Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Let’s make things with various materials! A collection of recommended craft ideas for April

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.

April is the season for starting nursery and moving up a grade.

It’s an exciting time with new classes, but it can also feel a bit unsettled.

Here are some craft ideas that children can enjoy in April.

We’ve gathered everything from activities they can really focus on to ideas they can make and then play with.

When we draw out children’s sense of fun, crafting becomes an exciting time.

We’re sharing a variety of ideas so you can choose based on children’s interests and curiosities—please find projects you can incorporate.

Because children’s creations are treated as works, we use the term “制作” (seisaku: production/work) in the text.

[Childcare] Let's create with various materials! A collection of recommended craft ideas for April (91–100)

[Craft Play] Where the Dinosaurs Are

[Practical Guide] Where the Dinosaurs Are (Younger Class, May – Classroom Environment)

[Craft Play] Where the Dinosaurs Are

April 17 is known as Dinosaur Day, commemorating the date when American zoologist Roy Chapman Andrews, who helped spark dinosaur research, set out for the Gobi Desert.

To celebrate Dinosaur Day, here’s a craft project that lets you enjoy dinosaur motifs using cardboard, paper, and paint.

Imagine creating a space where dinosaurs live: make the dinosaurs three-dimensional out of cardboard, and paint their backgrounds on paper.

Use picture books and other references to imagine and build a place where your cardboard dinosaurs can live happily.

It’s also fun to have each person think about how to create the background and which dinosaurs to arrange.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

caterpillar

Let’s make a caterpillar out of origami inspired by the beloved picture book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”! The method is super simple: roll up pieces of origami paper and stick them onto a leaf-shaped base.

You can put double-sided tape on the base in advance and attach the origami to it, or, if the children can pinch and handle tape, cut the tape into small pieces and let them stick it onto the rolled parts themselves.

Feel free to add your own touches—draw the eyes, antennae, legs, and mouth, or fill the area around the caterpillar with flowers.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

strawberry

Getting super excited seeing their hands dyed green! This is a strawberry wall decoration made with handprints.

Paint children’s palms with paint to make handprints, then cut out the strawberry stem pieces.

Let the kids handle the strawberry seeds too! Dab paint on their fingers or palms and add patterns to strawberry-shaped pieces of colored paper.

Once everything is fully dry, glue the parts together and it’s done.

Even children who can’t grip crayons or pens well can enjoy coloring, so it’s a great idea for a wide range of ages.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Drawing transforms into tulips!

[Crafts for 1-year-olds] Doodles transform into tulips! We’ll also introduce the materials!

Drawing transforms into tulips!

Introducing an original wall display where kids’ drawings transform into tulips.

Gather construction paper, crayons, glue, and scissors, and let’s get started.

Have the children draw freely on the construction paper.

Then cut the drawn paper into tulip flower and leaf pieces.

It’s also recommended to first cut the paper into flower and leaf shapes and then have the children draw on them.

Glue the tulip flowers onto a sheet where the stem and soil have already been attached, and it’s complete.

For children aged three and up, try letting them make the stem and soil parts too, according to their developmental stage.

Finish it off by drawing clouds and butterflies with crayons or making them from construction paper and gluing them on!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

flower field mobile

[Hanging Decoration] Fluttering Butterfly Flower-Field Mobile [Spring Craft]

flower field mobile

Let’s make it with a paper cup! Here’s an idea for a cute flower-field mobile with fluttering butterflies.

You’ll need a paper cup, scissors, colored construction paper, round stickers, pens, tape, thread, decorative materials, and ribbon.

First, cut six slits evenly around the paper cup.

Open the slits, turn the cup upside down, and round off the tips of the slit sections.

Next, use the colored paper to make butterflies and flowers, and add patterns with round stickers and pens.

Finally, connect the paper cup and the paper motifs with thread, decorate the paper cup, and you’re done!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Let’s make it using tissue paper

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

Let's make it using tissue paper

Here’s a cute spring wall display featuring dandelions.

Prepare construction paper, tissue paper, round stickers, scissors, and glue to get started.

Cut a circle from construction paper, fold it three times to divide it into eight sections, then cut two triangular notches at the top.

When you open the paper, it will form a dandelion shape.

Make the fluff (seed head) the same way using a different color of construction paper.

Use green construction paper to create leaves and stems.

Glue the dandelion parts onto the base sheet.

For the ladybug, assemble all the parts and use round stickers to make the wing spots.

Changing the color of the round stickers would be cute too.

Crumple tissue paper into a small ball for the dandelion center, glue it on, and you’re done!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

dandelion

[Origami Spring Flowers] Easy and Cute Dandelion Folding Method | Origami Dandelion

dandelion

Cute yellow flowers! Here’s an idea for making dandelions with origami.

You’ll need yellow origami paper, green origami paper, glue or double-sided tape, and scissors.

Dandelion flowers are characterized by many small petals radiating outward.

Using this idea, let’s make a dandelion flower from a single sheet of origami paper! Since scissors are used during the process, it’s best to work together with a parent or teacher.

Give it a try!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem