Chinese Zodiac Placemat Printable Coloring Page

This fun Chinese Zodiac Placemat Printable is so much more than a simple placemat–there are several great ideas to use it and get the kids having a great time too!

If you’re just here for fun printables, though, be sure to check out my unicorn printables here so you can add a little encouragement to your wall art!

This Chinese Zodiac Placemat Printable really is super cute, though, right?! I mean, those little faces and the blobs–not circles. I don’t know, I kind of love it.

So, let’s dive in to what this free printable is!

Table of Contents

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What are the Zodiac Animal Signs?

Each year is assigned an animal which embodies the “spirit” of the people born in that year. Here are the signs and the years designated for each:

Year of the Pig was last year. That’s for 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019. So, that was the year of LUCK!
The Year of the Rat, and those people born in 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, and 2020 are of the “year of the rat.”
The Year of the Ox is 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021.
The Year of the Tiger is 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022.
The Year of the Rabbit is 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023.
The Year of the Dragon is 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, and 2024.
The Year of the Snake is 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, and 2025.
The Year of the Horse is 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, and 2026.
The Year of the Goat is 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027.
The Year of the Monkey is 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, and 2028.
The Year of the Rooster is 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, and 2029.
The Year of the Dog is 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, and 2030… 2018 is classed as an Earth Dog year!

Make sure to check out the Year of the Rabbit Activities for Kids as well!

What this Chinese Zodiac Placemat Printable includes:

There are two versions of this printable Chinese New Year Zodiac Printable Placemat: a color version and one that’s a black and white coloring sheet for the older kids to decorate themselves.

So, in addition to this being a handy-dandy placemat to keep from being a Messy Marvin, it can also be an activity to keep the kids from being so bored you need a screen to keep them from whining!

Fun ways to use this printable:

Sometimes, you see a printable and you’re like: “oh that’s cool, but what do I do with it?!” And I honestly have a ton of printables on a hard drive sitting there, never used, because they’re basically purpose-less.

That is not the case for this awesome free printable Chinese zodiac placemat.

I’m calling it a placemat, but honestly, there’s so much more fun to be had.

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Restaurant Screen-Free Activity

Look, I love eating out sometimes as a treat, but my least favorite part is that the kids whine constantly. IT’s what inspired me to make this awesome placemat–give them something fun to color and we’re in business!

Laminate It!

The boys and I were talking about making a set of laminated placemats to have on Chinese food night! We could use them over and over!

Activity for a Party

If you’re having a Chinese New Years party, this is the perfect activity for the kids! Just hand them each a set of coloring pencils and a flat surface to color on.

These Chinese New Year Color By Number Pages from In The Playroom are sure to help your children understand the Chinese Zodiac just a tad bit more!

What makes zodiac animals fun for kids?

Zodiac animals have become an increasingly popular topic of conversation among kids and adults alike in recent years.

Its appeal to children lies in its vivid imagery, as each zodiac animal is said to represent specific personality traits based on the year a child is born. This encourages children to learn more about these animals, such as their symbolic meanings and physical characteristics while adding a fun element of mix-and-matching personalities and playing guessing games with friends.

Moreover, zodiac animals can help spark meaningful conversations between parents and their young ones, providing both parties with deeper insights into one another’s worldviews.

In sum, the playful nature surrounding zodiac animals is an excellent way for kids to engage their imaginations and stay connected with family members and peers.

What are fun zodiac activities that a family can do?

Taking the time to engage in zodiac activities can be great for families looking to spend quality time together.

A fun way to kick off a night of star gazing is with a powerful, personalized horoscope.

After researching family members’ birth dates and creating custom messages based on their corresponding signs, families can then explore the sky to find constellations that match their signs and decipher the stories they hold.

Tracing each sign or constellation on the ground in chalk provides a visual reminder of what unique talents are held by each family member.

With these creative activities, families will be better equipped to appreciate one another’s gifts and use them as inspiration when working together.

How many different zodiac animals are there?

Astrologists believe there are twelve distinct zodiac animals associated with a different part of the year. They represent the spiritual energy associated with a particular period and can be used to gain insight into learned behavior and inner qualities.

Each animal is symbolic of traits associated with certain characteristics; by learning which animal you connect with, it is possible to understand one’s strengths and weaknesses.

In Chinese astrology, the zodiac cycle repeats itself every twelve years; therefore, your zodiac animal corresponds to the year you were born.

Familiarizing yourself with these animals can help you understand the energetical influences impacting your daily life.