Childcare: Fun February craft ideas to make with 1-year-olds

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.

Many teachers are likely looking for ideas for February crafts to enjoy with one-year-olds.

Seasonal motifs like oni for Setsubun and Valentine’s themes really capture children’s interest at this time of year.

There are plenty of activities that let them fully use their fingers and enjoy the feel of paint and changes in color, such as hand painting, stamping, and marble rolling.

Another appeal is letting them fully enjoy the texture of materials by crumpling tissue paper into balls or tearing paper.

Please use these ideas as a reference and enjoy seasonal creations with the children! Because we emphasize ideas that foster children’s free creativity, we use the term “seisaku” (制作, creation) rather than “seisaku” (製作, craftwork) in the main text.

[Childcare] Crafts to make with 1-year-olds! February craft ideas (11–20)

Valentine’s made with sponge stamps

@hoiku.labo Valentine Kiss – Cover – Watarirouka Hashiritai 7

How about enjoying a cute Valentine’s craft using sponge stamps? First, attach a sponge to a chopstick with a rubber band to make your sponge stamp.

Next, prepare a piece of construction paper cut into a heart shape, dab your preferred paint color onto the sponge stamp, and stamp away.

Finally, glue the heart-shaped paper onto another sheet of paper and draw whatever you like to finish.

The simple pom-pom stamping motion is something kids will likely get absorbed in and enjoy.

Give it a try for inspiration!

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A cute Valentine’s craft with heart-shaped balloons

@tomo_mama_♬ Kids & Toys – FASSounds

A must-see for anyone who wants to incorporate heart motifs into their Valentine’s crafts! Here’s a cute project for making heart-shaped balloons.

First, draw a base picture on construction paper.

You can also paste photos of people or animals for an adorable touch.

Next, press and pinch a toilet paper roll into a heart shape.

Dip the heart-shaped roll in paint and stamp it all over the empty spaces on the paper.

Finally, connect the hearts to the illustration you drew by drawing balloon strings from the bottom of each heart—and you’re done.

Put lots of love into each heart and give it a try!

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Electric Shock Demon

Here’s how to make a “Tear-Tear Oni” by ripping paper.

First, prepare origami in your favorite colors and let the children tear it up.

Paste the pieces onto construction paper, then draw or glue on parts like hair, horns, eyes, and a mouth to finish.

Using yarn for the hair adds a three-dimensional look, so it’s highly recommended! It’s a great activity for one-year-olds to fully use their fingers and enjoy the feel and texture of paper.

Try making lots of colorful, pop-style oni!

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Oni Pants Made with a Marble Run

@s_sennsei_
The need to scare kids with the Setsubun ogre gets debated every year—how is it at everyone’s daycare?Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Production Oni's Underpants #CapCut
♬ One More Last Time – sped up – Henry Young & Ashley Alisha

Here’s a recommended February craft for 1-year-olds.

February means Setsubun ogres, right? Prepare an empty box or tray, paint, construction paper, marbles, and ogre parts.

First, place the construction paper inside the box or tray.

Put some paint along the edges of the paper, then roll the marbles around inside the tray.

Once you’ve made a pattern, cut it into the shape of pants to finish! Attach the pants to the ogre parts.

For 1-year-olds, it’s best to thin the paint slightly with water.

Try adding faces and horns to the ogre parts and have fun experimenting!

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Bean-Throwing Made with Finger Stamps

Recommended for 1-year-olds! Here’s a fun oni (demon) craft using torn paper and cotton swab stamping.

Prepare construction paper, origami paper, oni face parts, round stickers, glue, paint, crayons, and cotton swabs.

First, tear the origami paper into pieces sized to match your image of the oni’s face.

If tearing is a bit difficult, have the teacher help and do it together.

Glue the torn origami pieces onto the construction paper that will be the base.

Once dry, draw the oni’s hair with crayons.

Use the oni face parts and round stickers to add the eyes, and finally dip a cotton swab in paint and stamp dots to represent beans—then it’s finished!

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Snowman Snow Wreath

@hoiku_no_omamori
This craft is also featured in our posts ✄ *.:･.｡**.:･.｡**.:･.｡**.:･.｡**.:･.｡**.:･.｡**.:･.｡ A must-see for childcare workers! We share sample phrases, crafts, and helpful childcare tips 🌻 Check out other posts here ▶︎ @hoiku_omamori If you register on LINE, you’ll receive monthly gifts: “Monthly Plan Sample,” “Weekly Plan Sample,” “Individual Plan Sample,” and “Three Craft Templates” 🎁 Tap the link in our profile for details ☘️ *.:･.｡**.:･.｡**.:･.｡**.:･.｡**.:･.｡**.:･.｡**.:･.｡ February crafts Winter crafts Nursery crafts Childcare worker Hoiku no Omamori Plus
♫ Original Song – Online Resource Room for Nursery Teachers/Hoiku no Omamori Plus – Online Resource Room for Nursery Teachers/Hoiku no Omamori Plus

Speaking of February, the cold days are still continuing, and there are probably regions where it snows.

Perfect for this season is this snowman snow wreath.

First, fold a paper plate in half and cut out a circle from the center.

Next, tear cotton into pieces and roll them into many small balls.

Spread glue on the paper plate, then arrange and stick the cotton balls onto it.

Dab paint on your finger and add color to the cotton.

Finally, attach yarn to a construction-paper snowman, combine it with the wreath, and secure it to finish.

The fluffy cotton creates a wintry feel—it’s a cute craft, so be sure to give it a try!

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[Childcare] Crafts to make with 1-year-olds! February craft ideas (21–30)

Tissue paper heart

Let’s make a tissue-paper heart that’s perfect for February.

We’ll use tissue paper in colors like red and pink to create a warm, heart-shaped wall decoration together.

First, the teacher prepares tissue paper cut to a size that’s easy to crumple, and the children gently crumple the pieces.

Next, they stick the crumpled tissue paper onto the area the teacher has prepared.

In the end, we’ll arrange them so they form a heart shape, and it’s best to do this step together with the teacher.

Stamping little hearts around it also looks adorable.

Even in the cold of winter, this will warm the heart—and when you show it to parents, they’re sure to be delighted!

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