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 for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: 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)

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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Demon Bean-Throwing Bag

A Setsubun bag that can hold beans is a great idea for fully enjoying bean throwing.

After the bean-throwing is over, kids can keep playing pretend by putting their favorite items inside, so they’re sure to love it! Fold a piece of colored construction paper in half and make an oni (ogre) face.

Cut out the mouth area so you can see the contents from the outside.

Fold the top edge of a storage bag back by about 5 cm and attach it to the oni’s face.

Glue on the facial parts, hair, and horns, then secure the ribbon to the bag and you’re done! A tip to keep the ribbon from slipping out is to fold it back once.

The bag is very easy to make, so try making it before Setsubun and enjoy the seasonal feeling!

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Egg-shaped red ogre & blue ogre

[Easy] How to Make Red and Blue Oni for Setsubun [Just Cut and Paste]

Egg-shaped red ogre & blue ogre

These are cute red and blue oni made by sticking chirimen fabric onto an egg-shaped Styrofoam ball.

Since you just stick the pieces on without sewing, it’s easy to try.

First, prepare a Styrofoam ball; attach double-sided tape to chirimen fabric for the body and pants, then apply it carefully to avoid wrinkles.

Trim off any excess.

For the hair, cut the edge of an oval into a fluffy, bumpy shape.

For the eyes, decoration tape or beads from a 100-yen shop works well.

For the horns, fold the fabric in half, cut matching pieces, and stick them on; add a spiked club to finish! The warm texture of chirimen is lovely.

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A three-dimensional oni mask

Make an Oni Mask! Easy How-To for Setsubun (Ages 3 and up)

A three-dimensional oni mask

Here’s how to make a paper oni mask that’s perfect for Setsubun using colored construction paper! First, cut out the oni parts.

Let the children do the cutting according to their age—it’s great scissor practice.

Next, cut yarn for the hair.

Glue the yarn onto the hair backing.

Be sure to apply the glue to the backing paper! Once you stick on all the parts, it’s done! When kids do the gluing, you get all kinds of adorable faces.

Add a band and it becomes a wearable mask for play, or hang it on the wall as a display.

It connects making, playing, and decorating, and it’s easy for children from about age three—give it a try!

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Valentine sun catcher

http://www.lemon8-app.com

It sparkles in the light and looks so cute! Let’s make a sun catcher with a Valentine’s theme.

First, cut your favorite color of construction paper into a heart shape.

Cut out the inside the same way to create a heart-shaped frame.

Next, fold a piece of parchment (or baking) paper in half, and on just one side, glue small pieces of transparent origami paper.

Once you’ve covered enough to fill the inside of the heart, place the paper frame on top of the origami pieces, apply glue to the remaining side of the folded parchment paper, and sandwich them together to adhere.

Trim off any excess sticking out from the frame, and you’re done!

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Valentine wreath

Get into the Valentine’s spirit with a handmade craft! Here’s a wreath idea made using heart stamps.

Make the stamp by sticking a heart-shaped sponge sticker onto the cap of a small lactic acid drink bottle.

For the wreath base, cut a circular frame out of construction paper.

Once you’ve prepared pink or red ink or paint, stamp hearts all over the base until it’s filled.

Finish by adding parts for your favorite animal and a ribbon, and you’re done!

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