretch a hundred feet long—is typically made of silk, paper, and bamboo. Traditionally the dragon is held aloft by young men who dance as they guide the colorful beast through the streets. In the United States, where the New Year is celebrated with a shortened schedule, the dragon dance always takes place on a weekend. In addition, many Chinese-American communities have added American parade elements such as marching bands and floats.

The fifteen-day New Year’s celebration includes praying, paying respect to ancestors, and visiting family and friends. Families decorate their homes with flowers, trays of tangerines and oranges, and circular trays of dried, candied fruit. They also place new money in red envelopes, hang red banners, and buy new orange or red outfits for the children. Many special foods are eaten, each with its own symbolism. For example, uncut noodles are consumed to ensure long life.

The Chinese believe the animal ruling a person’s birth year has a strong influence on personality, saying: “This is the animal that hides in your heart.” This is the year of the Tiger. 

In honor of the year of the Tiger, try making a balloon animal tiger!

Tiger Pencil Cup

Printable pattern

Plastic juice can (washed and dried)

Tiger print Flexi-Foam by Fibre Craft

Black Flexi-Foam by Fibre Craft

White Flexi-Foam by Fibre Craft

3 Black chenille stems

Wire cutters

24 mm Wiggle Eyes

Scissors

Pen

Tacky glue

Rubber bands, optional

 

Cut a piece of Tiger print to fit around the juice can. Glue to the can. Note: You may need to use rubber bands to hold the foam piece around the can. Remove rubber bands after the glue dries.  Print out pattern for the tiger face. Cut out pieces. Trace around the tiger face pattern piece on the white craft foam. Cut out the tiger face. Glue the white piece on the tiger foam. Trace around the nose piece on black craft foam. Glue the nose piece on the white piece. (See photo for placement) Cut one chenille stem in half. Bend for the mouth. Attach with glue at the bend. Cut one chenille stem in half. Bend in half. Repeat for other half of chenille stem.   Glue the whiskers on the frame. (See photo for placement) Repeat for other side of face with last chenille stem. After glue is dry on chenille stems, separate whiskers gently. Cut out 2 circles of white craft foam slightly larger than the wiggle eyes.  Glue the white circles on the Tiger foam. (See photo for placement) Glue the wiggle eyes in the middle of the white circles. Trace around the outer ear pieces on the Tiger print foam. Cut pieces out. Trace around the inner ear piece on white craft foam.  Cut pieces out. Glue white inner ear pieces on the tiger ears. (See photo for placement) Attach the ears to the inside of the can above the eyes with glue.  After everything is dry, add your pencils and display on your desk.

The Chinese New Year is a festival quiet with the hope of good fortune, yet booming with the spectacle of exploding firecrackers and dancing dragons. It is marked not only by number but also by animal. According to Chinese legend, Buddha invited all the creatures in his kingdom to appear before him. The 12 animals who completed the journey the rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, serpent, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig were each honored for their presence with rotating names of the year:

 

2009 –  Ox (jan 26)

2010 –  Tiger (feb 14)

2011 –  Rabbit  (feb 3)

2012 –  Dragon (jan 23)

 

People prepare for the holiday by cleaning their homes, paying their debts, buying new clothing, and cooking enormous feasts. Many individuals spiritually and physically sweep away all traces of bad luck from the previous year.

 

Parents encourage children to stay awake as long as their eyes will remain open. Legend says that the longer children battle sleep, the longer their parents will live. At midnight, firecrackers, paper-dragon dances, parades, and red clothing commemorate the legend of Nain, a mythical beast who terrorized villagers once every year. The din that is created is meant to drive away any lingering devils or spirits.

 

This year, celebrate the New Year with a few projects that kids can do every day: a Chinese game of Rock, Paper, Scissors; a signature stamp; and a batch of Chinese dumplings.

 

Rock, Paper, Scissors

 

For as long as most of us can remember, kids have been trying to one-up each other in the game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. In China, children take it a step further. Here’s how:

 

Two kids sit side by side at the bottom of a short staircase. On the count of three, both of them must throw one hand forward in the form of a rock (a fist), paper (fingers held together, straight out), or scissors (forefinger and middle finger in a “V”). Following the logic that paper covers rock, rock breaks scissors, and scissors cut paper, the player who presents the winning symbol in that round moves up one step. If both kids display the same symbol, it’s considered a tie. Play continues in this manner until one child reaches the top step and wins the game.

 

Decorations are an important feature of the celebrations for the Chinese New Year.

One of the main forms of decoration are the ‘Red Couplets’, which are Chinese good luck sayings written on red paper, often with gold trimmings and usually made up of four Chinese characters which ask for luck in terms of long life, wealth etc.

Red is not only a lucky color for the Chinese, but also frightens off the monster ‘Nian’ who arrives at this time of year and destroys crops and homes.

Some New Year couplets are intended to be pasted or pinned in special places such as the kitchen or doors, while some can be placed anywhere. The couplets are usually taken down after the New Year celebrations, thought some people keep them up all year long in the hope of keeping good luck.

