[April Crafts] Useful for childcare! Spring craft ideas for 1-year-olds

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.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

Warm spring is a fun season for children, too! Here, we’re sharing craft ideas you can enjoy together with one-year-olds.

Tearing and sticking to make colorful flowers helps develop fine motor skills! For parts that are hard for one-year-olds, have an adult join in and get creative.

If you decorate with lots of colors, you’re sure to see big smiles from the kids! While exploring colors and shapes, they can really feel the spring season.

Let’s all make things together and create lots of wonderful pieces! Get excited and make new spring memories.

[April Crafts] Useful in childcare! Spring craft ideas for 1-year-olds (41–50)

Koinobori made with stamps

Let’s make use of scrap materials we’d usually throw away! Here’s an idea for making koi-shaped streamers using stamps.

What you’ll need: construction paper cut into a koi streamer shape, brushes, a palette, paints, koi streamer parts made from construction paper, glue, rubber bands, an empty lactic-acid drink bottle, and bubble wrap.

Bubble wrap makes a fun “pop-pop!” sound when you press it with your fingers, but this time, let’s use it for crafting without popping it! Attach a piece of cut bubble wrap to the empty drink bottle with a rubber band to make a stamp.

Dab your favorite paint colors onto the construction paper and have fun! You’ll get patterns that look just like scales on a koi streamer.

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Dandelion made from a straw stamp

Let’s make lots of tiny, cute dandelions using a straw stamp! Once you have your straw, snip small slits into the end with scissors.

The length of the cuts will change the size of the flowers, so try different lengths.

Then dip it in yellow paint and stamp it onto paper to make a bunch of adorable dandelions bloom! You can draw stems and leaves with crayons, and using paper cups, origami paper, or wrapping paper to create vases or bouquets would also look lovely.

How about decorating your room with these simple and super cute dandelions?

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hiyoko sensei

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Balloons made of felt

This is a project for making balloons with the fun texture of felt.

Felt fabric has a different feel from paper, and I think children will like its touch.

It’s often used for handmade toys, so it might be a familiar material.

Simply cut the felt into various shapes and stick them onto a balloon template to finish.

You can use wood glue when attaching the pieces, but double-sided tape also works.

Many 100-yen shops sell adhesive felt sheets, so using those can make the process even smoother.

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Stamp Cherry Blossoms Made from Scrap Materials

Here’s how to make cherry blossoms using recycled materials.

Prepare construction paper, scissors, glue, a toilet paper roll, and paint.

First, create the base of the cherry tree on the construction paper.

Shape the toilet paper roll into a heart, dip it in paint, and stamp it onto the tree.

The stamped shapes look like cherry blossom petals, giving the artwork a springtime feel.

Since children’s hands are small, it’s recommended to cut the toilet paper roll in half to make a stamp that’s easier for them to hold firmly.

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Tulips made with sensory play

Here’s a fun sensory play idea using paint to make tulips! You’ll need light blue construction paper, white construction paper, crayons, watercolor paints, a zip-top plastic bag or plastic wrap, scissors, and glue.

Squeeze the paint straight from the tube onto the white paper, then place it inside the zip-top bag.

Spread the paint with your fingers over the bag; the paint will squish and stretch nicely.

Kids will love the cool, smooth feel and watching the colors blend together! Once the painted white paper is dry, cut it into tulip shapes and glue them onto the light blue paper.

Finish by drawing stems and leaves with crayons!

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