10 ways to enjoy Chinese New Year with kids (despite the virus)

Activities to keep the kids busy during this season and advice from the experts. 

The past few weeks has seen our WeChat feeds flooding with a whirlwind of information about the Coronavirus, both verified and unverified, and it's not slowing down. 
Don't panic, but be vigilant. There are various news outlets with live updates (CNN and The New York Times to name a few) that you can follow to keep up with the news. And while we're waiting for the government to resolve this as soon as they can, we talked to some experts to share more on how to better protect ourselves. 

The importance of wearing masks'Wearing a mask is one of the few ways to protect yourself from airborne viruses,' AQBlue mask Co-founder Jeff Bauer tells us. 'Doctors and nurses are instructed to wear masks during outbreaks of tuberculosis and influenza pandemics. A proper mask with a good filter and tight seal will block airborne viruses.' 
He recommends the N95 work safety masks or its Chinese equivalent KN95. 'These masks can filter the smallest particles at very high efficiency. You should look for a mask that makes a tight seal on your face and you should dispose of the mask after wearing it if you think it has been contaminated.' WHO also adds that we should wash our hands after removing the masks.
If you're looking to buy a mask, unfortunately, inventories of AQBlue masks are low or sold out. But come early February, 'masks should start being restocked at 7 Eleven stores in Beijing and Tianjin, our online shops, and our international hospital partners like Raffles (International SOS), Vista Clinic, Hong Kong International Medical Clinic, Sanfine Hospital and Oasis International Hospital.' 
A representative of IdMask, another mask company, has mentioned that they currently have some stocks available. Contact Preston (WeChat: thomasthomasthomas87) for more information. 

On washing handsBut considering how serious this virus is, is washing our hands enough or should we get a high-quality hand sanitiser? Rachel Ng, microbiologist and now stay-at-home mom, doesn't think so. 'Hand sanitizers are effective at killing most bacteria and viruses except some stubborn spores. Efficiency depends on the percentage of alcohol, at least 60 to 95 percent. A higher percentage will mean it is harsher to your skin, drying it out. Some products will have glycerol or other moisturising agents to counter this. Be aware of non-alcohol based ones such as triclosan which are already banned in soaps as they may harm hormonal development.'

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'If there is a choice, always opt for good old soap and water. As in handwashing, the technique is also important; you must be very thorough when rubbing hand sanitizers, not just the palms, also back of hands, fingertips and between fingers. Soap and water are always better especially if hands are visibly soiled and if it is after using the toilet.' 
In this Youtube video by SCMP ('wall jumper' needed), Dr Joyce Lai demonstrates the proper way to wear a mask and to wash our hands.

If you're staying in Beijing this season, here are some activities for your families to make the most of the season as the government combats this virus. Stay safe, everyone!

Have a Chinese New Year feast

Gather the family for a lavish feast heavy on foods with symbolic significance to bring prosperity and luck. It's a great way to introduce the children to these classic dishes that have occupied tables around the country as families see out the old and usher in the new year. Learn more about auspicious Chinese foods here.

Make dumplings

Video: qq

Based on Chinese tradition, dumplings or jiaozi are shaped to resemble old ingot coins or yuan bao, so the more dumplings you eat, the more money you’ll be receiving in the upcoming year. You can boil them, steam them, fry them and fill them whatever your heart desires (though meat, shrimp and vegetables are the most common fillings). Occasionally, people stuff coins inside so you'll just have to eat as many as you can to find the lucky one. Make your own this Chinese New Year with the recipe above.

Give your home a Chinese New Year feel

Chinese New Year is all about traditions (and some superstitions), which includes donning the whole house in various house decor of red and gold to attract good luck. Bring some cheer into your homes by getting some of these traditional auspicious items and hanging them around the house with the kids. Then check out our mini-guide here to give the kids an explainer on what these decorations represent. 

DIY Temple Fair

Since you've already put up the auspicious deccies, consider planning a DIY temple fair at home. Bring out the candies and some goodies, and get the kids to play Shop, as if they were a vendor at the temple fair. Try your hands at a DIY shadow theatre, cutting out animal shapes and heading for a dark room with a lamp to create your performance. If you have large, cardboard boxes lying around, you can even make your own Lion Dance.Here's one example from Pinterest:
Also get the kids to prepare a performance or two for the family to watch. No overpriced yang rou chuanr's (lamb skewers) here; prepare a (healthy) feast for a king made up of the children's favourite dishes, and then follow it up with a traditional Chinese craft or two.     

Enjoy a Chinese film

Combine indoor entertainment with a bit of cultural education by screening one of these Chinese films from the comforts of your own home. This selection of family-friendly Chinese films features the lives of Chinese children and teens, though most of these are more suitable for adolescent or teen viewers. Find our picks on Youtube or on Youku. 

Up your Chinese with these Chinese cartoons

While the amount of screen time kids get is a hotly debatable issue, with the virus locking them in, it will inevitably be part of their day. For cartoon shows that combine Chinese learning and cultural discovery, check out these recommended programs from these international school teachers:

Get crafty with KingdomKids Craft boxes

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Taobao may not be accepting orders right now, but fortunately, KingdomKids still is. Get the kids to unleash their creativity with any of these themed craft boxes that's sure to keep the kids busy even for a short while. Prices vary; see posters for more information.  

Prepare this traditional Spring Festival classic

What would a Chinese festival be without family get-togethers and feasting? Another Dongzhi Festival tradition, gather with loved ones and bite into a gooey tangyuan, glutinous rice balls served in soup. The little balls all together in one bowl represent family togetherness. This is a dish which is also commonly served at Chinese weddings.
Fine rice flour is mixed with oil and lard into a smooth dough before wrapping up balls of peanut, sesame or other sweetened fillings. The dumplings are boiled and then served in reserved broth. The water takes on a thick sheen from the glutinous rice, but tang yuan tends not to be as sweet as its syrupy appearance suggests. Try making some with this recipe:

Make your own Chinese lantern

Arriving on the fifteenth day of Chinese New Year, and the eve of its first full moon, the Lantern Festival (Yuánxiāojié, 元宵节) marks the end of celebrations. Locals celebrate by hanging lanterns, releasing them into the sky or float them on water, symbolically ‘letting go’ of their old selves in the new year and celebrating as the darkness of winter begins to fade. Taobao would have much more options, though when exactly the vendors are back in business is up in the air at this point. So instead of waiting for these shops to reopen, gather the family and make your own Chinese lanterns. 

Do a WeTox

If you've reached the end of the list and all you can think of is going back to the latest updates on the virus, it might be time for a WeTox. Try going without your smartphone for a few hours and bring out the board games to play with the kids. It's still the holiday, after all.

See how we fared on our one-week WeTox here

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