Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

pretend play

Chinese New Year Pretend Play

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Little learners will love to explore this Chinese New Year tablescape set up filled with Asian artifacts and red and gold loose parts.

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This Chinese New Year pretend play invitation features Asian artifacts and decorations. Little learners will love exploring the unique items and will learn about Asian culture.

Chinese New Year, also called the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is an important celebration held in late January or early February in China. Many other East Asian countries, as well as Chinese people around the world, celebrate the holiday too.

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Chinese New Year Pretend Play Supplies

A Chinese New Year tablescape filled with Asian artifacts and red and gold loose parts for little learners to explore.

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The following red and gold Asian-themed supplies are featured in the pretend play tablescape:

  • wicker decorations and hat
  • gold serving bowl
  • chopsticks
  • red bowls
  • gold glitter cups
  • tiny cups with calligraphy
  • candy decorations
  • fish ornament
    • play food fish
    • gold garland “noodles”
    • game chip “play food”
    • tin ornament candies
    • coin purse
    • money envelopes
    • small tins
    • vase with artificial cherry blossom branch
    • gold coins
    • lion string puppet
    • fabric ornaments with tassels
    • plaque with Chinese calligraphy
    • red tablecloth

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    Chinese New Year Pretend Play

    A Chinese New Year tablescape filled with Asian artifacts and red and gold loose parts for little learners to explore.

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    In setting up the dinner table play invitation, I used artifacts collected long ago, supplies available in stores around Chinese New Year, and red and gold loose parts.

    Bowls and chopsticks are important pieces, as they are commonly found in Asian tableware.

    Fish is a traditional New Year’s dish and is equated with an increase in prosperity.

    The gold bead garland strips represent longevity noodles: long, uncut noodles that symbolize a long life.

    A coin purse and money envelopes are ready for coins to be added.

    And a lion string puppet is poised for the lion dance.

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    Little learners will love to explore this Chinese New Year tablescape set up filled with Asian artifacts and red and gold loose parts.

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    More Chinese New Year Play Inspiration

    This pretend play invitation is bound to engage little learners. For more Chinese New Year play ideas or to host a vibrant party, view the blog post “How To Throw A Stellar Lunar New Year Party” by So Fort Worth It. The post showcases a host of decorating and activity ideas that can be adapted for little learners.

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    Related:

    Chinese New Year Money Tree Activities

    Chinese New Year (Year Of The Rabbit) Rice Bin

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    Winter-Themed Treasure Blocks

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    Winter-themed treasure blocks your little learners will be excited to play with. The blocks add beauty and interest to small world activities.

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    Winter-themed treasure blocks add interest and beauty to any block play activity. Pick a winter color palette, scrounge around for loose parts in your chosen hues, and add them to the blocks. It’s that easy!

    Treasure blocks are a fairly recent addition to my block collection, and I love adding seasonal supplies to them. There are eight see-through blocks in different sizes and shapes in the featured set, allowing various kinds of loose parts to be displayed. I highly recommend getting a set. They are so versatile.

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    Follow me on Pinterest for more winter activity ideas.

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    Winter-Themed Supplies To Collect

    An online search reveals a variety of beautiful winter color combinations. For this post, I use loose parts in silver, white, cream, and shades of blue.

    Winter-themed loose parts to use in treasure blocks or art activities.

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    Here’s what’s in the blocks:

    • blue, silver, and white pom poms
    • turquoise snowflake gems
    • white and shades of blue round gems
    • clear and shades of blue ice rock crystals
    • silver and teal metallic snowflake confetti
    • white paper punched snowflakes
    • cream and shades of blue potpourri
    • snowflake and snowman erasers

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    Winter-Themed Treasure Block Activities

    These winter-themed treasure blocks pair well with polar animals. Offer the blocks on a table along with animal figurines such as polar bears, seals, arctic foxes, narwhals, and walruses.

