It’s almost Lunar New Year! Get Kids Ready for The Year of the Dragon…
Dragons are creatures of fantasy and limitless power. They scoff at gravity and chafe under rules. People born in the year of the dragon tend to be leaders and innovators, willing to embark on projects that would make others fold. As we enter this year of incredible power, have the kids in your life embrace the dragon energy by doing these creative projects!
Write Every Morning
Have kids pick up a notebook and pen and write every morning. The point here is not to follow the rules. This isn’t a time for learning grammar or practicing verb tenses. Have kids unleash their inner dragon by writing down whatever comes to their mind first thing in the morning. Emphasizing that it doesn’t have to follow any rules is a great way to help them access their inner creativity and fly free and proud!
Visit a New Place
The spirit of the dragon is one of adventure and seeking. Have kids go somewhere new to unlock a different perspective. This can be traveling to a different city as a family, or something as simple as taking a different route home. Have them take note of what feels different about this change in routine, and what excites them about it.
Read More Widely
It is said that the Chinese Dragon is made from the strengths of all the other animals in the Zodiac put together: Rat’s whiskers, Ox’s horn, Tiger’s claw, Rabbit’s eyes, Snake’s body, Horse’s legs, Goat’s beard, Monkey’s wit, Rooster’s crest, Dog’s ears, and Pig’s snout. This is another way of saying that a Dragon can be anything or succeed in any field, so long as it inspires them. So take this time to introduce the kids in your life to new kinds of books and ideas. When they connect with something, have them follow that flame. Nontraditional formats are encouraged.
Dragons in Chinese Myth
Unlike Western dragons which are often winged, fire-breathing beasts, the Chinese Dragon is an intelligent and spiritual creature often associated with water including rivers and seas, rains and storms. These dragons stride the sky as easily as the earth and thus have no need for wings. To learn more about them and all that the animals in the Chinese Zodiac, make sure to check out the title below:
Are you loyal like the Dog? Or stubborn like the Ox? What does the time you were born say about who you are? Can knowing more about your Zodiac empower you in your day to day?
A Kid’s Guide to the Chinese Zodiac offers the history and lore behind this ancient classification system, along with practical advice for young readers on how to navigate relationships and apply oneself at school and at home, all based on the qualities associated with the twelve Zodiac animals. Someone born in the year of the Pig might prioritize stability and comfort. Naturally agreeable, they may need to work at recognizing when they’re uncomfortable and speak up so they don’t get stuck in the mud. Someone who is a Rat, on the other hand, might be ambitious and clever, but may need to take a step back from their own ideas every now and then in order to find balance.
Beautifully illustrated, with sidebars on Chinese culture and myth throughout, this book is an informative and mystical guide for any kid who is curious about the universe and how they fit into it.
