Lovely childcare

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 (31–40)

Crumpled paper-bag ogre mask

Crumpled and Cute Oni Mask [February / Setsubun Craft]

Crumpled paper-bag ogre mask

Wearable craft! We’re introducing a crinkly ogre (oni) mask made from a paper bag.

What you’ll need: a brown envelope, newspaper, hair parts for the oni made from construction paper, face parts for the oni made from construction paper, round stickers in your favorite colors, glue or tape, construction paper, and rubber bands.

How about making an oni mask you can wear for Setsubun events? The key is to enjoy the process while nurturing each child’s individuality.

Be sure to watch how their expressions change as they create!

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Just stick it on! Easy ramen

How about a “stick-on ramen” craft as an activity to enjoy with one-year-olds in chilly February? Parents or teachers can prepare yarn and small pieces shaped like noodles and toppings in advance, and the children can stick them onto a backing sheet.

As they recognize the colors and shapes of the ingredients and arrange the colorful toppings, children can experience making their very own bowl of ramen.

Adults should prepare the backing sheet ahead of time and apply double-sided tape.

Beyond displaying the finished work, the process can nurture interest in colors and food.

Make a warm bowl of ramen and enjoy the seasonal feel together!

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Footprint art ogre

When it comes to Setsubun, it’s all about oni (demons), so here’s an idea using footprint art.

First, use construction paper to make an oni in a seated position.

Picture a chibi-style, two-head-tall oni sitting with its legs stretched out.

Create the head and body, then attach slightly oversized sole-shaped pieces on top to give it a three-dimensional look.

For the feet pieces, use cutouts made from the children’s actual footprints.

Not only does it look adorable, but it also adds originality.

Plus, it’s fun later on to compare with their current foot size.

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Colorful Oni Made with Balloons

Since Setsubun is coming up, I made an oni (demon) out of balloons.

Colorful Oni Made with Balloons

Pick your own parts and create your own! Here are some colorful oni (ogre) balloon craft ideas.

What you’ll need: balloons in your favorite colors, paper oni face parts, paper horns, double-sided tape, and yarn.

This craft is perfect for children at the stage where their sense of self is developing and they’re starting to express their intentions through words and actions.

Have them choose the facial features themselves and stick them on the balloon to make the oni’s face.

Even children who find oni scary may feel more comfortable with one they made themselves.

It’s great if you can keep the activity fun and lighthearted.

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Making oni masks

Making Oni Masks with 2-Year-Olds [Yaizu Preschool]

Making oni masks

Let’s make oni masks for Setsubun on February 3! First, cut construction paper to prepare parts like the oni’s horns, eyes, nose, and fangs.

Have the children enjoy applying glue with their fingers to each part and sticking them onto the base sheet.

For details you want to show with thin lines, such as hair or the mouth, drawing directly with crayons works well, but gluing on yarn is also recommended.

Once the oni’s face is complete, attach it to a band so it can be worn on the head, and it’s finished!

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[Childcare] Crafts to make with 1-year-olds! February craft ideas (41–50)

[Torn Paper Collage] Demon Mask

Setsubun Craft: A Torn-Paper Oni (Demon) Mask! [For Ages 1 and Up] (ASMR-Style Video)

[Torn Paper Collage] Demon Mask

Here’s an ogre mask idea that makes tearing paper hair fun.

For this activity, first prepare the base of the mask using construction paper.

Cut out the paper to create the outline and facial features.

At this stage, use a blank (white) piece only for the hair part.

Once the base is ready, hand it over to the children.

They can tear their favorite origami paper and paste the pieces onto the blank hair section.

It’s fun because they can freely choose the colors and patterns, and decide how large to tear the pieces.

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Colon and cute 3D tangerine

Handmade childcare video: “How to make a tangerine” (Fruit Series 2/3) #How to make children’s toys

Colon and cute 3D tangerine

Let’s make a tasty-looking mandarin orange for February! To make it, crumple some scrap paper into a mandarin shape and wrap it with orange tissue paper.

Once you’ve shaped it like a mandarin, secure it with tape.

Use a clear bag that’s just the right size to fit the mandarin.

If you don’t have an appropriate size, cut a larger bag with scissors to make one that fits.

Tuck the corners of the bag inward to round them, tape them in place, and put the mandarin inside.

Twist the excess part of the bag, secure it with tape, and add green paper and a leaf to finish! Since this is for 1-year-olds, please make it with safety in mind so they don’t put any parts in their mouths.

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