Celebrating Lunar New Year in My Daughter’s Pre-K3 Class
This Lunar New Year, my daughter's teacher wanted to celebrate our culture with her Pre-K3 class and reached out to me for ideas. I was thrilled to help introduce the traditions of Vietnamese New Year (Tết) to the little ones!
Red Envelopes (Lì Xì)
I designed custom red envelopes for her teacher to pass out to the students as a symbol of good fortune and well wishes for the school year. Instead of lucky money, I tucked a special sticker sheet inside each one—something fun and age-appropriate for the kids to enjoy.
Books
Her teacher also asked for book recommendations to read to the class. Since Chinese New Year is often the more widely recognized celebration, I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce Vietnamese New Year and its unique traditions. While there are many similarities, the stories, preparations, and meanings can differ between cultures.
Here are three books I chose to share this year:
The Magic of Tết: A Vietnamese Lunar New Year Bilingual Children's Book
By Windy Pham
This beautifully illustrated bilingual book follows a young Vietnamese American girl as she experiences the magic of Tết with her family. Through vibrant storytelling, it highlights key traditions such as cooking special foods, decorating the house, and giving red envelopes. I love that this book is written in both English and Vietnamese, making it a great way for kids to learn new words and connect with the language.
By Alice Trinh
This heartwarming story captures the essence of Tết as a time for family and togetherness. The book follows a young child as they prepare for the holiday—cleaning the house, making bánh chưng (square sticky rice cakes), and celebrating with loved ones. The illustrations are adorable, and the simple yet engaging text makes it perfect for younger readers. My daughter enjoyed pointing out the different traditions we also practice at home!
Welcome Lunar New Year with the Zodiac Animals
By Jessie Duong
This book introduces children to the Lunar New Year through the lens of the 12 zodiac animals. It explains how each animal represents a different personality and year, making it a fun and interactive way for kids to learn about the zodiac. My kids especially loved figuring out which animals their relatives were. They were so amused to learn that some of the zodiac animals are different in Vietnamese culture—for example, we celebrate the Year of the Cat, while in Chinese culture, it’s the Year of the Rabbit!
Craft: Lion Dance Puppet
My daughter's favorite part of Lunar New Year is watching the lion dancers perform, so planning a craft centered around this tradition was a no-brainer. I found a simple yet engaging lion dance paper puppet on Teachers Pay Teachers that was perfect for Pre-K students. It was a fun way for the kids to interact with the tradition and bring the celebration to life in the classroom.
My Son’s Birthday & Lì Xì for His Class
I was so proud when my son asked me to prepare lì xì for his classmates, too! His birthday happens to fall in the same week as Vietnamese New Year this year, so he wanted to share the tradition with his friends. I even redesigned the artwork to feature a male snake for him (since this is the Year of the Snake). Instead of lucky money, I included a custom sticker sheet in each envelope—just like I did for my daughter's class.
Final Thoughts
It was so meaningful to share our culture with both of my children’s classrooms this year. From books and crafts to red envelopes, I loved seeing the excitement in their classmates’ eyes as they learned about Tết. Hopefully, these small moments help foster appreciation and curiosity about different cultures from an early age.
How do you celebrate Lunar New Year with your family? Let me know in the comments!