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: Playable Toys Too (21–30)

The candy box transforms! A moving horse

The candy box transforms! An easy craft to make cute, moving animal toys: “Pecking Animals” #crafts #handmadetoys #easycrafts

The candy box transforms! A moving horse

Let’s make a horse using a box of your favorite snacks! Since the package will become the pattern, pick a box with a design you like.

First, cut the box into three rings of equal width.

Place one ring horizontally, and to its left, place another ring vertically.

Staple the touching edges to create the horse’s body and neck.

Take the remaining ring, turn it horizontally, align its left end with the others, and attach it along the underside of the body.

Flatten the part that sticks out on the left so it juts out, and staple it.

Then, cut the head, legs, ears, and tail from the leftover box pieces and glue them on.

If you hold the part sticking out on the left side of the body and pull the tail on the opposite side, the neck will move.

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A kaleidoscope like a jewelry box

[This is really beautiful] A new kind of kaleidoscope (?) that looks like a jewelry box, made using a Chip Star container. Recommended as an easy summer vacation craft for lower grades!

A kaleidoscope like a jewelry box

When you think about making a kaleidoscope, you might assume it will take a long time and be difficult, right? But the method I’m introducing today is a brilliant idea you can do quickly with things you have at home.

Make a hole in the lid of a cylindrical snack container to let light in.

Instead of just making a round hole, try a flower shape or something similar for a prettier result—highly recommended.

Stick a piece of clear tape over the hole and color it with a permanent marker from the top.

Wrap the tube with black duct tape, and attach bubble wrap to the end opposite the lid.

If you color the bubble wrap too, you’ll have a colorful, fun kaleidoscope ready to enjoy!

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catch-ball machine

[Upcycling Play] Launch and Catch a Ball! DIY Toy <Make It Right Now> [Easy Craft] Toilet Paper Rolls and Paper Plates

catch-ball machine

Let’s handcraft a fun toy that everyone can play with by throwing and catching a ball.

We’ll make an easy toy using items like paper plates, toilet paper cores, tissues, and rubber bands.

Shape a paper plate like a bowl and attach it to a toilet paper core.

Use a toilet paper core with rubber bands pre-attached to create the launcher base.

Crumple tissues into balls and wrap them with tape to make two balls.

Fix one ball to the base, and use the other as the ball to launch.

Now your toy that shoots a ball with a whoosh is complete.

Ask an adult to help with any difficult steps.

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A roulette like a spinning top

Top-like roulette (sugoroku): Easy paper cup craft for at-home play

A roulette like a spinning top

Let’s enjoy playing at home with a simple toy you can make using things around the house.

This is a fun craft toy you can make with a paper cup and a gacha capsule.

Even if you don’t have a capsule, you can still make it—give it a try! Is it a top? A roulette? Let’s try making a roulette toy that spins like a top.

It’s easy to make.

First, attach a paper cup with slits and numbers written on it to another paper cup that serves as the base.

Then combine a round gacha capsule with the base—and you’re done.

It will spin even without the capsule, so no worries.

If you make a simple sugoroku board, spin the twirling top, move your piece according to the number shown on the roulette, and enjoy playing the game.

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It’s fun to blow, cock-a-doodle-doo!

@welbe.co.jp
Simple Craft Series: Blow and “Cock-a-doodle-doo” — Mr. Clucky#NeurodevelopmentalDisorders Parenting # developmental support (ryōiku)Habi Shizuka Midorikawa
♬ Dino Song – Mr. Popolo

On the fingertips of a disposable glove, draw feathers with a pen, and put a beak, eyes, and comb on the thumb area.

Next, make a hole near the bottom of a paper cup and secure the glove over the cup.

Thread a straw through the hole, and when you blow, it looks as if a bird is inflating and taking off from inside the cup! It’s also cute to draw a beak and wings on the cup.

Using mouth strength helps practice breathing and vocalization, and it gives a sense of accomplishment.

The materials are easy to find, so preparation is simple.

Children can participate at their own pace.

Be sure to make it together with the kids and have fun!

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Fun educational game

@soramame.sensei
It looks cute and gets you excited💕 It’s also fun to roll the dice and stack as many as the number you get!! It’s even more fun if you make your own rules♪Child Development Support After-school day service #StayHomeTime child Educational # developmental support (ryōiku)#CardboardCrafts Fruits
♬ Exciting, fun, shopping, pop, loop – arachang

This is a simple indoor game where you gently stack colorful cardboard pieces—cut into shapes of foods kids love—onto a toilet paper roll using chopsticks or your hands.

Because it requires careful control of force, it helps develop fine motor skills, concentration, and recognition of colors and shapes.

You can use everyday materials! Even if pieces fall, it’s still fun, so children naturally experience cooperation and a sense of accomplishment as they play.

Kids with and without disabilities can enjoy it together, and you can adjust the difficulty with a bit of creativity.

It’s a gentle, handmade activity that even adults can get absorbed in.

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Lucky Star

All you need are construction paper and scissors! How to make a lucky star

Let’s make a cute, puffy lucky star! You can make this with just construction paper.

First, cut the construction paper into a strip and tie a single overhand knot near one end.

Don’t pull it too tight—fold it neatly so a small pentagon shape forms, then flatten it gently.

Tuck the short end into the knot to hide it.

Next, wrap the remaining long end around the pentagon, following the edges as you go.

When you’ve wrapped it all, tuck the end into the knot again.

Gently press each side of the pentagon inward and pinch the corners to shape it.

Your lucky star is complete!

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