Lovely childcare

[For 3-year-olds] A collection of recommended craft ideas to make in February

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 may be wondering what to make for February crafts in early childhood care.

In this article, we’ll introduce February craft ideas perfect for three-year-olds.

From winter-themed creations like snowflakes and snow globes to Valentine’s heart motifs, there are plenty of seasonally inspired ideas.

Children can enjoy fine-motor activities like wrapping yarn and sticking cotton, too.

子どもたちの「やった！」という誇らしげな笑顔を思い浮かべながら計画しましょう—以下のアイデアを参考にしてください！注：本稿では子どもたちの作品を芸術作品として扱うため、「制作」は本文中を通して“artwork/creation”として表記します。

[For 3-year-olds] Recommended craft ideas to make in February (21–30)

A cute crumpled ogre mask

Crumpled and Cute Oni Mask [February / Setsubun Craft]

A cute crumpled ogre mask

Enjoy the fun, crinkly feel of scrunching paper! Here’s a recommended oni (demon) mask craft for 3-year-olds.

First, crumple a brown envelope into a ball.

Open the envelope and put crumpled newspaper inside.

Add enough so the envelope puffs up a little, then seal it.

Next, make the oni’s facial parts with construction paper.

Stick round stickers onto the hair piece, then attach the hair, horn pieces, and face pieces to the envelope.

Draw any eyes you like on the eye pieces with a pen.

Cut construction paper into long, thin strips and make them into loops.

Add a rubber band so the size can be adjusted, and you’re done!

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Easy! Origami Snowman

How to Easily Make a Snowman with Origami! Winter Craft Variations Too (For 4-Year-Olds)

Easy! Origami Snowman

This is an origami snowman you can make with simple steps.

Choose the color of your origami paper based on the hat you want the snowman to wear.

Once you’ve decided, place the paper with the colored side facing up and fold it in half by bringing the left and right edges together.

Next, fold it again by matching the top and bottom edges.

Then, using the second crease, make a step fold (accordion fold), and fold the two ends of the stepped section inward, opening them into triangles.

This creates a waist, giving you a two-tiered snowman.

Finally, tuck the remaining corners at the top and bottom inward to round the shape, and you’re done.

One corner will become the hat, so fold only one layer inward so that a triangle of the colored side appears on the snowman’s surface.

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Easy with just one sheet! Snowman

[Origami] Easy snowman with a single sheet ⛄ How to make a paper snowman #snowman #Christmas #snowman (yukidaruma) #snowman #snowman #xuěrén (snow person) #howtofold #origami #origami (JP) #zhǐzhǐ (paper folding)

Easy with just one sheet! Snowman

The charm of this origami is how easy it is—you can make a snowman with just one sheet of white paper.

There are many small, detailed folds, so try tackling it together with your child.

Each step is simple, but because it involves lots of precise finger work, staying focused is important.

As you go, guide them with prompts like “This part is next,” or demonstrate each step so they can work with confidence.

At the end, draw the face with a pen or add patterns, and each snowman will have its own unique expression.

When you line up the finished pieces for display, you can clearly see how different their expressions are—even though they’re all snowmen—making them even more fun to look at.

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How to make a fluffy, fuzzy snowman

[Snowman] 'How to Make a Fluffy Snowman' Winter craft, February wall decoration, preschool craft, senior care recreation, How to make a fluffy snowman

How to make a fluffy, fuzzy snowman

Stick double-sided tape onto a strip-cut piece of white construction paper, then place cotton on top.

Roll it into a ring and secure it! Connect two of these, add a hat and facial features, and you’ll have a fluffy snowman! Since attaching the hat on top of the cotton is tricky, it’s best to glue it to the paper base before adding the cotton.

For the facial features, bend and twist pipe cleaners to make them.

Depending on the child who makes it, each snowman will have a different expression, resulting in a set of unique, characterful creations.

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Snowman Fashion Show

Developing Thinking and Observation Skills through Crafts! February/Winter Craft Book: “Snowman Fashion Show” — For Ages 3–4 [Nursery/Kindergarten]

Snowman Fashion Show

Here’s a craft idea where kids can freely create snowmen using circle, triangle, and square pieces.

First, stick a large round piece onto a backing sheet to make the base of the snowman.

Then glue on a scarf made by wrapping yarn around a piece of thick paper cut into a rectangle, and you’re all set! From here, let the kids freely express their snowmen using the circle, triangle, and square pieces.

Some children might use circular pieces for the eyes, while others might use triangular pieces.

It’ll be fun to see how their unique sensibilities come through in their creations!

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Oni masks made with various materials and techniques

Let’s make oni masks using fun art techniques! The way to create the mask base and horn parts is the same; only the hair section uses different techniques.

We’ll introduce bleeding watercolor, wax-resist painting, torn-paper collage, and ideas that use glued-on yarn or tissue paper.

During Setsubun, we drive away oni by throwing beans.

Oni are scary, but wearing a mask you made yourself might give you the courage to face them.

Enjoy the crafting process and try expressing your own kind of strength!

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A toilet paper roll core transforms into a fearsome oni!

Let’s make a warm and charming oni (ogre) using a toilet paper roll and felt.

First, wrap the toilet paper roll with felt and glue it in place.

Then use faux fur as hair, and attach facial parts and horns made from felt.

Using pearls for the eyes and cheeks will boost the cuteness and add a festive touch.

The key to this idea is layering yellow and brown felt, twisting them to create the pants.

It would also look cute if you use non-traditional colors.

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