Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Fun February craft ideas you’ll want to make with 2-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.

Here are some perfect craft ideas for two-year-olds in February.

This is the season to enjoy motifs full of seasonal charm, like Setsubun ogres, Valentine’s chocolates, and snowmen.

Tearing origami, crumpling tissue paper, and making finger stamps—these activities let children move their hands while experiencing the textures of different materials.

Finished pieces can be displayed on the wall or used for pretend play, offering many ways to enjoy them.

Be sure to have fun making February-themed creations together with the children! Since we emphasize ideas that foster children’s free creativity, we use the term “制作 (seisaku: creation/making)” rather than “製作 (seisaku: craft/production)” in the main text.

[Childcare] Fun February craft ideas to make with 2‑year‑olds (1–10)

Easy to make! 3 New Year decorations

Crafts: Easy New Year’s Projects [Daycare/Kindergarten]

Easy to make! 3 New Year decorations

Here are three New Year decoration ideas: “Shishimai (lion dance),” “Daruma,” and “Ema (votive plaque).” For the shishimai, cut out parts from construction paper, glue them together, and use a toilet paper roll as a stamp to create the body’s pattern.

For the daruma, draw a face on a paper plate and stick torn pieces of red and yellow origami paper around it.

Use yellow for the decorative patterns, tearing it into long, thin strips.

Lastly, for the ema, first cut cardboard into the shape of an ema to make the base, then cover the surface with gold origami paper.

Glue a slightly smaller piece of white construction paper on top, write your wish, and add patterns with stickers or pens to finish it off brightly.

When you want to display them, attach a ribbon or string to each one.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

An ogre hat made by crumpling tissue paper

https://www.tiktok.com/@chooobo2/video/7453409085329788167

Does it look like you’re being eaten by an oni? Here’s a recommended craft for a 2-year-old: making an oni hat! Please prepare the oni face mask part in advance.

First, fold a sheet of colored construction paper in half horizontally.

From the open side, cut diagonally from both corners, then fold the left and right edges in slightly.

Tuck the creases inward and secure them with double-sided tape.

From here, make it together with the children.

Crumple tissue paper and glue it onto the colored paper to make hair.

Draw patterns on the horn pieces with crayons, and attach the face parts.

Put tape where you’ll make the holes, punch the holes, thread an elastic cord through, and it’s done!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

A Valentine’s cake that looks real

@lienkashii ♪ Original Song – Liankashii Nursery School – Liankashii Nursery School

It looks just like the real thing and is super cute! Here’s how to make a Valentine’s cake using shaving foam.

You’ll need cake parts like fruits, a cake base, and shaving foam.

The shaving foam is mixed with about one-third the amount of wood glue to make it look like whipped cream.

Spread the shaving-foam “cream” onto the cake base, place your favorite fruit parts on top, and let it dry to finish! It’s also fun to prepare plenty of fruit parts and play shop by picking your favorites.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

[Childcare] Crafts to make with 2-year-olds! A fun collection of February craft ideas (11–20)

snow globe

Let's Make a Snow Globe! (For 2-Year-Olds)

snow globe

Making fun snow globes with kids using everyday materials is perfect for indoor crafting during the cold winter season.

All you need are a plastic bottle, paper clay, potato starch, and glue.

How to complete a snow globe full of originality with such simple materials depends on the children’s imagination and the teacher’s support.

You can make an oni figure out of paper clay with Setsubun on February 3 in mind, or sprinkle in heart-shaped trinkets for Valentine’s Day—both are lovely ideas.

The moment a child’s smile breaks out as they gaze at the finished snow globe will be a priceless treasure in any childcare setting.

Why not try this idea and help nurture the children’s creativity?

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Penguin footprint art

Penguin Footprint Art Project: Perfect for Wall Displays for 1–3-Year-Olds!

Penguin footprint art

This is a penguin footprint art project made using children’s small footprints.

Brush a little diluted paint onto the bottoms of their feet and stamp them onto construction paper.

Take prints of both feet, cut around them to form a penguin silhouette, and glue it onto a backing sheet.

While doing this, it’s a good idea to show picture books or encyclopedias featuring penguins that live in cold places to spark their imagination, and to depict an icy landscape with torn-paper collage.

Finally, glue on parts like the penguin’s feet, eyes, and beak to complete a piece of art that also captures your children’s growth.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Strawberries with chocolate coating that are fun to make

Let’s enjoy the textures as we create! Here are some fun chocolate-dipped strawberry craft ideas.

Prepare strawberry-shaped cut construction paper, paint, a zip-top plastic bag, a backing sheet of construction paper, and brown paper for the chocolate.

First, put paint onto the strawberry-shaped cutout.

Next, place the strawberry cutout into the zip-top bag and spread the paint by pressing with your fingers over the bag.

Finally, glue on the chocolate-colored paper to finish.

Enjoy the unique feel of working with paint!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Snow Lease

https://www.tiktok.com/@hoiku_no_omamori/video/7453789827872394504

The fluffy cotton looks like snow and is super cute! Here’s how to make a snow wreath recommended for 2-year-olds.

Adults should handle the cutting.

First, cut out the center of a paper plate.

Make lots of little cotton balls by rolling cotton.

Apply wood glue to the paper plate, then stick on the rolled cotton balls.

Next, put a little paint on your finger and dab it like a stamp to add color to the cotton.

Finally, attach a string to the back of the snowman parts so it can be hung, and you’re done! It’s also adorable if the children use round stickers or crayons to make the snowman’s face.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem