Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Recommended for 3-year-olds! Craft activity ideas

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”

Around the age of three, children develop a sense of self, their imaginative world expands, their vocabulary increases, and their fine motor skills improve—there are so many signs of growth.

We hope they continue to grow significantly as they receive plenty of stimulation in their daily lives.

In this article, we’ll introduce craft activity ideas recommended for three-year-olds.

We’ve gathered fun ideas that will spark the curiosity of three-year-olds: perfect for wall displays, toys they can make and play with, projects that use unique techniques, and activities that can be used for pretend play!

There are also ideas ideal for practicing with scissors and glue, so choose activities that match the children’s developmental stage and give them a try!

[Childcare] Recommended for 3-year-olds! Craft play ideas (101–110)

air cannon

After cutting pool noodles and connecting pieces of different colors to make a colorful tube, cover one end with a balloon and your air cannon is ready! Put pom-poms into the hole of the pool noodle, pull the balloon, and release—the pom-poms will shoot out.

As long as the children are old enough not to put pom-poms in their mouths and there’s no risk of swallowing, everyone can play together.

It’s a good idea to make several air cannons so they can play a lot.

You can also prepare targets that topple with a light impact and enjoy it like a shooting game.

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Fluffy Heart Stencil

[Painting Technique] Soft and cute 💗 Heart Stencil #at-homeplay #athomeplay #stencil #conte #Valentine

Fluffy Heart Stencil

The heart stencil is super cute! Here’s a heart-themed craft that’s great for 3-year-olds.

First, draw a heart shape on construction paper or cardstock and cut out the inside.

After cutting it out, color the edge of the heart with conte or pastel crayons.

Place the stencil on a sheet of paper and gently rub in circles with your finger inside the opening—the heart will appear like magic.

It’s also fun to layer hearts of different sizes or combine your favorite colors, so I highly recommend trying that.

The finished stencil looks adorable just as it is on the paper, but you can also try cutting it into your favorite shapes—get creative!

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A cute crumpled ogre mask

Crumpled and Cute Oni Mask [February / Setsubun Craft]

A cute crumpled ogre mask

Enjoy the fun, crinkly feel of scrunching paper! Here’s a recommended oni (demon) mask craft for 3-year-olds.

First, crumple a brown envelope into a ball.

Open the envelope and put crumpled newspaper inside.

Add enough so the envelope puffs up a little, then seal it.

Next, make the oni’s facial parts with construction paper.

Stick round stickers onto the hair piece, then attach the hair, horn pieces, and face pieces to the envelope.

Draw any eyes you like on the eye pieces with a pen.

Cut construction paper into long, thin strips and make them into loops.

Add a rubber band so the size can be adjusted, and you’re done!

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tambourine maracas

[Making Instruments with Children] Tambourine Maracas

tambourine maracas

Let’s make an original instrument! Here are some ideas for a tambourine-maracas combo.

You’ll need a deep paper plate, double-sided tape or craft glue, small bells, ribbon, masking tape, felt, sequins, and other decorative materials.

How about creating your very own instrument with free imagination? It looks like a tambourine, works like maracas, and can even be played like a drum.

A charming project like this nurtures children’s creativity.

Give it a try!

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Chocolate banana stall

[Kindergarten/Daycare] July Festival! Chocolate Banana Stall: Painting and Craft Activity

Chocolate banana stall

Why not make a classic festival chocolate-banana stand? If you’re doing this with three-year-olds, the teacher should pre-cut the banana shapes and let the children start from the coloring.

Once the bananas are colored, stick on decorations made from finely cut origami paper.

It’s easiest if you apply glue over the whole banana first and then sprinkle the pieces on top.

Finally, decorate construction paper to look like a food stall, and line up and paste the chocolate bananas to finish! Create a delicious-looking chocolate-banana stand and enjoy a summery vibe.

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