[Childcare] For 4-Year-Olds! Fun December Craft Ideas

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
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.

December is shiwatsu, the month when even teachers are on the run.

Nursery school.

In kindergartens, there are plenty of fun crafts not only for Christmas.

Why not enjoy winter-only December crafts and feel the season together with the children? Here, we introduce December craft ideas recommended for four-year-olds.

Try making warm, cozy pieces using yarn and tissue paper, or create wonderful works while having fun with stamping activities.

Because we treat the children’s creations as artworks, we use the term “制作 (seisaku: creation/production)” in the text.

[Early Childhood Education] For 4-Year-Olds! Fun December Craft Ideas (51–60)

Cake-style cardboard tree

We’d like to introduce a cake-style cardboard Christmas tree that boosts the festive mood with its lively, cheerful atmosphere! It’s a recommended activity you can enjoy making together with children.

First, glue torn pieces of green paper onto cardboard boxes, then stack and assemble them into a wedding-cake shape! Decorate with ribbons, sparkly tinsel, and cotton, and it would be wonderful to add paper plate crafts made by the kids.

A Christmas tree that everyone works hard to create will surely become an unforgettable memory for the children!

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miyabi

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Fluffy Santa Ornament

Let us introduce a cute, fluffy-looking Santa ornament! After preparing a gift bag, have the children fill it with tissue paper and cotton.

Show them a drawing of Santa or a finished sample, and explain which part they’ll make next so it’s easy to follow.

Then, stick on a pom-pom for the nose and add stickers for the eyes and mouth.

The placement will reflect each child’s individuality, so you’ll end up with Santas sporting different expressions.

It’s also great for decorating the tree.

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hanauta obasan

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Sparkly ornaments made with pipe cleaners and glue

How about making some sparkly ornaments to get into the Christmas spirit? You can make them with simple materials like chenille stems (pipe cleaners) and wood glue! First, shape a pipe cleaner into a triangle and spread wood glue around the outside.

Flip the pipe cleaner over onto a piece of parchment paper and fill the inside with glue.

Next, dip a toothpick in paint to draw patterns, and decorate with beads.

Once the glue is completely dry, carefully peel it off the parchment paper—and you’re done! You can also try shaping the pipe cleaner into a star or a boot, and have fun changing the paint colors.

Handmade ornaments are a lovely way to decorate the Christmas tree with your kids.

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A Christmas tree made by sticking pieces together

Here’s an idea for a Christmas tree made by piecing creations together.

As the name suggests, this involves combining children’s individual artworks to create a large Christmas tree display on the wall.

First, cut construction paper into triangles to represent Christmas trees.

Let the children decorate them freely.

Then, attach the finished individual trees to the wall, arranging them together to form one large triangle—and you’re done.

Beads and stickers are also great options for decorating.

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yamamoto

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[Childcare] For 4-year-olds! Fun December craft ideas (61–70)

A tree made by threading yarn through it

Why not try making a cozy, heartwarming Christmas tree using yarn? It’s a great craft idea to do with children, too.

Punch holes in construction paper with a hole punch, and let the kids thread yarn through to form the shape of a tree.

They can thread the yarn straight or diagonally—anything goes! Using several colors of yarn instead of just one will give it a stylish look.

For the finishing touch, add colorful pom-poms, or stick star-shaped stickers in the open spaces for a lovely effect.

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Reindeer made from paper cups

This is a reindeer made from a paper cup—perfect as a Christmas decoration or ornament! It’s great because you can make it easily with everyday materials.

Just paint the paper cup with paint and then attach the reindeer’s facial parts.

You can use parts prepared in advance by the teacher or make use of round stickers.

Have the children try painting the paper cup and gluing on the reindeer parts! The differences in how they apply the color and attach the pieces are charming and unique.

Let the children enjoy expressing themselves freely.

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Santa made with a paper plate

For children who want to enjoy Christmas, we recommend making a Santa craft using paper plates.

An everyday paper plate transforms into a humorous Santa! First, tear light peach and red origami paper as you would for a collage, and combine the colors to create Santa’s face and body.

Then glue on the facial features, hat, hands, feet, belt, and a cotton beard to finish! The steps are fun to make, and through this activity children’s expressions will shine even brighter.

The finished pieces feel very warm and are sure to vividly brighten your Christmas wall display!

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miyabi

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