[Childcare] Let’s make things with various materials! A collection of recommended craft ideas for April
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.
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[Childcare] Let's create with various materials! A collection of recommended craft ideas for April (91–100)
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.
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.
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!
Strawberries made with torn-paper collage
Let’s create using our fingertips! Here are some ideas for making strawberries with torn-paper collage.
You’ll need red origami paper, patterned origami paper, a backing sheet, glue or double-sided tape, scissors, flower-shaped cut paper, and strawberry calyx-shaped cut paper.
Use your fingertips to boldly tear the origami! It’s fun that the sound changes depending on how fast you tear.
Even things that seem obvious to adults can deepen the activity when you enjoy children’s discoveries as you work together.
Paste the torn pieces onto the backing sheet, then have a caregiver or teacher cut the sheet into a strawberry shape with scissors to finish.
It’s also great if the children can glue on the strawberry calyx themselves.
Easter Bunny made of fluffy cotton
A plastic bag that’s often used for crafts.
This time, let’s use this plastic bag to make a bunny that children love! We’ll also use cotton, so before you start, let the kids enjoy the feel of the cotton.
After they’ve explored the texture, pack the cotton into a white plastic bag with handles, and once it’s filled, tie the handles together.
The tied part will look like bunny ears, so you might hear the kids exclaim, “Bunny!” Hide the knot with a ribbon, draw the eyes and mouth, and it’s complete.
It’s fluffy and looks like a little doll.
Easter garland
Let’s make the venue festive for the Easter event! Here are some ideas for Easter garlands made with construction paper.
Prepare construction paper in your favorite colors, decorative materials like stickers and washi tape, jute twine, a pencil, a ruler, double-sided tape or tape glue, scissors, and a hole punch.
Cut the construction paper into egg shapes and decorate them however you like! Using sparkly materials and patterned washi tape will make the finish even more vibrant.
Colorful Strawberry
If you’re looking to add a touch of spring to your crafts, this is a must-see.
Here’s a cute and colorful strawberry craft.
First, cut red construction paper into the shape of a strawberry.
Next, take some bubble wrap and paint it using about three colors of your choice.
Finally, place the painted bubble wrap over the strawberry-shaped paper to stamp the pattern, then glue on the strawberry’s leafy top made from green construction paper—and you’re done.
You’ll end up with lots of uniquely colorful strawberries.
It’s easy to make, so give it a try!