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    Home » Crafts » Kids Crafts

    Chinese Dragon Puppet Kids Craft

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    how to make a dragon puppet

    Looking for a fun way to Chinese New Year Craft to celebrate the Lunar Calendar, this Chinese Dragon Puppet is just the thing.

    Chinese Dragon Puppet for kids

    This Chinese Dragon Puppet is great for helping kids celebrate the Chinese New Year.

    Chinese New Year Crafts for kids are some of our favorite holiday crafts. They are so rich in color and tradition, that it makes our hearts happy sharing these cultures with our kids.

    If you are looking for other fun kids puppets like this one, you will not want to miss our other popular puppets including Ballerina Craft Puppet, Bat Paper Puppet, Flower Bookmark Puppet, and Butterfly Craft For Kids.

    We highlighted this Chinese New Year Craft along with some other fun kid's crafts in our January Crafts for Kids as well as February Crafts along with our 101+ Easy Craft Ideas for kids.

    You also do not want to miss our 101+ Fun Coloring Pages For Kids and 101+ Free Kids Printables full of Crafts & Coloring Pages.

    child holding dragon puppet

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    Celebrating Chinese New Year

    Celebrating Chinese New Year is one of our favorite things to do with the kids. Sharing other cultural celebrations, like the Chinese New Year, shares different languages, beliefs, and traditions.

    We believe it's important for our kids to not take part in other cultural celebrations, but to try and learn from them.  

    What does the Chinese Dragon Symbolize?

    The dragon is an important symbolic figure in Chinese culture. Dragons appeared originally in the mythology of ancient times. Where they were believed to symbolize power over the water, rainfall, and all water-based weather systems. In modern times they symbolize strength, power, and good luck.

    We also have fun Good Luck Ornaments, Chinese New Year Bingo, and Chinese New Year Word Search that you will want to check out!

    You also won't want to miss all our other popular Chinese New Year Printables!

    Check out these other Dragon Themed Activities!

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    Dragon Coloring Pages For Kids

    How to draw a Cute Dragon Easy Step By Step

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    2024 Year of the Dragon Coloring Pages

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    Dragon Paper Bag Puppet

    Dragon Craft

    With the dragon being the center of the Chinese New Year's celebration, we thought it would be nice to create our own dragon craft.

    We hope you enjoy this dragon craft as much as we have had to make it all over the world. Easy paper crafts are some of our favorites and this is for sure one of them!

    Supplies Needed To Make This Dragon Puppet

    dragon craft supplies
    • Chinese Dragon Puppet Printable (Below)
    • Crepe Paper (Red, Orange, Yellow)
    • Two paper straws or popsicle sticks
    • Markers or crayons for coloring
    • Markers or crayons for coloring
    • Tape
    • Ruler

    How to Make a Dragon Puppet

    Print Chinese Dragon Puppet Printable

    colored paper dragondragon printable

    Have the children color the dragon. Encourage them to take their time and color in all the different details of the dragon

    cut out dragon puppet

    Cut out both the dragon head and tail. If they are not as strong with their scissor skills, then they can cut around the head with extra white. You can also cut them out for them.

    3 rolls of crepe paperThree Pieces of Crepe Paper

    Cut 3 -12 inch piece of crepe paper.

    accordian folded crepe paper

    Lightly fold the crepe paper in half. Fold in half again. Then fold in half once more till the paper is approximately 1-2 inches in length.

    cutting a piece of crepe paper

    Cut each piece of crepe paper in half lengthwise.

    yellow orange and red Crepe paper red, orange and yellow crepe paper cut in half

    You will now have a 6 – 12 inch piece of crepe paper.

    folded crepe paper

    For the body of the dragon, stack three-piece of crepe paper on top of each other.

    folded crepe paperhow to accordian fold crepe paperfully folded crepe paperthree thin pieces of crepe paper folded

    Fold into an accordion shape approximately a half-inch wide.

    two sides of puppet flipped upside down

    Turn dragon head and body over.

    gathering of the three ends of the crepe papertape the ends of the crepe paper to the backside of the dragon puppet

    Tape the ends of the three pieces of accordion crepe paper to the backside of the head.

    Tape other side of crepe paper back side of the dragon puppet

    Tape the other end of the accordion crepe paper the other to the backside of the tail.

    small pieces of crepe paper

    Cut the extra 3 pieces of crepe paper in half lengthwise and then again lengthwise, so they are 3 inches approximately in length.

    cutting a the edge of crepe paperthe edge of the crepe paper is fringedthree piece of fringed crepe paper

    Cut the edges of these smaller pieces to create fringe.

    lay out small piece of crepe paper to attach to back of dragon puppetsmall piece of crepe paper taped to back of dragon puppet

    Tape those pieces to the back of the dragon to hang off the bottom.

    attach popsicle sticks to back of both head and tail of dragon

    Tape one straw or popsicle stick to the head and one to the tail with enough hanging off for the kids to grab.

    Chinese Dragon Puppet Kids Craft

    Dragon Puppet FAQs

    Here are a few questions you might be thinking about now that you've started this project

    How do you make an easy paper puppet?

