Lovely childcare

[For 2-year-olds] Feel the warm spring! Fun April craft ideas collection

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

The new school year is an exciting season for both adults and children.

Our hearts are full of anticipation about the fun that awaits with the teachers and friends we’ll be spending time with.

For April, why not choose creative ideas featuring bright, spring-like motifs?

This time, we’ve gathered ideas that are easy for 2-year-olds to try, as well as projects that use recycled materials and various textures.

We hope children can build many joyful experiences while we stay close to their needs.

If you’re unsure about what to make, please use these ideas as a reference.

Because the children’s creations are treated as works of art, we refer to them as “seisaku” (productions/creations) in the text.

[For 2-Year-Olds] Feel the Warmth of Spring! A Collection of Fun April Craft Ideas (81–90)

Mobile of clouds and balloons

Feel the sky with the cute hanging decoration “Fluffy Cloud and Hot Air Balloon” ☁

Mobile of clouds and balloons

It spins around and looks so cute! Let me share an idea for a mobile with fluffy clouds and hot air balloons.

You’ll need scissors, glue, thread, beads, translucent origami paper, tissue paper, four rubber bands, craft adhesive, tape, and bamboo skewers.

Use the tissue paper and rubber bands to make fluffy clouds, and make the hot air balloons with the translucent origami paper and beads.

You’ll build a frame with the bamboo skewers and hang the pieces, so if you’re making this with children, be sure to work with safety in mind.

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[Scribble] 3D Tulip

[Toddler Craft] Tulips You Can Make While Learning Shapes ♪ Includes a Materials List!

[Scribble] 3D Tulip

Here’s a craft idea that uses children’s scribbles as tulip flowers.

As a prep step, adults cut tulip stems, leaves, butterflies, and cloud parts out of construction paper.

Have the children scribble inside three petal shapes outlined on paper.

Once they finish, cut along the outlines with scissors.

Prepare a white backing sheet, glue on the stems and leaves rolled into tube shapes, then glue crumpled craft paper on top to look like soil.

You can have the children do the crumpling.

Finally, assemble and glue the petals so they look like a flower, and add the butterfly and cloud pieces in the open spaces on the backing to complete the craft!

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[Bleeding Painting] 3D Strawberry

[No paint needed] Make bleed-style art with water-based pens! How to draw a cute strawberry [Daycare/Kindergarten]

[Bleeding Painting] 3D Strawberry

Let’s make strawberries while enjoying a bleeding art effect using coffee filters.

Prepare some filters and let the kids draw freely with red and pink water-based markers—scribbling is perfectly fine.

Next, use a white crayon to draw the seeds.

When they’re done, mist the filter with water to let the ink bleed; once it has spread nicely, let it air-dry or use a hair dryer to dry it.

Stuff tissues inside the filter, then stick the edges together with double-sided tape to form a strawberry shape.

Finally, add leaves made from construction paper, and it’s complete!

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[Paper Core] Cute Honeybee

[Daycare/Kindergarten] How to Make a Cute “Bee” ♪ Easy with a Paper Tube [Upcycled Materials]

[Paper Core] Cute Honeybee

Would you like to make a cute little bee using a toilet paper roll? First, wrap the roll with yellow construction paper.

To make it look like a bee, wrap two thin strips of black construction paper around the lower part of the roll.

Also, cut out the bee’s facial parts from the yellow paper and assemble them in advance.

Let the children draw freely on white construction paper; using techniques like wax-resist is fine, too.

Once the drawing is done, cut it into wing shapes, then attach the wings and the face to the toilet paper roll to finish.

Please have an adult handle the steps that involve cutting with scissors and gluing pieces together.

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Handprint Art: Cherry Blossom Tree

Crafts: 4 Recommended Handprint Art Ideas for Spring [Daycare/Kindergarten]

Handprint Art: Cherry Blossom Tree

When it comes to spring flowers, cherry blossoms are the first that come to mind.

Here, we’re introducing an easy handprint art activity to make a cherry blossom tree.

For preparation, draw the tree trunk on white construction paper using paint or a pen.

Children will use paint to stamp their handprints over the trunk, as if making the blossoms bloom.

Prepare several shades of pink paint with different depths of color.

In addition to handprints, using fingertips to stamp works well too.

Enjoy the look of the paint and the feel of stamping, and let kids freely express their own cherry blossom trees.

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Honeybees and a flower field

[Craft Idea] Honeybees and Flower Garden (April/May Spring) (Wall Decorations) (Senior Recreation/OT/Day Service) (Early Childhood Education) (3D) (DIY/Papercraft)

Honeybees and a flower field

Shall we make a spring-themed wall decoration of a flower field with bees flying overhead? First, create a template, place it on yellow origami paper, and make the bee’s body.

Draw the black stripes and face with a black colored pencil or felt-tip pen.

Use the template to make the wings all at once as well.

For the flowers, fold the paper into a circle shape and cut; to add a three-dimensional look, use a pencil to gently curl them.

Vary the cutting style and colors for different flowers to create a rich, varied flower field.

Arrange and glue everything neatly onto a colored construction-paper backing to finish.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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[Age 2] Let’s Feel the Warmth of Spring! A Fun Collection of April Craft Ideas (91–100)

Colorful butterfly

[Preschool Craft] Spring Craft! Colorful Paper Butterflies Made with Construction Paper

Colorful butterfly

Perfect for spring! Let’s make colorful, cute butterflies.

As a pre-step, have an adult cut out the butterfly’s wings and head pieces from construction paper.

Once you’ve glued those together, let the children stick on stickers to decorate the wings.

The more colorful the better, so please prepare a variety of colors.

After they finish sticking the stickers, attach pipe-cleaner antennae with tape, draw the face, and you’re done! Changing the color of the construction paper for the wings will give a different look.

Be sure to prepare several colors and let the children choose their favorite.

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