Kristin Otero, OTR/L, MSOT Kristin Otero, OTR/L, MSOT

Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year Activities

Even if you’re not the most spirited person to celebrate; these activities are just another way to get creative with your little one! We have a couple holidays this week- Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day. Two very different celebrations but we figured we’d give you some ideas to have fun this week.

For Valentine’s Day Celebrations

  1. Celery Heart Stamps: Use the ends of the celery stick as a stamp to dip into red or pink paint for a heart felt painting.

  2. Ribbon Valentine: Something about Valentine’s always makes me flash back to Billy Madison getting one from Principal Anderson. Since kids are less likely to be able to pass it along to classmates, make ones at home for family members! You can use pieces of already used ribbon from Christmas to paste onto a heart, for a striped design.

  3. Valentine Name Puzzle: This is a double task; they can make the valentine with their name displayed across it. Then if you draw jagged lines across or even in squares, they can put it back together like a puzzle!

  4. Paper Heart Mobile: Use different colored construction paper to cut outlines of hearts, then attach them upright onto a string hanging from the ceiling.

  5. Valentine Collages: if you have colored tissue paper, and a paper plate- make a collage! Add your own design by cutting the tissue paper into pieces that you can glue onto the paper plate. Then cut out a hearth to display on the window sill.


For the Lunar New Year Celebrations

  1. Red Envelopes: This might be for the older kids, or adult assistance. https://www.firstpalette.com/craft/chinese-red-envelope.html

  2. Paper Fans: You’ll need 3 5X8 inch pieces of paper, two craft sticks and an tiny hairband. Here are some instructions with pictures: https://www.littlepassports.com/craft-diy/chinese-new-year-craft/

  3. Paper Lanterns: This is another activity that will require some adult assistance if for the younger kids. Here is a great how-to site https://www.firstpalette.com/craft/paper-lantern.html.

  4. Printable Chinese Zodiac Animals: Here’s a Free Printable! https://funcraftskids.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/12-Chinese-Zodiac-Coloring-Pages.pdf

For more fun ideas, you can always email us at smplytherapy@gmail.com!


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