{"id":5958,"date":"2026-02-25T15:39:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T07:39:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elfapreschools.com\/singapore\/?p=5958"},"modified":"2026-02-25T15:40:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T07:40:23","slug":"when-stories-come-alive-a-joyful-chinese-new-year-programme-for-preschoolers-in-singapore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elfapreschools.com\/singapore\/when-stories-come-alive-a-joyful-chinese-new-year-programme-for-preschoolers-in-singapore\/","title":{"rendered":"When Stories Come Alive: A Joyful Chinese New Year Programme for Preschoolers in Singapore"},"content":{"rendered":"

On 7 February 2026, the quiet corners of Jurong Library came alive with excited chatter, wide-eyed curiosity, and bursts of laughter. In partnership with the National Library Board, ELFA Preschool welcomed families to a special Chinese New Year Learning and Discovery Session for Preschoolers\u2014a joyful celebration of culture, creativity, and shared discovery.<\/p>\n

Designed for children aged two to six, this immersive programme introduced Chinese New Year traditions through storytelling and hands-on exploration. More than a celebration, it gave children joyful, age-appropriate ways to explore language, heritage, and culture meaningfully.<\/p>\n

Learning Chinese New Year Traditions Through Storytelling<\/h2>\n

The afternoon opened with a mesmerizing shadow puppet performance of the legendary tale of Nian <\/em>(\u5e74). Behind a glowing screen, the story came alive through music, movement, and flashes of red, drawing the children in as they leaned forward, eager to uncover the meaning behind this timeless tale. More than just a story to listen to, this cherished legend\u2014a cornerstone of Chinese New Year traditions\u2014soon became an interactive experience, inviting participants to engage and bring the tale to life themselves.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"

ELFA educators brought the legend of Nian (\u5e74) to life through captivating shadow puppetry<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>

\"\"

Children and families sit in awe, captivated by the enchanting shadow puppet performance of Nian<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>

\"\"

Children got a chance to step behind the scenes and bring the shadow puppets of Nian to life<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>

Hands-On Chinese New Year Activities for Preschoolers<\/h2>\n

After the storytelling session, children explored a series of thoughtfully curated activity stations. Each station encouraged playful discovery while supporting fine motor development, confidence, and cultural understanding.<\/p>\n

1. Chinese Calligraphy for Children (\u798f)<\/h3>\n<\/div>
\"\"

With ink, brush, and boundless imagination, children and their families discovered the art of Chinese calligraphy at Jurong Library<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>

With brushes in hand, children explored the character F\u00fa <\/em>(<\/strong>\u798f<\/strong>)<\/strong>, meaning fortune and blessing. As they practised each stroke, they learned how controlled movement of the brush, with meaning in each word come together in traditional Chinese calligraphy.<\/p>\n

2. Chinese Paper-Cutting Activity<\/h3>\n<\/div>
\"\"

Children enjoyed hands-on Chinese paper-cutting with ELFA educators as they explored the traditional decorations which symbolize good fortune<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>

Folding, snipping, and unveiling festive patterns became an exercise in patience and delight. The magical moment of opening the paper to reveal intricate designs was a favourite among many young participants.<\/p>\n

3. Ang Bao<\/em> Print Stamping Craft<\/h3>\n

This craft activity allowed children to immerse themselves in the richness of Chinese New Year traditions while enhancing their fine motor skills and creativity. Inspired by the iconic Ang Bao (red packet) designs, children created textured prints using simple stamping techniques.<\/p>\n

Guided by ELFA educators, children experimented with print stamping on red packets while learning simple auspicious Chinese New Year greetings. Proud smiles filled the room as the children presented their creations to their parents.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"

Little ones explored print stamping on red packets, discovering simple and meaningful Chinese New Year greetings<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>

\"\"

Beautiful artworks from the children and families<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>

4. Window Flower Colouring<\/h3>\n<\/div>
\"\"

Children coloured their own window flowers, adding a touch of festive charm<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>

Window flowers are traditional Chinese paper decorations, placed on windows to welcome good luck, happiness, and prosperity.<\/p>\n

5. Pitch-Pot Game (\u6295\u58f6)<\/h3>\n<\/div>
\"\"

Laughter echoed across the space as families tried their hand at Pitch-Pot (\u6295\u58f6), an ancient Chinese game<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>

Pitch-Pot is a traditional Chinese game that dates back to ancient times. It was played during celebrations and gatherings as a form of friendly competition. Also known as T\u00f3u H\u00fa<\/em> (\u6295\u58f6), Pitch-Pot originated as a traditional Chinese etiquette and banquet game. In ancient times, due to limited courtyard space and large numbers of guests, pot throwing was used instead of archery to entertain attendees.<\/p>\n

Visit the Chinese New Year Exhibition for Children<\/h2>\n

The learning continues beyond the programme. A specially curated Chinese cultural exhibition for children is open from 7 to 27 February at Jurong Library, Children\u2019s Zone (Level B1).<\/p>\n

Curated by ELFA Preschool @ Jurong East, the exhibition presents Chinese New Year customs and the Indigo tie-dye origin from Yunnan in a child-friendly format, making cultural exploration accessible and engaging for families.<\/p>\n

Exhibition Highlights:<\/h3>\n<\/div>

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>

Interactive Chinese New Year Display<\/strong> introducing the concept of Reunion Dinner, the 12 Chinese Zodiac and many more traditional cultures to children.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>

Yunnan Indigo Tie-Dye Display<\/strong> showcasing traditional craftsmanship.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>

Shadow Puppet Display<\/strong> featuring storytelling tools from the session.<\/p>\n<\/div>

ELFA Preschool wishes every child and family a joyful and prosperous Year of the Horse, filled with boundless energy, happiness, and exciting new adventures. May your learning with ELFA Preschool continue to inspire curiosity, creativity, and growth throughout the year!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":5965,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-happenings"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/elfapreschools.com\/singapore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5958","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/elfapreschools.com\/singapore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/elfapreschools.com\/singapore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elfapreschools.com\/singapore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elfapreschools.com\/singapore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5958"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/elfapreschools.com\/singapore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5958\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5974,"href":"https:\/\/elfapreschools.com\/singapore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5958\/revisions\/5974"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elfapreschools.com\/singapore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5965"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/elfapreschools.com\/singapore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5958"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elfapreschools.com\/singapore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5958"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elfapreschools.com\/singapore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}