Phonics Focus

Let’s practice the word ‘rat’ together! ‘Rat’ is a short, simple word that starts with the ‘r’ sound—like when you make your tongue vibrate: rrrr. It rhymes with ‘cat,’ ‘hat,’ and ‘mat.’ Say the word slowly: r-a-t. For extra phonics fun, try saying and clapping each sound: /r/ (clap!), /a/ (clap!), /t/ (clap!). Parents can encourage children to find other words that rhyme with ‘rat’ as they color: ‘bat,’ ‘sat,’ and ‘pat’ are all great choices. Point out the letter ‘r’ and talk about its sound at the beginning of ‘rat.’ You can even trace the word ‘rat’ with a finger or crayon as you spell it out loud. Practicing the sounds and letters in ‘rat’ helps build early literacy and makes learning language playful and memorable during Lunar New Year fun!

The Benefits of Coloring for Kids

Coloring Lunar New Year pages is not only fun but also helps children develop important skills. As they color, kids strengthen their hand muscles, practice careful movements, and boost hand-eye coordination. They also learn about colors, shapes, and festive traditions—building their creativity and imagination while celebrating the Year of the Rat.

Offers emotional expression – Children convey feelings via their colour choices and pressure.

Develops handwriting skills – Fine motor control from colouring carries over to writing.

Provides an emotional outlet – Offers a safe, non‑verbal channel for feelings and frustrations.

Accessible and low‑cost learning tool – Colouring can be done anywhere with just paper and crayons.

Enhances hand‑eye coordination – Children learn to match what they see with the motions of their hands.

Improves fine motor skills – Manipulating crayons and staying within lines strengthens finger muscles and hand coordination.

Storytelling Adventures

Bring your coloring pages to life by turning each scene into a story! After coloring, invite children to name their rat characters and imagine what happens next. Maybe the clever rat goes on a treasure hunt with friends or hosts a New Year’s feast. Ask questions like, “Where is the rat going with the lantern?” or “What does the rat wish for this year?” This helps children practice sequencing, narrative skills, and creative thinking.

Lunar New Year Scavenger Hunts

Hide colored-in rat pages around the house or classroom and create simple clues connected to Lunar New Year traditions. For example, “Find the rat who loves dumplings,” or “Look for the rat painting lucky letters.” Children can work together, practicing listening and problem-solving while learning about holiday customs.

Roleplay and Dramatic Play

Encourage kids to cut out their colored rats and use them as puppets for mini Lunar New Year plays. Provide props like red envelopes or toy drums. Children can act out the rat’s adventures, share greetings in Mandarin, or perform a lion dance. This supports social development, vocabulary, and confidence.

Phonics Practice and Letter Recognition

Use the word ‘rat’ as a phonics anchor. Practice saying and clapping each sound, tracing the letters, and finding rhyming words. Challenge children to spot the letter ‘r’ on the coloring pages or find other words that start with ‘r’ in the Lunar New Year theme, such as ‘red,’ ‘rice,’ and ‘rabbit.’

Festive Classroom Displays

Create a Lunar New Year gallery by hanging finished coloring pages on a bulletin board or stringing them up with red ribbon. Label each page with the artist’s name and a new Chinese greeting, like ‘xīn nián kuài lè’ (新年快乐). This builds community, celebrates each child’s creativity, and introduces cultural vocabulary in a fun, visual way.

Motor Skills and Fine Motor Fun

Coloring helps develop the small muscles in the hands and fingers needed for writing. For extra practice, encourage kids to cut, glue, or decorate their rats with extra materials like tissue paper, sequins, or stickers, adding texture and dimension.

Building Vocabulary and Cultural Awareness

As children color, name each item in the scene: lantern, dumpling, firework, coin. Talk about their meanings and encourage children to use new words in sentences. For older children, introduce simple Mandarin words or greetings. This supports early literacy, cultural appreciation, and curiosity about the world.

With these creative activities, Year Of The Rat coloring pages become so much more than just art—they’re a joyful gateway to learning, imagination, and celebration. Happy Lunar New Year!