[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! Recommended craft ideas for April (21–30)
A flower blooming on the water
Flowers blooming on water make for a very spring-like craft.
The method is very simple: take origami cut into petal shapes and fold each petal inward toward the center.
Gently place it on the surface of water, and the petals will slowly open! It’s exciting to see how they unfold.
It’s also recommended to draw flowers on white drawing paper and use those.
Since many flowers bloom in spring, try making them while observing real flowers.
If using scissors is difficult, make them together with a teacher.
Easter egg maracas
Although Easter, which celebrates the Resurrection of Christ, is not widely highlighted in Japan, opportunities to experience it have been increasing—such as theme park events and Easter-themed sweets appearing in stores.
Why not make maracas using the Easter egg motif that symbolizes the holiday? Prepare two plastic bottle caps, put beads inside, tape them together, and wrap them with aluminum foil colored using newspaper and markers.
In no time, your instrument is complete! Shake them along to lively, springtime songs and have fun.
Cherry blossoms made by sputtering
@hoikushi_bank Sputtering cherry blossom drawing 🌸#Nursery school #Kindergarten Production Nursery School Practicum #Indoor Play Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Childcare student#Childcare Crafting#CherryBlossomSpringTranslation#Drawing
♬ Dance The Night Away – TWICE
Let’s paint using the delicate motion of watercolor! Here are some ideas for creating cherry blossoms with the spattering technique.
You’ll need drawing paper, a paper stencil cut into a cherry blossom shape, a blending mesh (screen), a toothbrush, and paint thinned with water.
Spattering is great because you can depict your motif without using pens or crayons.
No two large or small paint splashes are ever the same, so each person’s individuality will shine! Give the spattering technique a try and paint beautiful cherry blossoms.
stroll bag
Warm, comfortable spring weather is perfect for going on walks! Hang a handmade bag around your neck and head out together.
Cut a milk carton, shape it into a bag with a lid, then cover the outside with construction paper or origami paper and attach a ribbon to finish your original bag.
Decorate the sides of the bag freely with stickers or markers.
With a bag you made yourself, a walk becomes an even more exciting event! You can collect leaves, nuts, and other finds, and it’s fun to show each other what you gathered when you return to preschool or kindergarten.
bamboo shoot
Using crayons and paint, a paper plate transforms into bamboo shoot skins! Draw swirling patterns with several shades of brown crayon, then paint the entire plate with brown paint.
Once dry, cut the plate into four equal pieces and stack them to complete the bamboo shoot skins.
The secret is the freely drawn crayon lines! The way the paint resists the crayon and the plate’s ridged texture realistically recreates the look of the skins.
Finally, finish by adding parts so the tip of the bamboo shoot peeks out a little.
ladybug
This is a ladybug wall decoration made by assembling parts.
Drawing a ladybug from scratch on paper based on a picture book can be quite challenging, but if the head, body, and face parts are prepared in advance, it should be easier for children to work on.
Let’s finish by making unique ladybugs—draw the eyes and mouth with crayons and add patterns with stickers.
It’s also recommended to paste flowers or clovers around the ladybugs! Cutting out the parts along the outlines is great practice for using scissors.
chick
Express the fluffy feathers of little chicks using children’s adorable handprints! Paint their palms and press the handprints onto colored construction paper cut into chick shapes.
Then attach the handprinted chicks to a backing sheet, add eyes and feet, and draw flowers around them to complete a spring-themed wall decoration.
It’s also a great idea to use the leftover paint on their palms to color the background or add patterns! Pack in spring motifs and finish with a vibrant, original piece full of personality.