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 to Experience Spring Events and Nature (111–120)

Strawberries made with cotton swab stamps

[Spring Craft] How to Make Strawberries with Cotton Swab Stamps! [Ages 2 and up] (ASMR-style video)

Strawberries made with cotton swab stamps

For a spring craft, let’s make bright red, delicious-looking strawberries.

Prepare construction paper, paint, cotton swabs, scissors, and glue.

Cut the construction paper into strawberry shapes, then dip a cotton swab in paint and stamp on the seeds.

If you use a slightly larger amount of paint and thin it well with water first, the seed color will transfer more easily.

Once you glue the calyx to the top of the strawberry, it’s complete.

Cutting origami to decorate around the strawberry or adding washi tape will make it look even more spring-like and festive.

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Artworks created using natural materials

Middle Nursery Class April Activities: “Spring Nature Items” (with subtitles)

Artworks created using natural materials

April has just the right climate and is the perfect season for walks and playing in the playground.

Here’s an activity for creating artworks using natural materials like leaves and branches found outdoors.

Prepare a container to collect fallen leaves and other items.

If children decorate their own container with stickers or markers, they’ll feel more attached to it and enjoy the activity even more.

Use cotton swabs to apply glue to the collected leaves and flowers, then stick them onto construction paper.

When placing the items, it’s important to value the child’s sensibilities and let them lead the process.

Once finished, display the pieces and enjoy the artwork!

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[Stamping] Cherry Tree

[Spring Craft Activity] [March] [Cherry Blossoms and Rapeseed Flowers] Tear and roll flower paper, then stick it on with glue! Great for developing fine motor skills! Create a three-dimensional spring scene! [For ages 3–5]

[Stamping] Cherry Tree

Let me share a craft idea for making a cherry blossom tree with stamping.

First, cover the mouth of a small plastic bottle with bubble wrap and secure it with a rubber band to create a stamp.

Next, draw the trunk of the cherry tree on construction paper, then add paint to the stamp you made and gently dab to create the cherry blossoms.

If you have a stamp pad, it’s convenient and makes it easier for kids to apply color.

You can also prepare a few stamps with different textures, like sponges.

Try expressing a cherry tree in full bloom together with the children.

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[Origami] Strawberry

[Nursery/Kindergarten] Spring Origami Craft – April/May / Strawberry: how to hold an origami strawberry

[Origami] Strawberry

Let’s make a sweet, tangy, bright-red strawberry out of origami! Prepare one sheet of red origami paper and place it with the white side facing up.

Fold it into a triangle to make a crease, then open it back up.

Fold two adjacent edges in to meet the crease, then fold the pointed tip up so it meets the center of the base of the white triangle.

Next, fold the bottom two corners in toward the center line, and slightly fold the left and right corners inward.

Flip the paper over, then fold the top corner down about 1 cm toward you, and you’re done! If you color the folded-over white part green and draw black seeds on the red area, it will look even more like a strawberry.

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[Origami] Tulip

[Childcare Craft] Great for spring wall displays too! Easy origami tulips | Origami Tulips

[Origami] Tulip

When it comes to flowers you often see in spring, tulips come to mind.

There’s also a famous children’s song, so kids are probably quite familiar with them.

This time, let’s make a tulip out of origami.

You’ll use two sheets of origami paper: one for the flower and one for the leaf.

First, for the flower, fold the paper into a triangle, then fold it into a triangle once more to make a crease, and unfold it back to the first triangle.

Using the center line as a guide, fold both corners in at a slight angle, flip it over, and fold the left, right, and bottom corners inward.

For the leaf, also fold the paper into a triangle, then fold the top corner down to meet the bottom line.

Flip the paper top-to-bottom, fold it in half horizontally, then unfold, and fold the lower left and right edges in to meet the center line.

Finally, attach the flower to the leaf, and you’re done.

Aligning corners and making angled folds can be tricky, so take your time and work carefully.

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