Preview draft. Activities have not been tested with caregivers.
Celebrations · The activity desk
Zodiac rat path picture
Draw a rat and a winding path while learning about the Chinese zodiac.
Let's play →
A little plan for play
Open interactive activity →Add to play journal →What you need
Paper and child-appropriate crayons
Age: 3–5 years; choose for the individual child.
Stay with the child throughout. Check the space and supplies, including anything within reach of younger siblings. Skip any activity that is unsuitable. Stop if a child puts non-food material in their mouth or becomes distressed. Use intact books, full sheets of paper, a large child-appropriate crayon and a clean, dry towel. Follow product labels; remove torn paper and keep broken crayons and caps away from children. Adult handles and stores supplies.
Set up: Lay paper and crayons on a table. An adult can draw a large oval to start the rat's body.
Adult's role: Explain that the rat is one of twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac and help with drawing if wanted.
Let's make it happen
- Draw an oval body, a pointed nose and two round ears.
- Add eyes, whiskers and a long curved tail.
- Draw a winding path beside the rat and trace its journey with a finger.
Make it simpler: Add two ears to an adult's oval and color them together.
Clean up: Put crayons away and keep or recycle the picture.
Families celebrate Chinese New Year in different ways. Let the child choose colors and details.