Lovely childcare

[For Age 3] Let’s make it in April! A collection of craft ideas to feel spring events and nature

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.

It’s April, and the children have moved up to the class for three-year-olds.

The preschool class brings a different kind of excitement than before.

At this age, they’re also getting used to handling scissors and glue during craft activities.

Here are some April craft ideas that three-year-olds can tackle with a sense of accomplishment.

There are plenty of familiar motifs for children, such as spring flowers and animals.

It’s also great to observe spring flowers and creatures outdoors alongside the craft activities.

Because the children’s creations are regarded as works, the term “seisaku” (制作) is used in the text to refer to them.

[For 3-year-olds] Let’s make it in April! A collection of craft ideas that feel like spring events and nature (1–10)

Let’s draw cherry blossoms using only a straw!

[Using only a straw] Let’s draw cherry blossoms♪ Just stamp them—simple and cute

Let's draw cherry blossoms using only a straw!

Make five evenly spaced cuts on one side of a straw, then spread that section out into a flower shape.

After that, just dip it in pink paint and stamp it to create a cherry blossom tree.

Beforehand, stick a trunk made from construction paper onto the backing sheet, and have the children stamp over it.

You can stamp to clearly show the flower shape, or layer the stamps to express a tree in full bloom.

After pressing the stamp onto the backing sheet, move the handle in a circular motion as it is.

That will create a clean flower shape!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

A dandelion wall display made with tissue paper and stickers

How to Make a Dandelion Wall Display? A Preschool Teacher Explains Recommended Spring New-Term Crafts (For Ages 1–3)

A dandelion wall display made with tissue paper and stickers

Here’s a quick and easy wall decoration featuring dandelions.

First, prepare tissue paper and cut it into the shape of dandelion flowers.

Using tissue paper will give the dandelions a soft, fluffy texture.

Next, make the stems and leaves from construction paper, and prepare the ladybug pieces as well.

Once you have all the materials, arrange and paste the flowers, stems, and leaves onto the base paper, keeping the overall balance in mind.

Glue a crumpled piece of tissue paper in the center of each flower.

Finally, add the ladybugs to complete a cute, springtime artwork.

It might also be fun to compare it with real dandelions when you go for a walk.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Quick and easy with bubble wrap stamps! Cute beehive

For spring crafts! An easy way to make a beehive using bubble wrap stamps

Quick and easy with bubble wrap stamps! Cute beehive

This is a fun stamping activity to make a cute honeycomb using bubble wrap.

Roll the bubble wrap to create a stamp, dab it in paint, and pop-pop it onto construction paper to easily make a honeycomb-like pattern.

Using two colors of paint lets you enjoy the contrast and looks very pretty.

Once the pattern is done, make bees and other parts and glue them on.

Since it’s just stamping, even young children can enjoy it and get absorbed in the activity.

After you attach the parts at the end, your adorable honeycomb artwork is complete!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

[Age 3] Make it in April! A collection of craft ideas that feel like spring events and nature (11–20)

Let’s make and display it! The Very Hungry Caterpillar

If you're unsure what to make for spring, try this! Create and display The Very Hungry Caterpillar ♪ 🍀 #preschoolcrafts #nurseryteacher #teachingideas #traineeTeacher #teacherLife #withKids #TheVeryHungryCaterpillar #easyCraft

Let's make and display it! The Very Hungry Caterpillar

How about making the famous Very Hungry Caterpillar? First, take five sheets of construction paper and cut them into oval shapes to form the caterpillar’s body.

Prepare the antenna pieces as well, then arrange the body segments and stick them onto the backing paper one by one.

After you’re done gluing, use round stickers to decorate freely.

Simply adding stickers in your favorite colors will give you a colorful, cute caterpillar.

Next, draw the face with crayons and add drawings to the background too.

Finally, write your name and you’re done.

Each child’s individuality will shine through in their one-of-a-kind caterpillar.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Candy fits inside too! Cute tulip origami

[Easy Origami] Cute ♡ Tulip | Origami tulip #shorts

Candy fits inside too! Cute tulip origami

Let’s use two sheets of origami paper to make a tulip flower and leaves.

First, we’ll make the flower: fold the origami into a triangle.

Once folded, starting from the center of the base, fold the left and right corners upward at an angle to form the petals.

Turn the paper over, then fold the left, right, and bottom corners into triangles, and the flower is done! Next, for the leaf piece, also start by folding it into a triangle.

Fold the top corner down to meet the base.

Flip the paper top-to-bottom, then fold up each half of the base along the center line to create two leaves.

Turn the paper over, fold up the bottom corner, and it’s complete.

Combine the two parts to make a cute tulip.

You can place sweets inside from the top of the flower.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Let’s play with decalcomania!

Creation: “Let’s Play with Decalcomania” [Art Activity · Easy Craft · Decalcomania]

Let's play with decalcomania!

Decalcomania, which means transfer, is a technique of expression often used in early childhood education.

Basically, you put paint on one side of a sheet of drawing paper that has a crease down the center, fold it in half, and transfer the paint to the other side to create the image.

The key is to thin the paint with plenty of water! That way, the colors blend and you can enjoy the accidental patterns that emerge.

This introduces two ideas: one is to make a butterfly with decalcomania and then cut it out with scissors, and the other is to use drawing paper pre-cut into a cherry blossom shape to add patterns.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Spring strawberries made of flower paper

[3D Toy] Perfect for pretend play! Easy strawberry craft even toddlers can make 🍓 [Spring Crafts]

Spring strawberries made of flower paper

Roll pink and red flower paper into six balls and pack them into a clear plastic bag so they form three tiers from the bottom up.

Tie the bag opening with a rubber band and trim off the excess, then attach a calyx made from construction paper using double-sided tape.

Finally, stick round dot stickers all over as seeds, and you’re done! Adults should handle the step of tying with the rubber band and cutting out the calyx from construction paper.

Hang the strawberries on the wall and enjoy strawberry picking with the children.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem