Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Playful craft ideas to enjoy with 5-year-olds

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.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

I want to enjoy crafts with a five-year-old, but they get bored with flat, two-dimensional projects…

Does that sound familiar?

Here are some craft ideas perfect for five-year-olds, whose thinking skills and ability to work on tasks are really blossoming—plus, they double as toys you can play with.

Enjoy the crafting process, and then try playing with the toys you made, both indoors and outdoors.

It’s also fine to lend and borrow toys with friends.

Kids tend to cherish toys they made themselves, so they’ll likely play with them carefully.

Teachers, why not make and play together too?

[Childcare] Playful Craft Ideas to Enjoy with 5-Year-Olds (71–80)

Crafting fish with 100-yen shop magnets

[Easy Kids Craft] Flippity-Flopping with 100-Yen Store Magnets! Jumping Fish Craft! (Summer Project/Home Play)

Crafting fish with 100-yen shop magnets

Freshly caught and flopping! Here’s an idea for a fish craft you can make using magnets from a 100-yen shop.

It’s perfect for anyone wondering, “What kind of craft can I make with magnets?” All you need are construction paper, tape, a pen, scissors, and a magnetic sheet.

The video mainly features mackerel, but it looks like you can adapt it to other fish like flounder or filefish.

It’s such a unique idea that you’ll want to make it flop again and again!

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Magnet UFO

I tried making a UFO that moves in a strange way using magnetic force! (Learn while playing—recommended for 3rd and 4th graders) #magnets #crafts #homemadetoy

Magnet UFO

Unpredictable! Irregular motion is fascinating! Here’s an idea for a magnetic unidentified flying object.

What comes to mind when you hear “UFO”? Some people might imagine round lights or being taken away in a bright beam.

The charm of this UFO is its irregular movement.

Let’s make a toy with addictive, unique motion by taking advantage of magnets’ properties! If there’s any chance a child might swallow a magnet, make sure a parent or teacher is always supervising nearby.

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Twisting Soap Bubbles

[Preschool Teacher] Easy Handmade Toy! How to Make a Spinning Bubble Wand [Daycare/Kindergarten]

Twisting Soap Bubbles

A big hit at festivals and more! Here’s how to make a Twirling Bubble Toy.

You’ll need holographic origami paper, scissors (or anything to cut origami), pack stickers, a straw, hole reinforcement stickers, and a bamboo skewer.

The steps are super simple! First, cut the holographic origami into thin strips and stick them onto the pack sticker in eight directions.

Then cut the straw, use the reinforcement stickers to assemble everything, and you’re done.

There’s no glue needed, so even a five-year-old can make it easily.

Spin it slowly or quickly—the colors and shapes change, making it look just like real soap bubbles.

Give it a try and have fun!

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A hoop you can make and play with using newspaper

@soramame.sensei
Educational toy # developmental support (ryōiku)newspaper (newsprint)Form / Shape #CapCut
♬ Kids, cute, pets, energetic background music(1101939) – nyansuke

Fun for kids and adults alike! Here are ideas for a hoop game you can make and play with newspaper.

All you need are newspapers and cards with different motifs drawn on them.

Hand a sheet of newspaper to each person, then reshape the paper according to the motif card that’s revealed—this unique game is all about transforming the newspaper.

For a round motif, link the newspaper into a circle; for a square motif, try folding it into a square.

You can crumple it, fold it, or even tear it, so the game offers a high degree of freedom.

It really sparks creativity!

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Decorating tambourines is fun

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

Decorating tambourines is fun

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!

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Tambourine of Box and Bell

Household items turned into that instrument!? [Handmade Instruments]

Tambourine of Box and Bell

Let me introduce an idea for a tambourine made with a box and bells.

You’ll need a round box, masking tape, wire, an awl, decorative origami paper, double-sided tape, and scissors.

Using sparkly origami or decorating with cutouts of your favorite motifs will really lift the mood! Divide up the tasks with the kids and make the tambourine together.

It’s safest for a parent or teacher to handle the step of punching holes in the container with the awl.

Enjoy making music with your very own original tambourine!

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Toy stethoscope for playing doctor

When you want to play doctor, make a toy stethoscope and get into character! For this one, you’ll use a headband you can find at a 100-yen shop.

Cover the headband with a tube of sewn felt, so if it has any decorations, remove them first.

For the tubing, use a string or cord, and for the chest piece, cover a suitably sized cap or lid with felt.

Once you’ve connected everything, your stethoscope is ready! It might be even more fun if you also make items like a medicine bag or bandages.

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