Lovely childcare

[For toddlers] Simple but amazing craft ideas — including toys they can play with

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 for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”

There are so many opportunities to do crafts at daycare and kindergarten, aren’t there?

Crafts help develop fine motor skills, nurture imagination and concentration, and offer plenty of great benefits for children’s development.

But are there teachers and parents out there thinking, “What should we make?” and running out of ideas?

In this article, we’ll introduce simple yet impressive craft ideas.

Many of them can be played with after making them, so the kids are sure to have a great time!

They’re all easy to make with materials that are simple to gather, so please use these as a reference.

[For Toddlers] Simple but Awesome Craft Ideas. Playable Toys, Too (71–80)

animal hat

Let's make your favorite animal with just one sheet of construction paper! Easy animal hat

animal hat

Why not make a cute animal hat out of construction paper? With a bit of creativity, you can make a rabbit, panda, elephant, and more.

First, attach two sheets of construction paper horizontally and fold them in half.

Then fold it twice vertically and into thirds horizontally, and unfold.

You should have creases forming 8 columns across and 3 rows down.

Cut off the leftmost column to make it 7 columns wide.

Fold the paper back up and cut the top two-thirds into an arch shape.

Open the paper and attach a pair of rubber bands linked together at both ends.

Gather the arched section and staple it in place, then add the animal’s face and ear parts to finish!

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[Laminating Film] Package Remake Stickers

[No baking paper needed!] How to make stickers 100-yen-shop DIY / Kimetsu no Yaiba package remake / Original sticker making / Kimetsu no Yaiba DIY

[Laminating Film] Package Remake Stickers

There are so many lovely illustrations on snack packages and flyers, aren’t there? When you find one you like, why not remake it into a sticker? There aren’t any fussy steps, so it’s great for kids to make, too.

First, cut out your favorite illustration with scissors.

Then use self-adhesive laminating film: sandwich the illustration between the sheets and laminate it.

The key is to have the adhesive side facing down.

Another tip is to press out the air firmly after placing the illustration between the sheets.

Finally, cut out the illustration leaving a small border—and you’re done! The result is nice and sturdy, perfect for sticker play.

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Balloon air cannon

Easy craft with balloons: a plastic bottle air cannon

Balloon air cannon

Let’s make a balloon air cannon you can use for target practice! You will need a balloon, a plastic bottle, a toilet paper tube, and vinyl tape.

Remove the cap from the plastic bottle, and cut off a bit of the bottom to make an opening.

Then slightly trim the top of a balloon, tie off the mouth of the balloon, and attach the balloon to the bottle’s opening.

Next, cut slits in one end of the toilet paper tube and spread them out like petals, then attach the tube around the middle of the bottle to make a handle for the air cannon.

Decorate as you like, and you’re done! When you pull the balloon, the air inside the bottle shoots out and knocks over objects set up in front.

Please divide the tasks between the teacher and the children according to the children’s ages.

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windmill

[For 5-year-olds] Making Pinwheels

windmill

This is a pinwheel you can enjoy by spinning it with your hand or taking it outside in the wind.

Cut construction paper into ring shapes and connect four rings to make the pinwheel.

Make small cuts at the end of a straw and spread them open, then attach the pinwheel to finish! Besides this method, you can also enjoy making pinwheels by folding origami, or by cutting slits into paper cups or paper plates.

It might be fun to try various designs and compare which pinwheel spins the best.

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Pop-out kitty

[Origami] How to Make a Cat Popping Out of a Box Push Pop-It – Easy and Fun to Make! / craft OKUYA [Origami]

Pop-out kitty

Here’s how to make a toy with a kitty that pops out from a small, colorful box.

Both the base holding the kitty and the popping kitty itself are made of origami.

Using things you already have at home, you can create a toy full of clever ideas.

After folding the outer box from origami paper following the steps, move on to the kitty.

Cut a sheet of origami paper slightly smaller than the outer box, then fold it according to the steps to make the kitty.

You’ll also use the leftover cut pieces to make the ears and paws, so nothing goes to waste.

Draw a cute face, too.

Finally, make a spring out of origami paper so the kitty pops up, install it inside the box, and you’re done.

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Crane catcher

https://www.tiktok.com/@and.connect2023/video/7286791145076673793

Kids’ favorite claw machine fun in the bathtub! Introducing the “Crane Catcher.” First, prepare two tall, clear plastic cups.

Cut eight slits into one of them.

Remove every other section, then spread the remaining tabs and fold the tips to make claws.

Poke a hole in the bottom of the second cup.

Make four 1 cm slits in a straw; spread them out and tape the straw to the first cup.

Finally, place the second cup over the first, and you’re done!

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Let’s make a sugoroku (board) game

[For 5-year-olds] Let’s make a sugoroku game!

Let's make a sugoroku (board) game

This is a handmade sugoroku board game that combines prompts the children came up with.

Write each prompt on a card and stick it onto the board.

Using words or drawings, you can create a unique, original sugoroku.

Arrange the cards on the board, glue them down, and connect each card with lines—then it’s complete! With unique prompts on each space, such as “sing a song,” “jump,” “rock-paper-scissors with the teacher,” or “do an impression,” this original sugoroku will make time at the preschool lively and fun.

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