Handmade Grandparents' Day gifts at preschool! A collection of ideas using various materials
Many nursery and kindergarten teachers are likely struggling to choose a Respect for the Aged Day gift.
Presents that children make with gratitude for their grandparents are sure to be the warmest gifts in the world.
Here, we introduce Respect for the Aged Day gift ideas—like origami amulets, handprint art, and message cards—that you can enjoy creating with nursery and kindergarten children.
Fill each piece with the children’s kindness and a record of their growth, and present it to someone special.
Handmade Grandparents’ Day gifts at daycare! A collection of ideas using various materials (1–10)
Finger stamp art
Stamp art is made by dipping fingers in paint and stamping colors onto drawing paper.
With its rich autumn feel, it’s perfect as a Grandparents’ Day gift.
To make it, the teacher first uses a pen to draw tree branches and a trunk in the center of the paper.
Prepare paints in autumn colors like orange and yellow.
Once everything is ready, the children add color around the tree.
The trick is not to smear, but to lift and press the finger each time like a stamp.
Sprinkling glitter will give it an even more festive finish.
uchiwa (Japanese hand fan)
How about making and gifting a handmade uchiwa fan so Grandpa and Grandma can stay comfortable in the heat? It’s easy to make: just prepare the fan frame and attach construction paper to it.
You can decorate it by drawing on the paper, creating a one-of-a-kind original fan.
You could make a bright, festive fan packed with your ideas, or include a message especially for your grandparents.
A useful, everyday gift like this is sure to make them happy.
bookmark
Bookmarks are handy when reading books or magazines.
Many people probably use any piece of paper lying around as a bookmark.
So how about making a useful bookmark and giving it as a gift? Try creating original bookmarks, like an easy origami corner bookmark that slips over the page, or a classic rectangular bookmark made with cardstock and ribbon.
Be sure to add the date you made it and a message for Grandma and Grandpa.
coaster
A great activity that children attending nursery or kindergarten can safely and confidently enjoy is making coasters.
Use tools available at the school to create original coasters! Prepare old crayons and grate them finely with a grater.
Mix the grated crayon shavings into pure white paper clay to color the clay.
Next, roll it flat, cut out a circle to shape it, and apply varnish with a brush.
Put a message card for grandpa or grandma together with the coaster into a bag, wrap it up, and it’s done! Encourage the children to use their own ideas to create one-of-a-kind coasters.
Photo frame
There are surely many grandparents who display photos of their grandchildren where they can always see them.
How about making a photo frame to give as a gift for those photos? If you make a frame using cardboard or air-dry clay, you can customize it in lots of ways—paint the clay parts, embed cute beads, and more.
There are plenty of other methods too, so choose a way that suits the materials you have and your child’s age, put a favorite photo inside, and give it as a present!
pen holder
You might think there’s no need to go out of your way to buy a pen holder, but it’s actually pretty handy to have.
So how about making one using an empty bottle and air-dry clay and giving it as a gift? Here’s how: use wood glue to wrap and stick twine around the bottle, then apply air-dry clay over it.
Before the clay dries, press in game counters or beads.
You can also paint the clay or tie a ribbon around it.
It’s easy to make with scrap materials and items from the 100-yen shop.
Message Card
Let’s make a message card to send to Grandma and Grandpa for Respect for the Aged Day.
It’s a classic idea to put your gratitude into a message card for grandparents who always play with you, but it’s something they’ll be happy to receive, and it will surely become a treasured keepsake.
Of course the message matters, but how about making the card itself by hand, with a little gimmick? Pop-up or interactive cards are recommended—ones where opening a hidden flap reveals another message or photo.