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)

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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[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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[Paper Plate Stencil] Snowflake

[Easy Craft] Simple Snowflake Stencils Made from Paper Plates ♪ Includes a Salt Trick! [For Ages 1–2]

[Paper Plate Stencil] Snowflake

Let’s make snowflakes with warm, cozy paper-plate stencils to ease the chill of winter! This teacher-and-child project uses easy-to-find materials—paper plates, paint, and salt—to create an original winter scene.

First, have the child paint a blue background on drawing paper using water-diluted paint.

It doesn’t need to be perfectly even—feel free to paint freely.

Before the paint dries, sprinkle salt over the top.

As the salt dissolves, it creates the distinctive sparkle of snowflakes.

Finally, use the stencil and white paint, dabbing color on with a sponge to reveal the snowflake shapes.

Teachers should prepare the stencils from paper plates in advance.

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Drawing coffee cup

Coffee Cup Craft for 1-Year-Olds [Yaizu Preschool]

Drawing coffee cup

Here’s an idea for a personalized drawing project: an illustrated coffee cup.

All you need is a large mug shape made from drawing paper.

Use it as a canvas and draw freely.

You can color the mug, draw pictures, or simply add lines—anything goes.

Paints are also a great option for adding color.

There are no specific rules, so just let your brush move as you feel.

You’ll likely end up with wonderfully unique creations, and it’ll be fun to share and show them to each other.

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