    Pair these winter-themed treasure blocks with polar animals and additional loose parts.

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    Or go extreme south, and set out the blocks with penguin figurines.

    These winter-themed treasure blocks make the perfect backdrop for a pair of penguins.

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    After using the blocks in setups with polar animals, I look forward to pairing them with “Disney Frozen” sets.

    Do you have a favorite way to use treasure blocks? Share below.

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    More Winter Activities

    Winter Playdough Recipe

    Snowman Sensory Play

    Spray Paint Snowflake Silhouette

    Blue Candy Cane Science Experiment

    Igloo Camping Pretend Play

    Polar Bear Small World

    Winter Sensory Trays

    Painting Ice and Snow

    Winter Wreath Paper Plate Craft

    Ice Drum Musical Instruments

    Frozen-Inspired Shadow Box

    Scissor Skill Snow Cutting Activities

    Kid’s Winter Wonderland Play Tablescape

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    New Year’s Eve Sensory Tray

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    New Year's Eve sensory tray dinner invitation with metallic loose parts little learners will love to have a pretend party with.

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    This New Year’s Eve sensory tray is full of party vibes. It is an inviting loose parts tray to offer at a New Year’s Eve event, or on the first day of class in January. The dinner-themed play invitation is currently ready for my preschoolers to explore when they are back at school next week. I’m excited to see how they use it!

    The featured tray is called a “tuff tray”, or “active world tray.” In our country (Canada) they are available to order online at Scholar’s Choice.

    My active world tuff tray is a recent addition to my stock of early learning resources, and I love using it.

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    Supplies To Collect

    New Year's Eve sensory play tray with a party theme.

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    To recreate this tray, pick a set of disposable paper New Year’s party plates. Use the colors in the plates to guide the color scheme for the loose parts in the active world tray. My plates are gold, silver, black and white, with metallic touches. I use gold and silver metallic accessories for the tray.

    Loose parts to include:

    • round placemat
    • disposable cups and cutlery
    • gift boxes
    • serving bowls and spoons
    • tongs
    • star-shaped containers
    • strips of bead garland
    • buttons
    • play coins
    • small bells
    • large ornament bells
    • present ornaments
    • balls cut from garland
    • tiny trophies

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    The New Year’s Eve Sensory Tray

    Gather loose parts that you have available. Arrange them as a dinner invitation.

    New Year's Eve tuff tray filled with dinner-themed loose parts little learners will love to party with.

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    Serving containers in a variety of sizes and shapes add appeal and provide options for manipulating loose parts.

    Bells are a welcome addition to any sensory activity. There are large bell ornaments and small jingling bells in the tray, offering a musical component.

    The featured gift boxes are clear and contain tiny trophies and ornaments. Little learners can explore them and change up the contents. Gold or silver gift boxes would work wonderfully too.

    New Year's Eve sensory tray featuring dinnerware, gift boxes, and metallic loose parts.

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    Space Kitchen Activity Tray

    To extend the sensory experience, switch out the New Year’s dinner plates for tin pie plate ones. The activity tray will become a space-themed play invitation!

    Cut metallic bead garland and necklaces make the perfect loose parts for an outer space spaghetti pretend play meal.

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    Other active world tray ideas:

    Fall Sensory Play

    Spider Theme Activities

    Christmas Village Tuff Tray

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    New Year's Eve sensory tray dinner-themed loose parts little learners will love to have a pretend party with.

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    More New Year’s Activities:

    New Year’s All Gold Sensory Activity

    New Year’s Countdown Activities

    New Year’s Crafts

    New Year’s Sensory Tray

    New Year’s Art and Math Activities

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    Chocolate Mint Playdough

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    Include this soft, heavenly-smelling, no-cook chocolate mint playdough in your holiday activities for early learners.