Chinatown Online has provided a Chinese New Year couplet for use in classroom activities . Print this on red paper if possible, and color in the figures. The sheet of paper should be cut in half from top to bottom, and the two strips placed on either side of a door.

The couplets say “May you be blessed with peace and safety in all four seasons” and “May you be blessed with peace and safety wherever you are”.

 

  

 

In honor of the New Year, this month the streets of China will be decked with long, lacy garlands. For fun, make one of these popular decorations to string in your own home. Here’s how.

 

Cut at least a dozen or more large circles from colored paper.

 

Fold each circle in half, then in half again, and finally in half a third time (it will resemble a wedge of pizza). Perforate each wedge by making a series of snips from both sides toward the center.

 

Unfold the snipped circles. Apply a few drops of glue along the edge of one open circle. Place a second circle on top of the first, so that the edges stick together. Next, apply glue to the center of the second circle and place a third circle on top of it. Continue adding the remaining circles, alternately gluing the edges and the centers.

 

When the glue is dry, gently pull the top and bottom circle in opposite directions and hang the garland.

 

 

Prior to New Year’s Day, Chinese families decorate their living rooms with vases of pretty blossoms, platters of oranges and tangerines and a candy tray with eight varieties of dried sweet fruit. On walls and doors are poetic couplets, happy wishes written on red paper. These messages sound better than the typical fortune cookie messages. For instance, “May you enjoy continuous good health” and “May the Star of Happiness, the Star of Wealth and the Star of Longevity shine on you” are especially positive couplets.

Plants and Flowers

Every traditional Chinese household should also have live blooming plants to symbolize rebirth and new growth. Flowers are believed to be symbolic of wealth and high positions in one’s career. Lucky is the home with a plant that blooms on New Year’s Day, for that foretells a year of prosperity. In more elaborate settings, plum blossoms just starting to bloom are arranged with bamboo and pine sprigs, the grouping symbolizing friends; the plum blossom also signifies reliability and perseverance; the bamboo is known for its compatibility, its utility and its flexible stems for furniture and other articles; the evergreen pine evokes longevity and steadiness. Other highly prized flowers are the pussy willow, azalea, peony and water lily or narcissus.

The Chinese firmly believe that without flowers, there would be no formation of any fruits. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to have flowers and floral decorations.

They are the emblems of reawakening of nature, they are also intimately connected with superstition and with the wish for happiness during the ensuing year.

Oranges and Tangerines

Etiquette dictates that you must bring a bag of oranges and tangerines and enclose a lai see when visiting family or friends anytime during the two-week long Chinese New Year celebration. Tangerines with leaves intact assure that one’s relationship with the other remains secure. For newlyweds, this represents the branching of the couple into a family with many children. Oranges and tangerines are symbols for abundant happiness.

Candy Tray

The candy tray arranged in either a circle or octagon is called “The Tray of Togetherness” and has a dazzling array of candy to start the New Year sweetly. After taking several pieces of candy from the tray, adults places a red envelope (lai see) on the center compartment of the tray. Each item represents some kind of good fortune.

·       Candied melon – growth and good health

·       Red melon seed – dyed red to symbolize joy,happiness, truth and sincerity

·       Lychee nut – strong family relationships

·       Cumquat – prosperity (gold)

·       Coconut – togetherness

·       Peanuts – long life

·       Longnan – many good sons

·       Lotus seed – many children

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name Stamping

 

When a Chinese artist signs his paintings, he uses a carved stone block or chop to print his symbol on the canvas. To personalize her art or stationery, your child can make a decorative signature stamp out of Styrofoam and cardboard.

 

First, have your child write her initials on tracing paper, making the letters as ornate as she likes or incorporating them into a unique design. Next, place the paper printed-side down on a clean Styrofoam meat tray. Trace over the design with a pen, bearing down to leave an impression in the Styrofoam. Cut out the design, leaving a narrow border all the way around, and glue it onto a piece of cardboard trimmed to the same size.

 

For a handle, glue a tissue tube to the back. Then press the stamp onto an ink pad, and it’s ready to use.

 

Jiaozi — Steamed Dumplings

 

During the Chinese New Year this month, families in China will feast on jiaozi, delectable meat-filled dumplings. With this easy recipe, you can prepare a batch to serve at a family celebration of your own. Or, in true Chinese fashion, invite your neighbors to share a plateful while you ring in the New Year.

 

3 stalks Chinese cabbage

2 scallions

1 tbsp. soy sauce

1 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. cornstarch

1 lb. lean ground pork

1 10-oz. package prepared dumpling wrappers  (available at Asian food stores)

 

Finely chop the Chinese cabbage and scallions and put them in a mixing bowl. Add the soy sauce, salt, cornstarch, and pork. Mix well with a spoon.

 

Place 1 teaspoon of filling on each wrapper. Fold the wrappers into half circles. Moisten the inside edges with water, and press them together to seal.

 

In a large pot, bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Drop in the dumplings and cover. When the water resumes boiling, add 1 cup of cold water. Repeat this step twice. When the water boils for the third time, the dumplings will be done. Serve with 1/4 cup soy sauce mixed with 2 tablespoons white vinegar. Makes 4 dozen dumplings.

