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 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.
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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)

Soap bubbles made with a plastic bottle

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You can play without blowing! Enjoy soap bubbles using a plastic bottle.

The key is to prepare a soft plastic bottle that dents with a squeeze.

Cut a hole in the cap with scissors and insert the mouthpiece of a bubble wand into the hole—voilà, it’s ready in no time.

Dip the tip into bubble solution and squeeze the bottle to pump out bubbles.

This is a perfect idea for young children who might have trouble blowing bubbles or for kids who want to practice hand and finger movements.

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Paper Gyro & Launcher

[Simple Craft 026] Paper Gyro & Launcher — Flies better than a paper airplane? Paper Gyro & Launcher

Paper Gyro & Launcher

The Paper Gyro & Launcher is a hit with kids because it flies even better than a paper airplane.

It’s perfect for at-home time and for crafts in kindergartens and preschools, and it’s sure to lift your child’s spirits.

Another plus is that you can make it with common items like a toilet paper roll and copy paper! Cut an A4 sheet of copy paper into quarters, draw a line 2.5 cm from the top, and fold toward that line three times.

Shape the folded piece into a loop that fits through a toilet paper roll core and secure it with tape; then attach a cut rubber band to fix it in place—that completes the paper gyro.

For the launcher, tape toilet paper rolls together to form a tube and cut a notch to hook the rubber band—done.

Powered by the rubber band, it flies far, so competing for distance sounds like a lot of fun!

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Bubble art

[Super Easy] How to Make Fun Bubble Art! [Nursery/Kindergarten]

Bubble art

How about trying bubble art that you can display and enjoy even after playing? First, let’s make the tool.

Cut off the mouthpiece section of a plastic bottle, then cover the cut edge with a cloth.

Next, make the bubble solution.

Mix your favorite paint with water, laundry detergent, and glue.

Once you’re ready, dip the tool into the bubble solution in the color you like, and blow toward a sheet of paper.

Beautiful patterns should appear on the paper.

Adjust the colors and your blowing technique to create a lovely piece of art.

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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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underwater soap bubbles

Easy Home Experiment: Trapped Underwater Soap Bubble

underwater soap bubbles

Here’s an idea for underwater bubbles that also leads to learning.

First, fill two cups with water and add a few drops of dish soap to each.

Mix well, then use a straw like a dropper to suck up the soapy water from one cup and drip it into the other.

You should see bubbles form under the water.

Try thinking about why this happens as you do it.

If the bubbles don’t form well, adjusting the amount of soap often helps.

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