Craft activity ideas for 4-year-olds

9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

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.

[Age 4] Craft Activity Ideas (51–60)

Smile Flower

@job_it
Celebration! Our collaboration with Lion-sensei has begun!! With 72,000 Instagram followers, applause! This is the first collaborative video with “Lion-sensei 🦁,” who shares tons of helpful crafts for childcare workers. This time, it’s perfect for spring: the Smile Flower! Here’s what you’ll need: • Construction paper in your favorite colors or patterns • Scissors • Double-sided tape Give it a try and make one too!Sommelier of Childcare #nursery_teacher_job_change #NurseryTeacherThings Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Kindergarten Teacher #Kindergarten #KindergartenThings Intent Survey #IWantToQuitDaycare Principal (of a kindergarten)Job change activities Career change consultation Career Advisor Job change things everyone relates to #JobChange #NurseryTeacherMade #Childcare Crafting #Production Video
♬ Berry Fairy – Dalkom Sounds

Let me introduce a smile flower you can make out of construction paper, featuring an adorable smiling face.

Prepare several colors of construction paper, double-sided tape, scissors, and colored pens.

Cut nine circles out of the construction paper and fold each one in half.

Using colorful paper is recommended because it makes the finished piece look more vibrant.

Apply double-sided tape to the upper back side of each piece, then stick all nine together to form a sphere.

Gently press it open to flatten it into a flower shape.

Once the flower shape is formed, attach circular pieces to the front and back as the flower’s center, and draw the facial expression.

Roll a strip of construction paper to make the stem, attach it along with some leaves, and you’re done.

It’s also fun to play with the colors and arrangement for a unique look.

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mayumi

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Colorful Tulips Made from Scrap Materials

Let me introduce colorful tulips made from upcycled materials, featuring adorable, multicolored flowers.

Prepare a toilet paper roll, colored pens, paints, and brushes.

Gently flatten the toilet paper roll and draw the outline of a tulip.

Cut it into the tulip shape with scissors, then paint it.

Once the paint is dry, draw patterns on the inside to finish.

You don’t have to paint the inside, but doing so makes it look even more spring-like, so it’s recommended.

After adding patterns on the inside, your tulip is complete!

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mayumi

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Spring hanging scroll

We’ll introduce how to make a spring hanging scroll that brightens up your room with a spring-like touch.

Prepare branches, construction paper, tissue paper, tapioca straws, glue, and scissors.

After choosing the color of the construction paper for the base of the hanging scroll, glue a branch onto white construction paper to set the center of the cherry tree.

Glue tissue paper onto circles cut from construction paper, then attach them around the branch.

By using pink for the cherry blossoms and green for the leaves as they start to appear, you can express the changing of the seasons.

Glue tapioca straws to the top and bottom of the hanging scroll, thread a string through, and it’s complete! It’s also great for spring wall displays.

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mayumi

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Let’s paint spring with fluffy paints.

@rima_asobi ♬ A cute pop and bouncy song(1526882) – sanusagi

Introducing fluffy paint for drawing springtime art that makes you want to touch the puffy parts.

Prepare shaving foam, liquid laundry glue, paint, plastic cups, plastic spoons, and drawing paper.

Sketch your picture on the paper beforehand.

In a plastic cup, combine shaving foam and liquid glue in a 1:1 ratio and mix.

Add paint to color it, then use a plastic spoon to place the foamy paint onto your sketched drawing.

When it dries, you’ll have a cute, puffy spring picture! Once dry, you can touch it, so enjoy the fun texture—give this charming and magical craft a try!

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mayumi

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Craft play ideas for 4-year-olds (61–70)

A bag made with yarn and paper plates

https://www.tiktok.com/@n.annlee321/video/7339453715717410050

Let’s make an original bag where you can enjoy your favorite design! I’ll introduce an idea for a bag made with yarn and paper plates.

Prepare two deep, sturdy paper plates, spring-colored yarn, double-sided fabric tape, fabric glue, decorative parts like ribbons, pipe cleaners, bead parts, a stapler, and an awl.

It’s an idea that stimulates children’s creativity, isn’t it? By arranging the colors of the yarn and the decorative parts, each child’s individuality will shine! Enjoy that sense of excitement and give it a try.

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Infinite spin

Let’s make an “Infinite Spinner,” a toy you can keep turning round and round like an origami kaleidoscope! Prepare six paper strips from construction paper.

Using two colors with three strips each makes it look extra cute.

Overlap the ends at a 90-degree angle and glue them, then fold the papers alternately.

When the strips get short, connect the remaining strips and repeat the steps.

Once everything is connected, trim any excess with scissors.

Glue the end faces together, and you’re done! The process is very simple, so why not make one as a toy for your child?

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sasashina

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Spring paintings made from natural materials

@hoikushisatomi
Capture spring: Try preserving flowers and plants as a piece while they’re still beautiful! Note: They’ll last on display for about 2–3 weeks. If you want them to last longer, press the flowers first and then create your piece!work #LifeWithKids #NurseryTeacherDailyLife Cute #crafts #diy Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Translation
3:03 PM – Sharou

Weeds and fallen leaves become art! Here are some spring painting ideas using natural materials.

All you need are parchment paper, a frame cut out of construction paper, clear tape, and natural items you’ve collected.

In spring, outdoor activities are full of lively natural materials, and just taking a walk can be exciting, right? How about turning that excitement into a craft? Pick your favorite weeds, fallen leaves, flowers, and petals, and sandwich them between strips of clear tape! The frame you make by cutting out construction paper looks just like a picture frame, and you’ll have your very own artwork.

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