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 amazing craft ideas, including toys you can play with (81–90)

Moving penguin

[Craft] Let's Make a Moving Penguin with a Paper Cup [How-To]

Moving penguin

How about making a “Moving Penguin” craft with amazing motion that kids will love? It looks like a cute penguin at first, but its unexpected movements make this a surprising and fun project! Glue a construction-paper beak and flippers onto a paper cup and draw the eyes.

Stick a rubber band onto a battery, and the mechanism is ready.

Taping parts with cellophane tape might be a bit tricky for kids, so have an adult help.

Finally, flip the penguin over and hook the battery onto the slit you cut—done! Spin the battery to make the penguin move around.

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Cardboard mini car case

[DIY Cardboard Craft at Home!] A handmade town where you can play with Tomica mini cars! Transforms from a storage case, also using small items from Flying Tiger! Handmade toy Toy cars T’s Garage

Cardboard mini car case

Even tidying up is simple! Here’s an idea for a cardboard mini car case.

Many kids love toy cars like mini cars, don’t they? This idea is perfect if you’re thinking, “I want to make a road for cars to drive on and give it as a gift,” or “I’d be happy if it’s easy to take toys in and out.” It’s unique because when you open the storage case for the mini cars, it transforms into a townscape with roads.

Adding a handle makes it easy to carry, which is a nice bonus.

Definitely give it a try!

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Stretchy soap bubble

@eqkosodate
Rapidly growing soap bubblesSoap bubbles Soap bubbles #AtHomePlay Play with children Experimental Play Experimental Play
Rouge’s Message (Kiki’s Delivery Service) – Carl Orrje Piano Ensemble

Here’s an idea for stretchy soap bubbles that lets you enjoy a unique, one-of-a-kind texture.

First, prepare a straw and a wet wipe.

Wrap the wet wipe around the tip and secure it with a rubber band.

Next, make a bubble solution by mixing water and dish soap, and pour it into a container.

Then dip the tip into the container and slowly lift it up.

You should see a chain of tiny bubbles appear, connected together.

The slightly sticky, mysterious look is really fun.

If you investigate why this happens, it can turn into a learning experience too.

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Magnet and fabric sticking play

https://www.tiktok.com/@nagoya_kodomo/video/7119471763578244353

It’s fun how they stick with a snap! Here are some ideas for magnet-and-fabric sticking play.

Let’s make fabric toys that even infants can enjoy! You’ll need fabric or felt, magnets, fabric adhesive, needles, and thread.

If you create popular characters or illustrations from picture books with fabric or felt, children will be captivated! Sew magnets into each piece, and they’ll snap together so kids can play over and over.

Please be very careful to prevent accidental swallowing of magnets.

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Bubbly soap bubbles

[Simple Craft] We made a bubble blower using a plastic bottle and straws, and the foam was so intense that it was a blast

Bubbly soap bubbles

Big visual impact! Let’s make a bubbly foam bubble blower.

First, prepare 45 straws cut to about 3 cm in length.

Once they’re ready, cut a clear file folder into a strip and line the straws up on it.

A hot glue gun is recommended for attaching them.

When finished, roll the piece up into a coil.

Finally, cut a 500 ml plastic bottle to about one-third of its height, insert the part you just made, and you’re done.

When you blow bubbles with this, you’ll get a breathtaking display.

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sticker burr

Super easy! Make a sticky bug with chenille stems and magnets

sticker burr

How about making a simple yet strangely addictive and fun toy called the Clingy Bug? It’s really easy to make: cut pipe cleaners into pieces about 1 centimeter long and put them into a clear plastic jar or similar container.

When you hold a magnet against the outside of the jar… the tiny pipe-cleaner pieces will swarm and stick to the magnet.

They wriggle and crawl around like real little bugs, and it’s so fun you’ll want to try all kinds of different magnets! If you add pipe cleaners in lots of colors, it’s even more fun to look at!

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[For Toddlers] Simple but Amazing Craft Ideas: Playable Toys Too (91–100)

Kendama

How to Make a Paper Cup Kendama and an Easy Way to Get the Ball In [A Craft Where Kids Can Learn Through Play]

Kendama

This is a paper-cup kendama that even children who find heavier wooden kendamas difficult can enjoy.

Prepare two paper cups, glue construction paper to the sides, and decorate them with pens, stickers, or masking tape.

Cut a piece of string to a length that lets the ball fit neatly inside the cup, and attach a crumpled paper ball to the end.

Tape the other end of the string to the bottom of one paper cup, align the bottoms of the two cups, and secure them with tape—your handmade kendama is complete! It could be fun to have parents and children compete to see who can handle the kendama better.

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