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! Recommended craft ideas for April (11–20)

wiggly inchworm

[Easy Spring Craft Idea] Wiggly Paper Caterpillar 🐛💕 #PreschoolCrafts #NurseryTeacher #TeachingIdeas #FutureNurseryTeachers #TeacherLife #WithKids #ConstructionPaper #PaperCraft #PaperProject

wiggly inchworm

A wiggly caterpillar you can make with construction paper! It’s perfect for spring crafts.

First, stick double-sided tape onto the construction paper and cut it with scissors.

Try to keep the strips as even as possible, cutting up to just before the tape.

After you peel off the tape backing, make loops with the cut strips and attach them.

Put double-sided tape on the caterpillar’s face section as well, and make a loop there in the same way.

Finally, attach the facial features, and you’re done! For the face parts, it’s cute to have the kids draw them themselves, adjusting to their age.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Strawberry cake made with paper cups

[Kindergarten/Preschool] Spring Craft / Easy / How to Make a Strawberry Cake ♡

Strawberry cake made with paper cups

The strawberries look so realistic and delicious.

Let me show you how to make a strawberry cake using a paper cup.

Get a paper cup, paint, tissue paper (hana-gami), crayons, red and green construction paper, and glue ready.

Use the paper cup as the cake base and paint it.

While the paint is drying, make the strawberries with the construction paper.

When drawing the center of the strawberries with crayons, I recommend coloring with pink first and then layering white crayon on top to add a three-dimensional effect.

Once you’ve glued the tissue paper onto the paper cup to look like whipped cream, stick the strawberries on top and you’re done.

It’s also fun to try different colors of tissue paper and paint.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

snow pea

[Childcare Craft] May Wall Decoration Craft ♪ Easy Snow Pea! | May Sayaendo

snow pea

This is a wall decoration of snap peas, which are in season from spring to early summer.

Fold a piece of light green construction paper, cut into a cloud shape, in half, and attach the calyx pieces made from another sheet of paper.

For the peas inside, crumple one sheet of tissue paper into a ball and wrap it with another sheet.

Then, put double-sided tape on the inside of the folded construction paper and stick on the tissue-paper peas to create a three-dimensional snap pea pod! Through this craft, it’s also fun to learn about the seasonal timing of vegetables we casually eat every day.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Let’s decorate with springtime natural items!

@hoikushisatomi
Capture spring: Try preserving flowers and plants as a piece while they’re still beautiful! Note: They’ll last on display for about 2–3 weeks. If you want them to last longer, press the flowers first and then create your piece!work #LifeWithKids #NurseryTeacherDailyLife Cute #crafts #diy Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Translation
3:03 PM – Sharou

Let’s decorate with springtime treasures! Here’s a perfect spring craft you can make by collecting fallen flowers and wild grasses on a walk.

First, place a sheet of cooking paper (parchment paper) down and put a frame-shaped piece of construction paper on top.

Apply OPP tape (clear packaging tape) over the opening.

Peel the tape, flip it sticky-side up, and arrange the flowers you picked.

Seal it with another layer of OPP tape and trim off the excess—done! It will keep for about two to three weeks, so if you want it to last longer, it’s best to press the flowers first and then make it.

Decorating the paper frame is super cute, too, so give it a try!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Colorful flowers made with bag stamps

@niconico_mama
Art with this? No way! 🌸🎨 Today we’re making spring flower art with a fun, unexpected material 💕 The trick is: tie it once and flip it inside out! Put some air in, tie it, and you’ve got an easy stamp ✨ Dab it in paint and press—hello, flowers! 😍♥️ You want them to play with paint but worry about the mess… They don’t like getting their hands dirty—what to do… Even with those concerns, this is totally fine ✨ Just stamp like a little stamper, and if you add sparkly stickers or glitter, isn’t that the best ever? 😍 When you’re done, hang it on the wall at home 💕 Stamp lots and have so much fun 😊💕 —————————— I used: • plastic bags • drawing paper • paint —————————— ☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆ Thank you always for your comments and likes 😊 Some of you even tell me “I made it!” and it makes me super happy ☺️♥️ I’m waiting to hear “We played!” “We made it!” from everyone 😆✨✨ ☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆#PaintPlay #PaintArt #ArtEducation
Adventure – YOASOBI

Make it with a plastic-bag stamp! Here’s a craft perfect for spring: a flower field.

First, tie the bottom of a plastic bag and turn it inside out, then blow in some air and tie it closed.

Next, squeeze out your favorite paint colors and dab paint onto the bottom of the bag.

Stamp it onto construction paper to create flower shapes! Use lots of colors to make a whole flower field.

Add glitter or any decorations you like—they’ll look adorable.

You won’t get your hands dirty, so it’s easy and fuss-free.

Give it a try with the kids!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Sakura tree made with transparent origami

@pi_chan.sensei__hoiku
Here’s what we’re sharing this time: “A Sakura Tree with a Stained-Glass Look Using Transparent Origami”! It’s an arranged version of our popular posts “Colorful Autumn Tree” and “Christmas Tree.” This time it’s back as a cherry blossom tree. The cherry blossom season is coming, isn’t it? Are you going flower viewing? It’s easy and cute to make at home or in the classroom, so I’d be happy if you copy it and give it a try! 😊#March production #April Production Nursery teacher / Childcare worker #Nursery School Craft #SpringCrafts #Spring crafts
Haru no Uta – Sakura Fujiwara

I want to decorate a sunny windowsill! Here’s an idea for making a cherry blossom tree using transparent origami paper.

You’ll need brown construction paper, scissors, glue, transparent origami paper or colored cellophane, a clear file (plastic sleeve), and a cherry blossom-shaped frame made from construction paper.

Traditional-style cherry blossom crafts are lovely, but why not use this idea to create bright, stylish blossoms? Displayed by the window, they’ll sparkle in the sunlight and give off a different, delightful vibe.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

[Childcare] Let's create with various materials! Recommended craft ideas for April (21–30)

Dandelions made with stamps

Get a head start on spring ✨ Creative play with recycled materials 🎨 #shorts #childcare #paints

Dandelions made with stamps

Quick and easy yet wonderfully vibrant! Let’s make dandelion flowers with a stamp! The method is very simple.

Prepare a toilet paper roll and make lots of slits on one end.

Think of dandelion petals as you cut, adding many fine slits.

Fold the cut sections outward and your stamp is ready! Draw the dandelion stems and leaves on a sheet of construction paper first, then dip the toilet paper roll stamp in yellow paint and start stamping over the drawing.

The toilet paper roll stamp is large and easy to hold, so even infants can enjoy it.

It’s a great craft that uses familiar recycled materials—give it a try!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem