Making Paper Lanterns for Lunar New Year: A Fun Craft for Young Children

Lunar New Year is a wonderful time to celebrate with family, and what better way to get the little ones involved than with a simple paper lantern craft? This activity is perfect for children aged 4–7, requiring just a few basic materials and minimal prep. It's a great opportunity to teach them about the festival while creating decorations they'll be proud to display.

What You'll Need

• Coloured paper or card (red and gold are traditional Lunar New Year colours)
• Child-safe scissors
• Glue stick or tape
• Markers or crayons for decorating
• Optional: stickers, glitter, or tissue paper for extra sparkle

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Fold Your Paper
Take a sheet of coloured paper and fold it in half lengthways. This creates a crease down the middle—don't unfold it yet.

Step 2: Cut the Strips
Starting from the folded edge, cut strips towards the open edge, stopping about 2 cm from the top. Space the cuts roughly 2–3 cm apart. Younger children may need help with this step, so don't hesitate to do it for them or guide their hands.

Step 3: Unfold and Decorate
Carefully unfold the paper. Now comes the fun part—let the children decorate their lantern with markers, stickers, or glitter. They can add patterns, write their names, or draw festive designs.

Step 4: Form the Lantern
Bring the two short ends of the paper together to create a cylinder shape. Secure with glue or tape. The cut strips will now curve outward, creating the lantern effect.

Step 5: Add a Handle (Optional)
Cut a thin strip from leftover paper and glue it to the inside of the lantern to create a handle. This makes it easier for little hands to hold and display.

Tips for Success

Keep scissors child-safe and supervise cutting closely. If your child finds cutting tricky, pre-cut the strips yourself and let them focus on decorating and assembly. Work on a flat surface with newspaper or a craft mat underneath to catch any glue or glitter spills. Let glue dry completely before handling the finished lantern to prevent it from falling apart.

These colourful lanterns make brilliant decorations for windows, doorways, or a Lunar New Year display shelf. They're also a lovely keepsake of the festival and a craft that builds confidence and fine motor skills in young children.