Craft activity ideas for 4-year-olds
By the time children are four, their fine motor skills become more refined—they can use scissors and glue more smoothly—and as their language develops, their imaginative world expands, greatly broadening the range of crafts they can do.
Let’s actively incorporate a variety of craft activities using different materials in daily childcare to stimulate their five senses more and more!
This time, we’re introducing craft play ideas recommended for four-year-olds.
We’ve gathered a wide range of ideas—from event-themed crafts like Halloween and Christmas, to toys they can make and play with, to wall decorations that reflect the seasons.
Use these as a reference and, while drawing on the children’s free ideas, try creating wonderful, personality-filled works together.
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- [Childcare] Fun for October! Craft ideas recommended for 4-year-olds
- [Childcare] Let’s make things with various materials! A collection of recommended craft ideas for April
- [Nursery/Kindergarten] Crafts you can play with after making them
- [For 4-Year-Olds] Fun to Make! A Collection of Halloween Craft Ideas
- Exciting September crafts for 4-year-olds! A special collection of fun ideas with autumn-themed motifs
- Fun crafts using straws
- [For 4-year-olds] Winter craft ideas to enjoy at daycare and kindergarten
- Let's make toys with paper cups! Simple and fun handmade toys
- [For toddlers] Simple but amazing craft ideas — including toys they can play with
- Let’s make it with 3-year-olds! Fun handmade toy ideas
Craft play ideas for 4-year-olds (61–70)
Stained glass made with plastic bags
Let’s make stained glass while imagining a winter scene! Handmade stained glass might seem a bit challenging at first, but by using a plastic bag, even 4-year-olds can enjoy the activity.
First, cut black construction paper to create a frame, and tape a plastic bag to fit the frame.
Next, have the children draw any picture they like on the plastic bag with a permanent marker.
Finally, place crumpled aluminum foil behind it and secure it—and it’s done! When crumpling the aluminum foil to create texture, the trick is not to press too hard.
Everyone is sure to feel warmed by the children’s unique and charming creations!
Moving Egg
@riimama.asobi Do you know this?! A dinosaur egg that moves unpredictably 🦖🥚 It’s such a simple craft but super fun 😆❣️ It moves like it’s really alive! My elementary school daughter was thrilled, too ♡ If you press too hard it’ll get squished, so it seems suitable for kids around 3–4 years old who can control their strength 🫶#AtHomePlay#StayHomeTimeIdeas for at-home playworkHow to spend the summer vacation#HandmadeToys#NurseryTeacherMom#ChildcareWorkerMomParentingSimple craftEducational toy#EducationalPlayElementary school craftSummer Vacation CraftDinosaur EggLet's make and play
Idol – YOASOBI
This is a toy egg made of aluminum foil that moves unpredictably.
Everyone gets super excited by its mysterious motion.
To make it, draw a picture on the surface of the aluminum foil and shape the foil into a pouch.
Put one marble inside, seal it up, and shake it vigorously inside a lidded container.
This part is really fun, too.
Then take it out and it’s done.
Because a hollow space forms around the marble, when you place it on your palm and move it, the egg makes very curious movements that are lots of fun.
Give it a try!
Space Travel Game
Let me introduce a handmade space travel game.
Prepare 10 round magnets, round stickers, straws, and construction paper, and let’s make it together.
For the spaceship, attach a straw to a magnet, stick on a round sticker, and draw a rocket illustration.
Next, create a flight course for the spaceship on a base sheet of construction paper.
Cut black construction paper into circles and glue magnets at the center to make black holes.
Stick several of these black holes along the course, and you’re done.
Pilot the spaceship and try to reach the goal without getting swallowed by the black holes.
Snowflake made with origami
Beautiful, eye-catching snowflakes that look festive when displayed on a wall.
Although they’re symmetrical, geometric patterns, you can enjoy making them even with a 4-year-old using origami cutouts.
First, fold the paper into a triangle twice, then open it once.
Fold the left and right sides together, and fold it in half again.
Leaving the folded “loop” side uncut, draw any shapes you like, then cut along the lines with scissors and unfold to reveal a lovely snowflake pattern.
Be careful not to cut off the looped (folded) edge.
Finally, when you open the paper, the excitement of “I wonder what shape it became?” is part of the fun—and it also helps develop thinking skills.
Dreamland with a magnet
Learn about magnets while having fun crafting! Here’s a magnetic Dreamland idea.
The charm of this project is that you can make a mysterious, entertaining toy that moves using capsules and magnets.
You’ll need origami paper, a white board, construction paper, magnets, empty gashapon capsules, poster paper, a color wave sheet, glue, scissors, and pens.
Draw roads on the board and decorate with construction paper and the color wave sheet.
Put a car illustration on an empty capsule and place a magnet inside—then it’s done! Move the capsule with the car illustration by guiding a magnet from the back of the board!