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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[4-year-olds] Craft activity ideas (31–40)
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!
Figure-eight wind turbine
It’s so fun to watch it spin in the wind! Here’s an idea for a figure-eight pinwheel.
Pinwheels are delightful to watch as they whirl with the power of the wind.
If you color them brightly, they look especially captivating when they spin in a breeze.
How about making one together with kids? You’ll need two paper plates, scissors, a hole punch, double-sided tape, beads, craft glue, a bamboo skewer, masking tape, and your choice of stickers and pens.
It’s a good idea to have the kids handle the decorating with stickers and pens!
Easter egg maracas
April has Easter, right? Here’s a perfect craft for April festivities: making egg-shaped maracas that make a rattling sound.
Prepare two bottle caps, beads, newspaper, aluminum foil, a permanent marker, and vinyl tape.
Put beads into one cap, place the other cap on top, and secure them tightly with vinyl tape so the beads don’t spill.
If you add too many beads, the sound can become muffled, so a moderate amount is recommended.
Wrap the capped beads with newspaper to create volume and shape it into an egg.
Finally, color the aluminum foil with a permanent marker in any colors you like, carefully smooth it into an egg shape, wrap it around, and your maracas are complete!
A toy that lets you see sound!? A mysterious wonder
Wouldn’t it be fun to have a toy that lets you see sound? This toy turns sound into vibrations you can see.
It also has a bit of a science-experiment feel, so let’s make one! You’ll need a paper cup, a clear plastic cup, a clear file (plastic sheet), thick paper (cardstock), and beads.
First, make a hole in the side of the paper cup and roll the clear file into a tube to pass through the hole.
Next, place a drawing you’ve made and some beads on the bottom of the paper cup, then cover it with the clear cup and tape it on firmly to finish.
Put your mouth to the tube and make a sound—the beads will move, and it’s really fun to watch!
Scratch play
Here’s a fun scratch-art activity you can enjoy indoors.
Prepare construction paper, bamboo skewers, pastel crayons, disposable chopsticks, and glue thinned with water.
First, use bright colors of pastel crayon to color the construction paper thoroughly so there are no gaps.
Then, cover the entire surface with black crayon, again making sure there are no gaps.
Use a bamboo skewer to scratch the surface and draw your picture by revealing the colors underneath.
Brush on a coat of glue thinned with water to seal the finished picture.
This makes the colors less likely to rub off on your hands.
Let it dry, and you’re done.
Give it a try!
[4-year-olds] Craft Activity Ideas (41–50)
Handmade aluminum balloon
https://www.tiktok.com/@mumumama_ch/video/7470453610678127890Let’s have fun with aluminum foil! Here are some ideas for making DIY aluminum balloons.
Aluminum foil is commonly used for cooking and storage, right? This time, let’s use the aluminum foil you have at home to make handmade aluminum balloons.
You’ll need aluminum foil, a pen, a round template, stickers, scissors, laminating sheets, tape, and a stick such as a disposable chopstick.
Draw on the aluminum foil, laminate it, then make a hole and blow air into it.
Insert the stick and secure it with tape, and you’re done!
Infinite Cube
Let me introduce an infinity cube that moves like a funny snake.
Prepare one and a half sheets of origami paper.
Cut one full sheet lengthwise into eight equal strips, and cut the half sheet into four equal strips.
Apply glue to the corner of one strip and attach another strip at a right angle.
Fold the lower strip upward, and fold the other strip over the top.
Keep repeating the same folding motion, using your fingernail to crease firmly each time.
At the end, glue it to secure everything in place, and it’s done.
To make it tumble down stairs, stack and glue together five pieces of cardstock cut to the same shape on the front and back to add weight.
Give the infinity cube a try!