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 (21–30)

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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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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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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Pool cue keychain

@sayacky_be.child
I put all the materials and tips together here 👇🏻 (Follow before you forget ▶︎ @sayacky_be.child) ⁡ ▫️Materials▫️ ・Pool noodles (Yellow is recommended! Seria) ・Lacquer spray (Brown! DAISO) *I also tried beige and white, but sorry 🙏🏻 ・White glue sticks (DAISO) ・Rhinestone stickers, etc. (Mine are from Seria) ┈┈┈┈┈Keychain materials from here┈┈┈┈┈ ・Mini fork (Mine is from Seria) ・Clear glue sticks (DAISO, Seria) ・Jump rings (Mine are from Seria) ・Keychain hardware (Mine is from Seria) ・Any decorations you like ⁡ ▫️Tools, etc.▫️ ・Utility knife & cutting mat ・Scissors ・Empty Chip Star can (if you have one!) ・Hot glue gun (craft store, hardware store, also at DAISO) ・Cardboard box (to protect surroundings when spraying) ・Rubber gloves (to protect hands when spraying) ┈┈┈┈┈Keychain tools from here┈┈┈┈┈ ・Awl or ice pick ・Something to heat with, like a lighter ・Cork board (as a base for making holes) ・Pliers, etc. (if you have them) ⁡ ▫️Tips▫️ ⚠️Read the usage precautions on the back of the lacquer spray carefully and use it outdoors, away from fire, with an adult! ・The pool noodle texture looks so real★ If adults do the prep and spraying, the kids can decorate however they like and use them for pretend play ♡ ・You can use glue mixed with paint instead of a glue gun ◎ It may just take longer to dry. ・I put mine in Madeleine paper cups (Seria), and set them on a tray (Seria) and wire grid (Seria)! ⁡ ⁡ ⋆┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈⋆ ⁡ Nice to meet you! “Let’s be kids together♪” I’m Sayacky, a nursery teacher and mom of two ♡ ⁡ I share play ideas that make both kids and former kids feel excited—together! ⁡ Please follow me☆ ⁡ @sayacky_be.child ▲See other posts here ໒꒱ ⁡ ⁡ ⋆┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈⋆#Sayakki-World #HandmadeToys #Childcare Crafting Craft Play #Childcare topic #AtHomePlay #StayHomeTime #100-yen shop DIY Simple craft Kids' crafts #Donuts Keychain making
♬ Original Song – Sayakki | New Kids’ Crafts That Adults Will Want To Try Too – Sayakki | New Kids’ Crafts That Adults Will Want To Try Too

Let me introduce a cute pool-noodle donut keychain.

Prepare a pool noodle, scissors, spray paint, a hot glue gun, white glue sticks, a small fork, and a keychain chain, then let’s get crafting.

Cut the pool noodle to the size of the donut you want.

The key is to trim off the edges to round them out and shape it nicely.

Spray it with your preferred color and let it dry.

For a 3D effect, use the hot glue gun to drizzle glue over the dried donut base like chocolate sauce.

Sprinkle on beads or other toppings, insert a small fork and secure it with adhesive, attach the keychain chain, and you’re done!

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