Lovely childcare

[For 5-year-olds] Let's make it in April! A collection of craft ideas using recycled and natural materials

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.

In April, the children move up a grade and spend their days as the oldest five-year-olds.

I imagine their hearts are pounding every day with both anxiety and excitement.

Five-year-olds’ thinking and imagination grow rapidly, so we’d love for them to try crafts that let them be inventive.

Here we’re sharing spring-themed craft ideas perfect for April.

These ideas are packed with activities that make the process of creating fun and let children play with what they’ve made.

Be sure to enjoy making them together with your class.

子どもたちの制作物は作品（ピース）として扱われるため、本文中では「制作」と表記します。

[For 5-year-olds] Let’s make these in April! A collection of craft ideas (41–50) using recycled materials and natural objects

Hanging weeping cherry (branch)

Kimie Gangi: “Weeping cherry blossoms” made with tissue paper and a vinyl umbrella #hangable #tissuepaperart #goshikizuru #shidarezakura #cherryblossom #sakura #diycrafts #seasonaldecor

Hanging weeping cherry (branch)

Great for events too! Let me share an idea for a hanging weeping cherry blossom decoration.

You’ll need a clear plastic umbrella, string, tape, glue, a stapler, scissors, pink tissue paper, and light pink tissue paper.

First, use the two colors of tissue paper to make cherry blossoms.

If you trim them into a forked shape with scissors, you can capture the characteristic look of cherry blossom petals! Next, glue the tissue paper blossoms onto the string.

Finally, tape them to the clear umbrella and you’re done.

It’s portable too, so give it a try!

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Cherry Blossoms Made with Paper Quilling

Cherry blossom petals made with paper quilling

Cherry Blossoms Made with Paper Quilling

It’s fun to twirl with your fingertips! Here are some cherry blossom ideas you can make with paper quilling.

You’ll need pink construction paper, a toothpick, scissors, and glue.

First, cut the paper into 1-centimeter-wide strips to make long, thin quilling paper.

Next, use the toothpick to roll the quilling paper into tight coils.

Finally, pinch and shape the coils to form petals, and your parts are complete! Keep making more parts and assemble them to finish your cherry blossoms.

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Spring flowers made with blow painting

Blow painting with straws! Spring craft flower drawings

Spring flowers made with blow painting

We’ll introduce a spring craft using blow painting to create spring flowers.

Prepare drawing paper, crayons, paint, brushes, and water.

Draw the flower’s leaves and stem on the paper, and decide where the flower itself will go.

Just above the crayon-drawn stem, drop some paint in your chosen flower color with a brush, then blow through a straw to spread the paint.

The paint will splatter around, forming petal-like shapes or delightful, unexpected patterns.

When blowing through the straw, hold it slightly away from the paint and blow with a strong breath—that’s the key.

Give this a try for your spring art project!

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Let’s look for spring! Making a magnifying glass

'Craft: Magnifying Glass' — Let’s make our own original magnifying glasses and go explore lots of springtime nature!

Let’s look for spring! Making a magnifying glass

Here’s how to make a magnifying glass that’s perfect for spring walks and bug hunting.

Prepare two pieces of thick paper with circular cutouts, construction paper, clear cellophane, tape, and colored pens.

Fold a rectangular piece of construction paper to add strength and make the handle of the magnifying glass.

Attach the handle firmly to the bottom of the circular cutout so it won’t come off.

Stick the cellophane over the cutout opening and trim any excess with scissors.

Finally, glue the second circular cutout on top to finish the magnifying glass.

Use colored pens to decorate it and create your own original magnifying glass!

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Cherry blossoms and tri-color dango

Here’s an idea for making a cherry tree and the classic hanami treat, three-color dango! There are several ways to do this, but first, cut the parts for the cherry tree and the skewer of three-color dango from construction paper and paste them onto a backing sheet.

For the cherry tree, you can stamp on construction paper using bubble wrap or a sponge, try a bleeding-watercolor technique, or paste on torn tissue paper blossoms.

For the three-color dango, you can tear and roll tissue paper into balls, or fold the corners of small square origami pieces to form each dumpling.

The look of the piece will change depending on the method, so try whichever style you like!

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