 

  

A Chinese New Year Cake

 

The Chinese New Year is the first day of the first lunar month (the Chinese calendar is based not on the sun, as the Western calendar is, but on the moon). It begins on the day of the first new moon after the sun enters Aquarius, which happens some time between January 21 and February 19. “Gung Hay Fat Choy,” the Chinese wish for happiness, echoes through the streets, and giant dragons parade the main thoroughfares. Each household displays bowls of oranges and tangerines, symbolizing wealth and good fortune.

 

Meanwhile, children gather at their parents’ house. They bring their own children and light incense to Buddha and burn play money in memory of their ancestors. The children particularly like lighting firecrackers (under the supervision of their elders). The firecrackers take out the bad from the last year and bring in the good of the next.

Throughout the day, family members talk and laugh and eat mushrooms, dried oysters with seaweed plum preserves, fried shrimp chips, and nin gao, the sticky rice cakes associated with the new year, for dessert. Nin means “year” and gao means “cake.” Legend has it that the taller the cake rises, the better the new year will be.

Nin Gao

 

1 1/2 cups water
2 1/2 cups dark brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 1/2 cups sweet rice flour*
3 dried red dates*

*Available in Asian specialty markets.

 

Mix the rice flour thoroughly with the cooled liquid and transfer the mixture into an 8-inch round aluminum pan (the aluminum pans at supermarket salad bars work very well for this). Set the dates in the middle. Fill a wok, a large pot, or a large, flat pan with 1 inch of water and carefully set the pan in the water. Cover lightly with aluminum foil and gently steam the mixture for about 50 minutes. Take care not to let the water boil over into the nin gao.

 

 

Dragon Mask  

 

6- by 30-inch piece of yellow poster board

Sheets of different colored craft paper

Glue

Stapler

Scissors

Streamers or ribbons, optional

 

Celebrate Chinese New Year with colorful, good luck headgear.

 

Starting at the back, wrap the poster board around your child’s head and staple together the sides an inch or two from his forehead. Remove the poster board and make the dragon’s face by gluing together the poster board flaps that project from the browband (the browband will serve as its neck). Cut out the dragon’s mouth and contour the top of its face. Glue craft paper scales to its neck, face and chin. Add paper eyes, flaring nostrils, teeth and horns. Finally, glue the base of a red paper flame to its lower jaw. For extra fun and color, tie long lengths of ribbon or streamers along your child’s arms.

 

Tip:   Play a game of Chase the Dragon’s Tail: This time-honored Chinese game is played by at least 10 kids. One child is the head of the dragon and wears the mask. The other players line up behind him with their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. The head has one minute to tag the last kid in line without causing the line to break apart. If he succeeds, he wins; if not, he becomes the tail, and the child behind him wears the mask.

 

 

Good-luck Goldfish

 

Welcome the Chinese New Year with these colorful, sun-catching goldfish, a traditional Chinese symbol of good fortune.

 

Tissue paper

Goldfish template

Plastic wrap

Glue

Scissors

 
To make one, first draw a large goldfish outline with a 1/2-inch-thick border on an 8 1/2- by 11-inch sheet of colored card stock and cut it out. (You can also print a template.)   For the scales, fold a 1- by 6-inch strip of colored tissue paper in half 3 times. Leaving the folded sides uncut, trim the paper into a crescent shape, then unfold the paper for a chain of colorful, wavelike shapes. Repeat with as many colors as you like.

 

Next, tape a large piece of plastic wrap to your work surface and slip the fish outline underneath it. Use a paintbrush to spread white glue onto the wrap. Lay the tissue paper strips vertically over the fish, trimming them as needed, overlapping them and alternating colors for a vibrant mix of scales. Gently brush more glue over the tissue paper strips once they’re in place.

 

 When you’ve covered the fish, remove the outline from beneath the plastic and set it in place atop the scales. Add more glue for a stronger hold, if necessary. Let the glue dry overnight, then trim the excess tissue paper and plastic wrap from around the fish and hang it in a window.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To honor this wacky holiday, challenge each member of your family to wear one piece of clothing backward today. You can also reverse the day’s meals, and serve dinner for breakfast, and breakfast for dinner. Make a game of thinking up words that are the same spelled forward and backward (mom, dad, pop, tot etc.). Walk backwards, and talk backwards. (For example, greet your child with a cheerful “Morning Good!”) Your little ones will think you are the most fun parent on Earth!

Puzzles are endlessly fascinating for kids. Every time they put one together, their problem-solving skills get better. To make your own puzzle, ask your child to draw a picture on a piece of paper. Mount the paper to light cardboard, then cut into several shapes. The more “abstract” the original drawing, the harder the puzzle will be to put back together. If purchasing a puzzle, make sure that it is appropriate to your child’s age and skill level. This will avoid frustration and make the experience a fun one. So pop a big bowl of popcorn to munch on while you work, spread the puzzle pieces on a big table, and have a puzzle-thon with your child today!

It’s simply impossible not to smile when you hear the funny sound of a kazoo. Not only do children love them, but kazoos are inexpensive and a cinch to play. Pick up several at a teacher’s supply store and invite your child to start his or her own marching kazoo band.