Lovely childcare

[For toddlers] Simple but amazing craft ideas — including toys they can play with

[For toddlers] Simple but amazing craft ideas — including toys they can play with

Last updated:2025/12/4

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 (1–10)

Mysterious Microphone

A mysterious microphone made from paper cups

Mysterious Microphone

Let me introduce a mysterious microphone that will make you want to speak out loud.

Prepare aluminum foil, a paper cup, colored pens, and a craft knife.

Cut out the bottom of the paper cup with the knife.

Cover the top with aluminum foil and secure the edges with tape.

Make sure to fasten it tightly so the foil doesn’t come off.

Draw your favorite patterns around the cup with colored pens, and you’re done! If you speak from the side opposite the aluminum foil, your voice will resonate like a microphone and sound a bit strange.

Decorating it with round stickers is also recommended.

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Plastic bottle bracelet

[Plastic Bottle Craft] Easy for kids! How to make a stylish bracelet from a plastic bottle ♡ Bracelets recycling plastic bottles ♡

Plastic bottle bracelet

Let me introduce a stylish, original plastic-bottle bracelet.

Prepare a plastic bottle, a utility knife, scissors, an iron, nail polish, and masking tape.

Apply masking tape slightly below the middle of the bottle to mark where you’ll cut the bracelet.

Make a slit with the utility knife, then carefully cut along the taped area with scissors, avoiding cutting the tape itself.

Press a heated iron against the cut edges to round them and shape the bracelet.

Finally, paint the inside of the bracelet with nail polish—and you’re done! Using glitter nail polish is recommended for a sparkly finish.

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Twisting Soap Bubbles

[Preschool Teacher] Easy Handmade Toy! How to Make a Spinning Bubble Wand [Daycare/Kindergarten]

Twisting Soap Bubbles

Make and play! Here’s an idea for unbreakable spinning soap bubbles.

You’ll need holographic origami paper, round stickers, a straw, scissors, reinforcement rings, a bamboo skewer, and tape.

First, cut the holographic origami paper into 5 mm-wide strips and stick eight of them onto a round sticker.

Cut four slits in the straw and apply a reinforcement ring.

After attaching the straw and the holographic paper, thread them onto the bamboo skewer.

Tape the top part in place, and you’re done!

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straw airplane

How to Make a Straw Airplane

straw airplane

A “straw airplane” flies in a fun way that’s different from a paper airplane.

Its unique shape makes it a quirky aircraft that kids are sure to love! Cut colored construction paper of your choice to make two rings, one large and one small.

It’s said that the rounder the circles, the better it flies.

Attach the rings to a straw, and add a paperclip as a weight to the smaller ring—that’s it, you’re done! Unlike paper airplanes, it flies straight, so competing for distance can be a lot of fun.

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Fluffy sponge ball

Handmade Toy: [Super Easy] How to Make a Fluffy Sponge Ball

Fluffy sponge ball

Introducing a fluffy sponge ball that’s fun to touch! Prepare three sponges (you can find them at 100-yen shops), scissors, and a rubber band.

First, cut both ends of a sponge with scissors.

Make cuts on the left, right, and center to create eight tentacle-like strips.

Do the same with the other two sponges so each has eight “tentacles.” Stack the three cut sponges together, tie the center with a rubber band to secure them, and fluff the strips outward.

You’re done! Try tossing or rolling it and enjoy playing in different ways!

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