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

Last updated:2026/1/16

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 (1–10)

Winter foods with sponge stamps

@hoiku.labo
Craft ideas for ages 0–5 💡 @hoiku.labo Winter foods with sponge stamps 🥢 ⭐↓ See the comments for detailed steps and tips ↓⭐ ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆ ✨Hoiku Kyujin Labo✨ has many childcare job listings 🎉 Our specialized advisors will suggest nursery and kindergarten positions that fit you! We’ll carefully listen to your concerns and preferences and provide support 💁‍♀️ Feel free to contact us first 🎵 @hoiku.labo Register via the link in our profile!Childcare Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Kindergarten Teacher Certified Childcare and Education Teacher #Nursery school #Kindergarten Kodomoen (combined childcare and kindergarten)Childcare job openings Childcare Column #NurseryTeacherThings #IWantToConnectWithChildcareWorkers #Nursery School Craft #DaycarePreparation Nursery School Practicum Childcare student Aspiring childcare worker Childcare Job Lab Childcare Skills Job change activities #JobChange #nursery_teacher_job_change Nursery teacher employment Production #Craft Infant care Infant Craft #Sponge stamp Stamp Sponge #Stamp play Winter Craft Winter infant baby #LifeWithABaby Tampo #Oden #IWantToBeOnTheRecommendations Recommendation #tiktok classroom #fyp
♬ Oden-themed songs(1091648) – Melonest

The feeling of stamping is so fun! Here’s a winter food craft idea.

Cut construction paper into a pot shape and glue it onto white paper.

Then add brown tofu pouches, white eggs, and brown daikon radish.

Draw patterns on the daikon and tofu pouches with crayons.

Dab black paint onto a textured sponge and stamp it onto gray paper.

Cut it into triangles, and you’ve made konnyaku! Put the konnyaku in the pot and your oden is complete! Enjoy chatting while you craft, asking questions like, “What oden ingredients do you like?” and “What was in it again?”

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moko

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Let’s make an ogre with a sponge stamp!

@hoiku.labo
Perfect for Setsubun in February: Let’s make an oni (demon) with sponge stamping!Childcare Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Kindergarten Teacher Childcare job openings Childcare Column #NurseryTeacherThings #IWantToConnectWithChildcareWorkers #Nursery School Craft #DaycarePreparation Nursery School Practicum Childcare student Aspiring childcare worker Childcare Job Lab Nursery teacher skills Job change activities #JobChange #nursery_teacher_job_change Nursery teacher employment Production #Craft work Production #Sponge stamp Sponge Stamp Craft Sponge Stamp Production Setsubun craft
♬ Under the skin – &TEAM

This fun activity of dabbing with a sponge is a perfect February craft: making oni (Japanese ogre) characters full of seasonal flair.

It’s very easy to create cute oni, making this idea ideal for daycare centers and at home.

Cut out the oni’s face, hair, and horns from construction paper and glue them together.

Make a stamp using a sponge and a wooden skewer or chopstick, dip it in paint, and stamp the hair area.

It’s fun to see the sponge create patterns as you stamp.

Draw the face with black and red pens, and your adorable oni is complete.

Because it’s quick and simple, it’s perfect for one-year-olds.

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moko

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Making an ogre through finger-play activities

@hoikushisatomi
Making an oni with finger-play starting around age 1Nursery teacher / Childcare worker #NurseryTeacherDailyLife #NurseryTeacherThings Setsubun Oni of Setsubun #100-yen shop DIY work #OuchiMonte
♬ Paradise – COX2

Here’s a craft idea for making an ogre using construction paper and tissue paper.

In this activity, you’ll crumple tissue paper and stick it onto a paper base made from construction paper.

Use your hands and fingers well to crumple the paper.

Once the tissue paper is crumpled, attach it to the base with double-sided tape.

Next, stick the eyes, mouth, and horn parts onto the ogre’s face base, add the hair, and you’re done.

Please have an adult cut out the necessary parts in advance.

If you put double-sided tape on the back of the face and horn parts to make them like stickers, even one-year-olds can stick them on by themselves and enjoy it.