    There are ways to make this easy for smaller children. Simply cut the dragon puppets out for those children and let them color. Also, just cutting out the head of the dragon allows them to color and you can attach a popsicle stick or straw to it.

    What does a Chinese dragon mean?

    Dragons are symbols of power, strength, and good luck.

    What colors are Chinese dragons?

    You can color your dragon any color you choose. In the past, the color of the dragon was determined by the dynasty. Red is a symbol of good fortune and the reason many of the dragons are red throughout the Chinese New Year celebrations.


    How to Make a Chinese Dragon Puppet

    Here are some other Chinese New Year Crafts You Might Enjoy

    • Fun printable Chinese New Year activities for kids will let your kids creativity flow and keep them busy coloring and playing games
    • A childhood favorite, the Chinese New Year drum is all kinds of fun. It totally gives me a Karate Kid vibe, but they are all kinds of fun.
    • Giant paper lantern DIY tutorial. There is something so fun about a tradition favorite, but with a giant twist.
    • There is nothing sweeter than a fortune cookie after dinner. Our rainbow felt fortune cookie craft is a sweet gift to celebrate the New Year
    • Traditional red paper lanterns are hung outside on Chinese New Year to symbolize a bright and HAPPY future. We are all in for that!
    • How to draw a Chinese dragon

    Download Your Dragon Puppet Printable

    Looking for more crafts from other countries? Check our our Kids Crafts from Around the World Series

    Chinese Dragon Puppet Kids Craft
    Print

    Chinese Dragon Puppet

    Looking for fun way to Chinese New Year Craft to celebrate the Lunar Calendar, this Chinese Dragon Puppet is just the thing.
    Course Kids Crafts
    Keyword Chinese Dragon Puppet, Chinese New Year, Dragon Craft, Dragon Puppet, Kids Crafts, Printable
    Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes minutes
    Servings 1 Dragon Puppet
    Author Alli Ward

    Equipment

    • Scissors
    • Ruler (optional)

    Ingredients

    • Chinese Dragon Puppet Printable
    • Crepe Paper Red, Orange, Yellow
    • Two paper straws or Popsicle sticks
    • Markers for coloring
    • Tape

    Instructions

    • Print Chinese Dragon Puppet Printable
      dragon craft supplies
    • Have the children color the dragon. Encourage them to take their time and coloring in all the different details of the dragon
      colored paper dragon
    • Cut out both the dragon head and tail. If they are not as strong with their scissor skills, then they can cut around the head with extra white. You can also cut them out for them.
      cut out dragon puppet
    • Cut 3 -12 inch piece of crepe paper.
      Three Pieces of Crepe Paper
    • Lightly fold the crepe paper in half. Fold in half again. Then fold in half once more till the paper is approximately an 1-2 inches in length
      accordian folded crepe paper
    • Cut each piece of crepe paper in half lengthwise.
      cutting a piece of crepe paper
    • You will now have 6 – 12 inch piece of crepe paper.
      red, orange and yellow crepe paper cut in half
    • For the body of the dragon, stack three piece of crepe paper on top of each other.
      folded crepe paper
    • Fold into an accordion shape approximately a half inch wide.
      fully folded crepe paper
    • Turn dragon head and body over.
      two sides of puppet flipped upside down
    • Tape the ends of the three pieces of accordion crepe paper to the back side of the head.
      tape the ends of the crepe paper to the backside of the dragon puppet
    • Tape the other end of the accordion crepe paper the other to the back side of the tail.
      Tape other side of crepe paper
    • Cut the extra 3 pieces of crepe paper in half lengthwise and then again lengthwise, so they are 3 inches approximately in length.
      small pieces of crepe paper
    • Cut the edges of these smaller pieces to create fringe.
      the edge of the crepe paper is fringed
    • Tape those piece to the back of the dragon to hang off the bottom.
      small piece of crepe paper taped to back of dragon puppet
    • Tape one straw or popsicle stick to the head and one to the tail with enough hanging off for the kids to grab.
      attach popsicle sticks to back of both head and tail of dragon
    • Now its time to let the kids play
      Chinese Dragon Puppet Kids Craft

    Video

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    Chinese Dragon Craft

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    Chinese Dragon Puppet | Preschool Crafts | Chinese Kids Crafts | Dragon Puppet | www.madewithHAPPY.com

    More Happy Lunar New Year

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      How To Draw a Snake Easy Step-By-Step Tutorial
    • A vibrant February holidays collage featuring illustrations of Groundhog Day, Presidents Day, Superbowl, National Cherry Month, Bubble Gum Day, Black History Month, Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year, National Cabbage Day, National Golden Retriever Day, and National Fondue Month.
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      Easy Chinese New Year Crafts for Kids
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    About Alli

    Discover a world of creativity and joy with Alli Ward, the creative mind behind Made with Happy. From DIY crafts to delicious recipes, Alli brings happiness to every project!

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    alli ward

    Hi, I'm Alli Ward, the Maker behind Made with Happy. I'm a color-obsessed creative mom of two sharing easy crafts, printables, and home DIY projects that the whole family will love! 

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