Lovely childcare

[Childcare] For 5-year-olds! Autumn craft ideas

Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Autumn is full of fun events for children, like Halloween, sports days, and field trips.

In this article, we’ll introduce craft ideas that are perfect for the autumn season.

Since autumn is a comfortable time of year, there are also plenty of chances to go for walks and collect acorns and fallen leaves.

We’ve included ideas that use natural materials like these as well.

You’ll also find ideas for crafts and wall decorations that can be used for events, so be sure to try making a variety of them.

Because the children’s creations are regarded as works (artworks), we refer to them as “sei-saku” (制作) in the text.

[Childcare] For 5-year-olds! Autumn craft ideas (41–50)

Make a cute bagworm with kraft paper and washi tape!

[Autumn Craft] Make a little bagworm with kraft paper!

Make a cute bagworm with kraft paper and washi tape!

I’ll show you how to easily make a bagworm using kraft paper, yarn, and masking tape! First, roll up the kraft paper to form the body.

Wrap yarn around it and stick pieces of masking tape on randomly.

Next, draw a face on the face parts you made from colored construction paper, then attach it to the body with double-sided tape.

Finally, tape a string to the back of the face with clear tape, and you’re done! If children will be handling it, twine is recommended.

It looks super cute if you also make a tree branch out of cardboard and hang it, so give it a try!

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Origami fall leaves using scissors

November Origami — Fallen Leaves

Origami fall leaves using scissors

This origami also helps kids practice using scissors! With the colored side facing up, fold the paper into a triangle, then fold up the bottom edge just a little so that the sides line up with the edges.

Keep folding it up like an accordion all the way to the top.

Open the fold you just made once, then, imagining the center vein of a fallen leaf along the closed edge, fold it narrowly on a diagonal.

Next, slightly fold the two corner tips to resemble a fallen leaf.

After shaping it, use scissors to cut small “bug-eaten” holes and details.

Since this requires a bit of fine scissor work, make sure an adult is always there to help.

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How to fold realistic autumn leaves

[Origami] Maple Leaf (Momiji) - Easy, realistic tutorial | Autumn origami | Kid-friendly folding | September, October, November origami [Origami]

How to fold realistic autumn leaves

Let’s make a realistic maple leaf using a single sheet of origami.

Fold the paper into a triangle twice, squash the pocketed section into a square, then add creases and squash it into a diamond.

Up to this point, it’s the same process as making a crane.

With the side where the corners are not split at the top, fold down the top layer on the front, then flip the paper top-to-bottom and turn it over.

Crease the two-pronged corner, open it up, and squash this part into a small diamond.

Make a cut in the bottom corner to split it into two prongs as well, squash it into a diamond the same way, then fold the tips to create small leaves.

Turn the paper over, fold the left and right corners of the remaining section inward, and make a step fold on the bottom corner.

Finally, fold the left and right corners once more, and you’re done.

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Make and Play! Bagworm Kendama

How do you make a bagworm kendama? A DIY method using paper cups [For childcare workers / Autumn craft]

Make and Play! Bagworm Kendama

How about turning a kendama—where you balance the ball on the top or on the side cup—into a bagworm (minomushi) version? First, crumple up some newspaper into a ball and shape it with vinyl tape to make the kendama ball.

At this time, attach one end of a piece of kite string (both ends tied in firm knots) to the ball as you tape.

Next, tape the other end of the string to the outside bottom of a paper cup.

Then cut out eyes and a fallen-leaf-like body for the bagworm from construction or origami paper, and stick them around the cup—and you’re done! The ball is easier to catch than with a regular kendama, so kids can have lots of fun playing with it.

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Perfect for walls, too! Chrysanthemum origami

Origami in November — Chrysanthemum

Perfect for walls, too! Chrysanthemum origami

Here’s an idea for making a chrysanthemum using an accordion fold.

Prepare two sheets of origami paper: 15 cm for the flower and 7.5 cm for the leaves.

First, accordion-fold the paper for the flower.

Once folded, take both pieces, align the ends, and fold each in half.

Trim off the two corners at the ends to shape the petal tips.

Open the paper once, apply glue along the center line on both sides, then fold it back in half.

Also glue the inner edges of the folds to form a fan shape.

Glue the two pieces together while spreading them into a circle, and place a round sticker in the center to complete the flower.

Make leaves from green origami paper and attach them to the back of the flower.

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