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)

Sandwich shop

How about making a sandwich toy inspired by Anpanman characters? Try creating baguettes shaped like Anpanman or Shokupanman’s faces, as well as fillings like ham, cheese, and vegetables.

The basic material is felt.

Since the baguette needs thickness, you’ll have to stuff it with cotton and sew it, but I think the other parts can be assembled by gluing them together.

Be sure to make it with your child’s favorite characters and enjoy some pretend play!

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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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air cannon

After cutting pool noodles and connecting pieces of different colors to make a colorful tube, cover one end with a balloon and your air cannon is ready! Put pom-poms into the hole of the pool noodle, pull the balloon, and release—the pom-poms will shoot out.

As long as the children are old enough not to put pom-poms in their mouths and there’s no risk of swallowing, everyone can play together.

It’s a good idea to make several air cannons so they can play a lot.

You can also prepare targets that topple with a light impact and enjoy it like a shooting game.

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[Childcare] Playful craft ideas to enjoy with 5-year-olds (81–90)

CD

Let's make and play with a 'CD spinning top' that spins really well! The black-and-white patterns will look like colors.

If you’ve got CDs lying around at home, why not repurpose them into handmade spinning tops? By combining a CD with a marble, you can transform it into a top that spins really well! The trick is to choose a marble that’s slightly larger than the hole in the center of the CD.

To make it, just apply glue around the center hole of the CD and fix the marble in place.

You can also add a small piece of double-sided tape where you pinch it, or use a finger cot for extra grip, making it easier to spin.

Plus, it’s fun to design and decorate the disc! Try making your own original top in your favorite colors and have fun spinning it.

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Fishing for fish

I made a felt fishing toy / handmade / hand-crafted / educational toy

Fishing for fish

Fishing is one of the most popular pastimes for children.

So why not try making various sea creatures out of felt? In addition to fish, kids might be delighted to have creatures you wouldn’t normally catch when fishing, like sharks, dolphins, and turtles.

If you put a material inside that sticks to a magnet, they can enjoy “catching” them with a rod that has a magnet on the end.

You can make them by layering and gluing felt, or stuff them with cotton to give them a three-dimensional shape—both are recommended.

Since they’re toys, be sure to make them colorful!

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Ponpoko Animals

[Handmade Toys to Enjoy with Kids] Pompoko Animals / Let’s Make It Together with Mom! A DIY toy craft video that boosts the creativity and creative drive of 4- and 5-year-old children.

Ponpoko Animals

Ponpoko Animals is a craft project that’s fun because it makes sounds.

There are many steps a five-year-old can do on their own, so making it together as a group will be lively and exciting.

First, as prep work, the teacher should make holes in plastic bottle caps and thread strings through them.

Have the children start from the step of tying knots at the ends of the strings.

After making two, attach them to the plastic bottle body so they line up where the hands would be.

Using vinyl tape works well.

Next, stick a face made from construction paper onto the bottle.

If the children make the faces themselves, the result will be even more original.

When you shake the bottle, the caps hit the body and make a rattling sound—your cute little toy is complete!

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Pompom Yo-Yo

@chii_1514m
Bouncy pom-pom yo-yo made from a plastic bag ✩.*˚#Kindergarten #Nursery school #Production video How-to video #Production Video
♪ Original song – Chi☺︎ – Chi☺︎

Perfect for indoor activities! Here’s how to make a “Pompom Yo-Yo” that even a 5-year-old can easily create.

It’s very simple.

First, put sequins and finely cut sparkly tape or origami paper into a clear plastic bag.

Then seal the opening with tape and inflate it by filling it tightly with air.

Next, attach four strips of masking tape without pulling them too tight.

Finally, wrap a rubber band to make a handle—and it’s done! Try making it together with your child and have fun.

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