Craft activity ideas for 4-year-olds

Panda’s Tambourine

Cute instruments can lift the mood! Here’s a panda tambourine idea to try.

You’ll need a paper plate, a straw, scissors, masking tape, panda parts cut from construction paper, and glue or double-sided tape.

First, cut the straw with scissors.

Next, fold the paper plate in half, put the cut straw pieces inside, and seal it.

Finally, attach the panda parts made from construction paper—and you’re done! It’s a charming, creative idea that will capture children’s interest.

Give it a try!

tambourine maracas

[Making Instruments with Children] Tambourine Maracas

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

You’ll need deep paper plates, double-sided tape or craft glue, jingle bells, ribbons, masking tape, felt, sequins, and other decorative materials.

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

This kind of engaging craft nurtures children’s imagination.

Give it a try!

Decorating tambourines is fun

Let's Play with the Rhythm of Handmade Instruments! Plate Tambourine

Here are some fun ideas for decorating tambourines.

You’ll need two paper plates, straws, scissors, tape, a pen, and masking tape.

Put the cut pieces of straw between the paper plates, press them together, and seal the edges with tape and masking tape—that’s it! Use pens in your favorite colors to draw expressions on the tambourine.

It’s also fun to give the front and back different expressions, like a smiling face on one side and a sleeping face on the other.

The simple method makes it easy for kids to follow, which is part of its charm!

Paper Plate Deco Tambourine

[Make and Play♪] Easy! Fun! Paper Plate Tambourine 🎵 #PreschoolCrafts #PaperPlates #Tambourine #Instruments #Shorts

Let’s make your very own special instrument! Here’s an idea for a paper-plate decorated tambourine.

What you’ll need: paper plates, jingle bells, double-sided tape, glue, origami paper in your favorite colors or patterns, and round stickers.

First, fold a paper plate in half and place the bells inside.

Attach double-sided tape along the rim and seal the plate closed.

Finally, decorate freely with origami paper and round stickers, and you’re done! It’s a fun idea that’s safe and easy to make without any tools.

Encourage kids to create freely with their own ideas!

Tambourine made from everyday items

Tambourine Friends 2

Here are some ideas for making a tambourine from everyday items.

A tambourine is an instrument with bells or small cymbals attached around a metal rim, with skin stretched over one side.

How about making a tambourine using familiar materials found at home or in a preschool? You can substitute the skin with plastic sheeting or construction paper, and use a ring toss hoop or a cut-out paper plate for the rim.

If you brainstorm with the children, you’ll likely come up with lots of fun ideas! Give it a try.

Soap bubbles made with tissue paper

@buchiko_hoiku

🐶 @buchiko_hoiku ◂◂◂◂ Check out my other posts, too 🌼 This time it’s a rainy-day recommendation! A crackly-fun bubble art project 🫧 All kids love bubbles, right? 💗 You can recreate those beautiful bubble colors using tissue paper 🤭 Tear the tissue paper into pieces you like, place them on construction paper, and spritz with a mister ✨ Once it dries, the color transfers onto the paper 😳 The soft, pastel colors are so cute 💛🩵💜 Then we got carried away and tried to blow the bubbles away— I blew through a straw, but they didn’t move as much as I expected, so I used a hair dryer instead 🤣 It flew way too much and I panicked—that’s our little secret 🤪 lol And this picture book!! It might be a bit tricky for very young kids, but it’s packed with bubble wonders that will make you want to try experiments! It’s a limited-time reprint right now, so you’ve got to get it 🥹❤️‍🔥 Please try making it, too 🌈 ⋱⋰ Thank you for reading to the end 🐶 I share easy-to-copy ideas—from introductions to the actual making—that you can recreate simply ♬︎ I’ll cry tears of joy if you like ♥, save 𖤘, and follow 𖤐 😂 lol Comments are very welcome 🤍🤍 ⋱⋰Nursery teacher / Childcare workerKindergarten Teacher#Spring crafts#Wall CreationInfant CraftToddler CraftsPlay that expands from picture booksSoap bubble making

♬ Lips Are Movin – Meghan Trainor

Soft pastel colors are so beautiful! Let me introduce an idea for making “soap bubbles” using tissue paper.

You’ll need tissue paper, white drawing paper, a spray bottle, a compass, and scissors.

First, tear tissue paper in various colors and spread the pieces over the white drawing paper.

Next, fill the spray bottle with water and spritz it to dampen the tissue paper.

Once it’s dry, remove the tissue paper and use scissors to cut the drawing paper into circles.

If you display them together with children’s photos or illustrations of straws, they’ll look even cuter.

Be sure to give it a try!

Cherry-blossom viewing craft

Speaking of spring, it’s the perfect season to enjoy cherry blossom viewing.

Here’s a fun craft for hanami using paper plates and tissues.

Prepare tissues, paint, tissue paper, paper plates, construction paper, and glue.

Stick torn pieces of tissue paper in the center of the paper plate to create volume, then glue tissues around the edges.

Add paint to the tissues to instantly create a cherry-blossom vibe.

Finish by placing a photo of a favorite animal or a child in the center! You can also change the background colors to your liking for a more original look.