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sasashina

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Oni Masks and Preparing for Setsubun

@lienkashii
In the 1-year-old class, we made oni (ogre) masks☺️ We drew patterns on the inside of a milk carton using strings and pipe cleaners, then used paint to make stamps! We also made paper bands so they can wear them on their heads, and we’re getting ready for Setsubun👹 We’ll keep posting about the charms of our daycare, tips from childcare workers, and helpful parenting information🎶 Please follow us at @lien_kashii3550 🤲Bean-throwing (Setsubun)Setsubun craft Demon mask #Demon Production Crafts for 1-year-olds Demon Stamp State of the nursery Make children’s everyday moments more photographic #SmilingPhoto #Nursery School Craft Fukuoka City Higashi Ward #Nursery school #FukuokaCityNurserySchool Certified Childcare and Education Center Lianshii Nursery School Parenting Childcare #AuthorizedNurserySchool Kashii #Hoikatsu (childcare enrollment activities)Searching for a nursery Life with children Mom Dad Recruiting Kindergarteners Recruiting childcare workers
♪ Original Song – Liankashii Nursery School – Liankashii Nursery School

An oni mask that’s fun to make and fun to enjoy after it’s finished is a perfect idea for a February craft.

Before you start, try reading a picture book about oni to spark creative inspiration—you might enjoy it even more.

Speaking of oni features, their hair is curly.

Let’s express that hair using stamps.

You can easily make a stamp by creating curly patterns with string or pipe cleaners on a milk carton.

Dip the stamp in paint, then dab it onto construction paper.

Cut it into a fluffy hairstyle, add horns, and you’re done.

Attach a paper band so it can be worn on the head.

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Have fun with 1-year-olds! Setsubun ideas

https://www.tiktok.com/@levwell_hoikushi/video/7587613943309339924

When February comes, we think of Setsubun, and when we think of Setsubun, we think of oni (ogres)! Some childcare centers and families might enjoy bean-throwing with a teacher dressed as an oni.

For crafts during this season, let’s make cute oni to boost the Setsubun mood! First, use white construction paper to create the oni’s hairstyle, then make the hair with crumpled washi paper.

Use a dropper to suck up paint and drip it onto the washi.

It’s fun to watch the oni’s hair gradually get dyed by the paint.

Changing colors to create a gradient can make it even more exciting.

Attach the horns and facial parts, and you’re done.

Dyeing the hair with paint and creating three-dimensional oni hair make this a delightful craft.

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moko

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Fun to draw! Snow globe

@tensaikids1031
January craft activity for the 1-year-old class ⛄️Genius Kids Club Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Production Aspiring childcare worker Childcare Ideas
♬ My Binky – Baby Version – HeyKids Nursery Rhymes

This is a recommended craft activity for infants.

They’re making snow globes.

On circles cut from construction paper, children draw spiral circles with crayons and add shiny round stickers to represent the snow globes.

Showing them a real snow globe before starting can help spark their imagination.

Provide crayons and stickers in various colors and let them freely create their own snow globe worlds.

Crafts that use stickers are also perfect for practicing fine motor skills!

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sasashina

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Fun with black construction paper! Making snowmen

@hekimen_25
Winter craft: We made snowmen using crayons and paint! ⛄️❄️🎵#Childcare Crafting #Wall Creation Nursery teacher / Childcare worker I tried making it Snowman
♬ Merry Christmas and Happy New Year – neozilla

Here’s a craft idea: paint a snowman with white paint on black construction paper, then finish by adding a paper bucket and mittens, plus face stickers.

For the snowman, draw a circular outline and fill it in with paint.

Because it’s surprisingly hard not to paint outside the lines, if infants are doing this activity, it’s better to either prepare pre-painted pieces or have an adult cut a snowman shape from the child’s white-painted paper and glue it onto the background.

If you put double-sided tape on the back of the bucket and mittens, kids can use them like stickers, making them easier for little hands to handle.

Once the snowman is done, use cotton swab stamping to add a snowy landscape in the empty space to complete the project.

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sasashina

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