New Year’s Eve Party during the day (or Noon Year’s Eve) is a great way to welcome the new year in Mandarin Chinese for your bilingual child without staying up til Midnight!
I don’t know about you, but gone are the days where I want to stay up that late to celebrate the New Year.
1. Decorate A New Years Eve Chinese Crown
Have your child decorate their own Noon Year’s Eve crown!
Get my free printable to make it easy for you! (see instructions below)
Invite your child to share their new year resolution or 新年新希望/Xīnnián xīn xīwàng.
There’s a space on the crown for them to draw or write their resolution.
For younger kids, simply ask them what question they want answered or what they would like to learn this year.
We enjoy this New Year tradition and hope you and your kiddos will too!
Phrases to your kids about their New Year resolutions in Mandarin Chinese:
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- Traditional:「明年妳有沒有甚麼想要達成的目標？」
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- Simplified: 「明年妳有没有什么想要达成的目标?」
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- Pinyin:「Míngnián nǎi yǒu méiyǒu shé me xiǎng yào dáchéng de mùbiāo」
2. Watch the New Year's Countdown in Taiwan or China
Tune into either Taiwan or China’s countdown on the morning of New Year’s Eve.
It works well especially if you’re in the Western Hemisphere (United States, Canada, Mexico etc).
I tune in a little before the countdown to watch some of the performances and countdown in Mandarin Chinese then watch the fireworks going off at Taipei 101.
It’s pretty spectacular if you’ve never seen it before.
Click here to watch this year’s countdown in
Another option is simply replay last year’s countdown in Taipei by clicking here.
3. Practice Counting Down from 10 in Mandarin
Write numbers in Chinese and tape it to the floor or use painters or washi tape to create the numbers.
Then have your child jump to the corresponding numbers while counting down from ten.
Fun and interactive way to practice counting down in Mandarin Chinese while getting some winter wiggles out.
4. Homemade Noon Years Eve Pizza or Kid Friendly Charcuterie Board
Shape some pre-made pizza dough into the Chinese numbers for 2024/二〇二四 then invite your child to put on the topping of their choice.
Pizza dough is also pretty easy to whip up in the bread machine if you have one. Here’s a great recipe.
If your kids are too young or you’re worried about the mess, just make it ahead of time and pop it into the oven.
Trader Joe’s has some great pre-made pizza dough and toppings to make this easy and affordable too.
Just be sure to grab two packs to make enough to enjoy. One pack makes enough for two people.
If pizza seems too complicated, just use whatever snacks you have around the house to make a quick charcuterie board in the shape of the two numbers in Chinese for the new year!
5. TP New Years Eve Blower
Here’s a fun recycled craft.
Get a toilet paper roll, let your child decorate it to their choosing then help them/let them write the year in Chinese on it.
Chinese characters for numbers have fewer strokes so it makes it easier to write for little ones.
A fun way to introduce Chinese writing!
Have a Wonderful Chinese Rich Noon Years Eve Party!
Happy Noon Years Eve! Hop you and your kiddos have a wonderful time ushering in the new year with these fun ideas!
If you do end up making this new year crown, please tag me @spotofsunshineChinese. I’d love to see your Chinese rich Noon Years Eve!
Fun Fact: New Year Celebration in Taiwan
When we were living in Taiwan, most people would watch performances by singers on new year’s eve then participate in the countdown and watch the spectacular fireworks at Taipei 101 either live or from the comforts of their home.
Locals will only say “Happy New Year/新年快樂/xīnnián kuàilè” after the Chinese Lunar New Year.
More Chinese Learning Resources & Ideas
For some more fun Christmas related material, check out the following posts:
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