Lunar New Year: 4 Creative Play Ideas with CONNETIX!

By Jarmila Smejkalova

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with these fun, festive and educational play ideas that the whole family can enjoy. Perfect for bringing tradition to life! And the best part – these activities are also great for everyday play, making the Year of the Snake extra special!

1. Snake Board Game

Tiles needed:

11 x Small squares
10 x Right-angled triangles
1 x Pentagon
1 x Quarter circle

Use red and clear tiles to create a winding snake-shaped game board. Grab a chalk marker to add numbers and challenges like “skip a turn”, “move forward” or “start again”. Roll a dice and let the fun begin! Depending on the level of challenge, this activity combines strategic thinking and playful competition.

How to play the game:

The youngest player starts. The game is then played in a clockwise direction. When it is their turn, each player rolls the die and moves their counter to the right number of squares.

If the player lands on a square that is already occupied by another counter, they send that counter back to the square they started their move on.

Aim of the game:

To be the first to get to square 23.

Special squares:

The snake: allows players to move forward a second time. They can move the number of squares from the last roll of the dice.
The prison (square 7): players must stay in the prison until another player falls in. The player that gets released must go back to the square that the player who has just fallen in was on at the start of their turn. Variation: miss 2 turns.
The bridge (square 9): allows players to move forward to the second bridge (square 13).
The maze (square 10): takes the player back to square 3.
The skull (square 18): sends the player back to square 1.

End of the game:

The first player to get to square 23 wins the game.

!!! Warning: Players must roll the exact number they need to land on square 23. If their roll is higher than the number of squares they still need to move, the player must move backwards the extra number of spaces that they roll.

2. Lunar Lantern Display

Tiles needed:

8 x Small squares
9 x Equilateral triangles
10 x Isosceles triangles
4 x Right-angled triangles
1 x Trapezoid
1 x Large equilateral triangle
8 x Small rectangles

Bring traditional red lanterns to life using red and yellow tiles. By letting your child decorate them with creative designs, this activity turns into a fantastic fine motor exercise. Once complete, display the lanterns in your home for a touch of festive Lunar New Year decoration!

3. Fierce Dragon/Lion Mask Puzzle

Tiles needed:

2 x Large hexagons
2 x Trapezoids
2 x Diamonds
8 x Right-angled triangles
20 x Equilateral triangles
14 x Isosceles triangles

Draw the outline of a fierce dragon or lion mask on a large sheet of paper or a whiteboard. Use tiles to match the outline, adding a playful puzzle element. Make it trickier by including extra tiles that don’t belong. This activity is perfect for developing problem-solving skills.

4. Majestic Snake Ball Run

Tiles needed:

4 x Base plates
11 x 4-Square rectangles
7 x 3-Square rectangles
11 x 2-Square rectangles
4 Small squares

Celebrate the Year of the Snake by building a mesmerising snake-themed ball run. Use clear tiles and baseplates to create a sturdy setup. Watch in awe as the balls glide through the intricate pathways! This activity is ideal for encouraging engineering skills and creative exploration for older children.

Endless Possibilities with CONNETIX

One of the best things about CONNETIX is how versatile and open-ended the tiles are. Once the Lunar New Year celebrations are over, these same tiles can be used to create something entirely new for the next special occasion. No need to buy lots of disposable decorations or themed toys—CONNETIX grows with your family’s imagination and creativity, adapting to every celebration, milestone or rainy afternoon play session.

Let’s make this Lunar New Year one to remember with these exciting and meaningful play ideas. Don’t forget to share your creations with us—we’d love to see how you celebrate!

Happy Playing!

Jarmila Smejkalova

Jarmila is a devoted mom of four whose passion lies in homeschooling and nurturing creativity through play. With years of experience in homeschooling her children, she's a strong advocate for this educational approach. Jarmila thrives on fostering open-ended play, believing it to be a cornerstone of childhood development. Her life is a joyful whirlwind centered around her children and the boundless world of imaginative play.

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