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    This no-cook chocolate mint playdough smells divine! I usually opt for a variation of my favorite stovetop-cooked playdough for early learning activities, as I always make a huge batch of it. But this soft, pliable recipe turns out perfectly and stores well in the fridge. It’s the perfect addition to any holiday celebration. Since it is December, it’s being featured with Christmas-themed accessories.

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    Follow me on Pinterest for more playdough ideas.

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    Chocolate Mint Playdough Recipe

    Gather the following ingredients for this recipe:

    • 1 ½ cup flour
    • ½ cup cocoa
    • ½ cup salt
    • 2 tbsp. cream of tartar
    • 2 tbsp. mint flavoring
    • 3 tbsp. oil
    • 1 ½ cup boiling water

    Combine and mix the flour, cocoa, salt, and cream of tartar in a bowl.

    Add boiling water.

    Drop in the oil and mint flavoring.

    Stir all ingredients together.

    Knead the dough on a cutting board when cool.

    Store in a plastic bag in the fridge.

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    Playdough Activities

    Set out the playdough with rolling pins, holiday cookie cutters, and festive loose parts.

    Oh so heavenly chocolate mint playdough and holiday-themed accessoies.

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    Soft, pliable, chocolate mint playdough recipe and holiday-themed accessories.

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    When using a second time, offer cupcake liners, festive erasers, and white glitter for children to make chocolate confections with. Gingerbread and candy cane erasers are the “stars of the show” below.

    Christmas accessories and glitter add a festive touch to this chocolate mint playdough activitiy.

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    Tip: Little fingers will get stained with chocolate during these playdough activities. Make sure there is a handwashing station nearby.

    Holiday erasers and white glitter add a festive touch to this chocolate mint playdough activity.

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    Your little charges may be tempted to taste the playdough since it smells so heavenly. It might be nice to have a small chocolate treat for them to eat after wrapping up this play invitation. A chocolate mint flavored treat would be ideal.

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    Christmas Village Tuff Tray

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    An inviting, snowy pioneer Christmas village tuff tray filled with people participating in outdoor winter activities.

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    This Christmas Village tuff tray is filled with people figurines participating in outdoor activities. It’s the perfect winter play invitation to include in holiday celebrations.

    A tuff tray is a sturdy, portable tray that can be used on a table, on the floor, or outside on the ground. Although it stores easily, it can also be set on a stand. I recently purchased a tuff tray online at Education Station, and love using it for this snowy activity.

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    Supplies To Collect

    A winter-themed pioneer village tuff tray filled with people participating in outdoor winter activities during the Christmas season.

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    For the holiday tuff tray set up, gather the following:

    • wooden train tracks and train
    • wooden vehicles
    • silver and white placemats
    • tin foil disposable lid
    • snowflake window cling sheet
    • gem snowflakes
    • Christmas village-themed gift boxes
    • winter-themed people and animal figurines
    • miniature village signpost, mailbox, light post, fence, bench, and tree props

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    Setting Up The Christmas Village Tuff Tray

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    Place a large, round silver placemat in the center of the tray to represent a skating rink. Or add a circle cut from tin foil.

    Lay wooden train tracks around the circular placemat.

    Set in another snowy or icy area by trimming a white or silver rectangular placemat into a curved shape.

    Add a round tin foil or white cardstock disposable container lid to suggest a third outdoor play space.

    Then arrange the gift box buildings around the edge of the tray. These can easily be found at a dollar store.

    Cut out large window cling snowflakes, leaving the backs on. Set them in open areas in the tray.

    Next, put winter-themed people figurines and miniature village props on and around the “snow” and “ice.”

    Generously sprinkle in gem snowflakes.

    Finally, set a wooden train on the track. Or add community helper vehicles.

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    Your little learners will be excited to investigate this Christmas Village tuff tray. If some of the figurines and props you choose to use are breakable, they need to be used carefully by little ones. The holiday play invitation must be supervised by an adult at all times!

    This tuff tray setup is non-messy, so can easily be added to a session where there are ample other activity choices.

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