Lovely childcare

Craft ideas for 4-year-olds to try in autumn! Enjoy creative activities with seasonal motifs and events.

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.

In autumn, when the heat eases and it becomes more comfortable, children grow even more in mind and body and become more dependable.

Four-year-olds may be starting to develop an awareness that they’ll soon be the oldest class.

Autumn also brings seasonal motifs and various events that children are surely looking forward to.

We’d love to incorporate these into craft ideas.

So this time, we’ve gathered craft ideas perfect for autumn.

We’re introducing ideas well-suited for four-year-olds, so please use them as a reference.

Because the things children make are treated as works, we use the term “seisaku (制作)” in the text.

Craft ideas for 4-year-olds to try in autumn! Enjoy crafting activities with seasonal motifs and events (101–110)

Three-dimensional mushrooms made by cutting

[Autumn Origami] Easy and Cute Mushroom Tutorial / Food Mushroom Decoration - Origami Mushroom

Three-dimensional mushrooms made by cutting

Enjoy a wide variety of variations! Here are ideas for making three-dimensional mushrooms by cutting and assembling paper.

You will need origami paper cut into quarter size, origami paper cut into eighth size, colored pens or round stickers, scissors, and glue or craft adhesive.

This is a project idea for three-year-olds to make using scissors! Let’s use origami paper to create 3D mushrooms.

If you draw faces or add decorations with colored pens and round stickers, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind mushroom! Be sure that a parent or teacher supervises when using scissors.

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Three-dimensional cosmos made with origami and paper tape

[Origami, Construction Paper, Paper Tape] Cosmos and Red Dragonfly Decorations (with audio commentary) — Handmade Paper Cosmos and Dragonfly

Three-dimensional cosmos made with origami and paper tape

Here’s an idea for making soft, three-dimensional cosmos flowers using origami.

Fold a sheet of origami paper in half, then in half again, and once more (three folds total) to divide it into eight sections.

Unfold it, cut along the fold lines with scissors, and glue the strips together in pairs to make four long, narrow pieces.

Arrange those four pieces in a radial pattern, glue them together, flip it over, and glue the tips of the paper toward the center to form the cosmos shape.

For the center of the flower, either place a yellow circle cut from colored paper, or make a fluffy pistil using packing tape and attach it.

You can make these not only with origami paper but also with paper tape.

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Three-dimensional grapes made from construction paper

[For 4-year-olds] Let’s make grapes with construction paper

Three-dimensional grapes made from construction paper

This is a 3D grape craft that will make you want to pluck it right off the page! First, cut out the parts from construction paper: an upside-down triangle for the base of the grape cluster, several small rectangles for the grape berries, and a piece for the stem.

Glue the base and the stem together, and then it’s time to make the berries! Apply glue to one of the short edges of a rectangle, curl it into a ring, and stick it together.

Make six of these rings, then glue them onto the base in rows of 3 at the top, 2 in the middle, and 1 at the bottom.

Your 3D grapes are complete.

Enjoy crafting while chatting about delicious fruits that are in season in autumn!

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Totoro taking a walk among the autumn leaves

[Kindergarten/Daycare] October: A walk among the autumn leaves — Totoro-themed painting and crafts

Totoro taking a walk among the autumn leaves

This is an art project featuring Totoro, a character beloved by children.

Cut out tree parts from drawing paper and glue them together.

Cut various origami papers into strips, glue the ends together to make teardrop shapes, and attach them to the tree as leaves.

Fold Totoro from a single sheet of origami and just draw the face.

Since it only takes one sheet, be sure to have the kids try making Totoro too.

Finally, glue the tree and Totoro onto a backing sheet, and you’ll have Totoro walking among the autumn leaves! Because there are quite a few steps, we recommend doing the tree and Totoro on separate days.

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Let’s make postcards from elephant dung

Making postcards from elephant dung: Hitachi Kamine Zoo

Let's make postcards from elephant dung

April 28 is Elephant Day.

It is said to originate from the occasion in 1729 when an elephant sent from Vietnam to Japan was presented to Emperor Nakamikado.

Elephants are among the largest land animals—truly enormous creatures! Let’s try making postcards using elephant dung from these big animals.

Put on gloves, then wash the elephant dung to extract the dietary fibers.

Using a blender, combine pulp from a milk carton with water and form it into postcard shapes.

Once it’s dry, it’s done.

Please be mindful of hygiene as you make them!

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