Chinese firecrackers

Traditionally, firecrackers are let off each Chinese New year to warn away the man-eating monster Nian. Now your kids can make their own Chinese ‘firecrackers’ with this pretty craft activity.

What you need:

• Cardboard tubes – you can use old kitchen paper tubes cut in half, or create your own tubes by gluing pieces of card into a tube shape
• Red and gold paint
• 2 paintbrushes

Number of players:

Activity:

Paint each cardboard tube with red paint and allow to dry.

Using a smaller brush, decorate the painted tube with the gold paint – maybe paint Chinese characters, or one of the Chinese zodiac animals.

After drying, tie your firecrackers together to make a garland.