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.
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. Playable Toys, Too (101–110)

Crafting fish with 100-yen shop magnets

[Easy Kids Craft] Flippity-Flopping with 100-Yen Store Magnets! Jumping Fish Craft! (Summer Project/Home Play)

Crafting fish with 100-yen shop magnets

Freshly caught and flopping! Here’s an idea for a fish craft you can make using magnets from a 100-yen shop.

It’s perfect for anyone wondering, “What kind of craft can I make with magnets?” All you need are construction paper, tape, a pen, scissors, and a magnetic sheet.

The video mainly features mackerel, but it looks like you can adapt it to other fish like flounder or filefish.

It’s such a unique idea that you’ll want to make it flop again and again!

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Dreamland with a magnet

Easy Craft: How to Make 'Dreamland with Magnets'

Dreamland with a magnet

Learn about magnets while having fun crafting! Here’s a magnetic Dreamland idea.

The charm of this project is that you can make a mysterious, entertaining toy that moves using capsules and magnets.

You’ll need origami paper, a white board, construction paper, magnets, empty gashapon capsules, poster paper, a color wave sheet, glue, scissors, and pens.

Draw roads on the board and decorate with construction paper and the color wave sheet.

Put a car illustration on an empty capsule and place a magnet inside—then it’s done! Move the capsule with the car illustration by guiding a magnet from the back of the board!

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Bug-catching toy

[Handmade Toy] Magnet Stick-On Bug Catching Game 🐞 | Summer Vacation Craft

Bug-catching toy

We’ll introduce how to make a bug-catching toy.

Get construction paper, magnets, straws, paper clips, glue, and some netting ready.

Cut colored construction paper into circles and assemble them into bugs.

Attach one paper clip to each bug and secure it with cellophane tape so it won’t come off.

Next, let’s make the bug-catching net.

Cut a ring out of thick paper and remove the center.

Thread the netting through the ring and staple it in place.

Make the handle out of a straw and attach it securely, then glue on a magnet, and you’re done! Have fun seeing how many bug cards you can catch.

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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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Puzzle

Create an original from your child's drawing: easy handmade puzzle

Puzzle

Let’s turn your children’s one-of-a-kind drawings into a puzzle! Prepare a piece of cardboard slightly larger than the drawing paper, attach the drawing in the center, and trim around it.

Glue this frame-shaped cardboard onto another piece of cardboard that will serve as the puzzle base.

Next, use a craft knife to cut the drawing into puzzle-piece shapes, and fit the pieces into the base—your original puzzle is complete! It’s a wonderful toy that lets you admire your child’s artwork while playing together, even after you bring it home.

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