The Chinese have used dragons to symbolize Chinese Emperors for centuries. Dragons are respected by the Chinese people. The Chinese New Year and other celebrations typically feature dragon decorations, costumes and parade floats. Toddlers can understand that a dragon isn't always a frightening creature. Just as the Chinese make their dragon crafts colorful and bright, toddlers can make or play with bright and nonscary dragons.
Work with a grocery-sized paper bag upside-down to turn it into an open-faced mask for a toddler. Slit the sides from the open end to about 3 inches from the closed end. Cut away the front of the bag to about 3 inches from the closed end (top of the costume head).
Cut slits every 2 inches on the sides and back of the bag to about half way between the top and bottom of the mask. Roll each slit up toward the top of the bag to look like dragon hair.
Paint the bag as desired to create a colorful dragon mask. Use colorful paints to create eyes above the cut-out area and ears along the sides of the bag mask. Sprinkle glitter in the wet paint to make a shiny dragon.
Create a flowing dragon's tail from crepe paper streamers. Cut colorful streamers a little less than the height of the toddler, to prevent a tripping hazard. Tape the streamers onto the back of the dragon mask, just under the curled portions.
Have a toddler wear the mask in a parade at home, or create masks for several toddlers to hold a daycare or preschool parade.
Dragon Puppet
Staple two paper plates together with the rounded sides facing outward. Cover the staples with clear tape to prevent injury to toddlers.
Cut a hole in the center of one of the plates to create a place for a toddler to put his hand inside the puppet's head.
Paint the paper plates on the front and back. Create a dragon's face on the front side, painting on some eyes, a snout nose and a mouth.
Tape crepe paper streamers along the bottom edge of the puppet to create a tail. Have the toddler put her hand inside the puppet and move the dragon to see the tail swirl around.
Toddler-Made Dragon Toy
Prepare five or more toilet tissue tubes for a toddler to make a dragon. Punch a hole in one end of each of two tubes and both ends of the remaining tubes.
Tie a 3-inch piece of yarn through the holes to connect all the tubes, with a one-hole tube at the front and back end of the grouping.
Have the toddler color the dragon a face on one of the end tubes. Allow him to color the rest of the dragon as he chooses.
Provide small pieces of colorful crepe paper streamers. Have the toddler glue the crepe paper pieces onto the dragon's body and some longer pieces onto the tail end.
