What to Do Every Day of the Chinese New Year Holiday
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Whether e-learning is going well for your family or not, the days continue to grow shorter until the inevitable Time That You Are Responsible For Your Children’s Happiness All Day Every Day, otherwise known as Lunar New Year school break. With kids being home and bound to screens for 2-4 weeks beforehand, you may feel more pressure to go out and do something, but within guidelines and well sanitized, of course. In case you don’t feel like sorting through WeChat groups and Dianping yourself, we collected all our ideas into a little calendar that allows you to not have to think about a blessed thing. And isn’t that really why we’re here — to be Beijing’s essential international family resource?
This is a cool way to learn more about photography or have the kids make a travel vlog, and just get out of the house for some exercise! After lunch is the sweet spot weather-wise, and any camera will do! Teen writer Qin Luyao wrote up some truly wonderful spots for a great walk and photos of great views here, and they’re all close to good eats as well.
If your child loves to write letters and wants to practice their typing, the Pen Pal program is great for connecting with children who would otherwise feel even more isolated. Any child aged 9 and older who wants to be Pen Pal Best Buddy for a child with special needs can sign up at the QR code on the flyer here. You just need to commit to communicating with your pal once a month through a secure communication platform that they will provide.
Our Maker’s Corner series is always
inspiring, and this one from 2018 turns the perfect randomness lying
around your house into adorable handmade bookmarks. The best part is
that these can encourage your child to read a new book so they can use
their creation, and even make more to give out as gifts! Access the steps via this QR code:
Maybe you’ve only done it accidentally
when you mixed up a meeting place with friends, but Chaoyang Park is the
perfect spot to tucker out those kids and get some amazing exercise in
the meantime. It’s nice to pack a lunch and snacks, take a full day with
scooters or bikes, and just walk until you want to stop and play, then
keep walking until it’s time to go home. Even on a chilly day, the
activity alone will get your blood pumping — and make for an easy
bedtime!
After such an active Thursday, take it
easy Friday with a craft you start indoors then take to the streets! But
wait, it also has no clean up time, my favorite kind of craft! Take a
look at the how to via the QR code below and send us photos of your child’s calligraphy
creations.
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How cute is this? Every Saturday in
February, East Hotel will teach your kids how to make colorful Chinese
dumplings from 2-3pm for just RMB 188, or a 3 class package is RMB 528/6
class package RMB 1,028 – excluding their special gingerbread house
making in December.
Invite your friends from your home country, friends you never get to see in Beijing, or your kid’s classroom for a fun virtual time with fairies, improv, magic, and a lot more. Peruse our list of virtual parties and book them for some much needed social time.
In the winter? Are we crazy? Well, that might still be up for debate but cycling in the wintertime is actually the best time, says our longtime friend and contributor Anna Pellegrin-Hartley. It’s worth a look at her blog over here to learn why she thinks so, then plan your cycling route!
In honor of Beijing hosting the Winter
Olympics, or just because it looks like a great time, The Place set up a
large snow area in the center atrium. Here you can sled, slip, and
throw snowballs at whatever willing adult you can trick to get in there
with you!
One nice thing about the wintertime is
that fewer people just go hang at a mall, and Taikoo Li is no
exception. If your kids like to scoot on their scooters, the atrium is
wide open and empty. Let them get out their energy before bringing them
to the second floor of Page One bookstore and choosing an activity or
story that makes them feel like they’re traveling even if they can’t
leave Beijing.
By this point in your “vacation”, everyone will need a chill-out activity that results in some delicious treat indulging – so here we bring you Chef Lily Zhang from théATRE Tea and her birthday cake recipe. No birthday needed for this round of cakes and cupcakes — just a chance to let loose and have a good time together.
Now
that you’ve had some time out and about, and time to reflect as a
family, it might be a good opportunity to talk to your kids about
protecting the earth, and how your family can work together to combat
climate change. Read our interview with teen climate activist Howie Ou
and then review all the actions you can take on Fridays For Future’s
website: www.fridaysforfuture.org.
You have lots of pieces from various board games; why not make up your own? It’s a great chance to see just how far your child’s imagination can soar when they are the ones who make up the rules. Then try to play and see how it works — together!
Now use your newly found cooking skills to try some of these Chinese recipes for English speakers to make homemade chili soup, dumplings (of course), hot and sour soup, beef and noodle soup, stir fry, Wuhan noodles, and even more! A perfect way to spend unscheduled family time together while catching up on all the laundry you let loose during the break.
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Photos: Pexels, East Hotel
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