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)

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!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

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.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

[For 3-year-olds] A collection of recommended craft ideas to make in February (31–40)

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!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

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!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

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!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

For Setsubun! Oni (demon) bean holder

Here’s how to make an ogre bean holder.

First, fold the origami paper into a triangle twice.

Then unfold it once, and fold up the left and right corners to make a tulip shape.

From here, we’ll make the ogre’s horns.

Unfold the parts you just folded up, then make the diagonal creases into mountain folds and the straight creases into valley folds, and collapse along the creases.

The collapsed part should become a diamond shape; fold the top two edges inward along the valley creases to make it narrower.

Do the same on the other side to complete the horns.

Next, take the top corner of the remaining triangle, fold both layers downward together, and tuck the back layer inside the origami.

Fold the front layer back up to represent the ogre’s hair.

Finally, fold the bottom corner up into a triangle and draw the face to finish.

When using it, gently open it so that the part you folded last becomes the bottom!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

A cute paper-clay snowman

@chii_1514m
[Making a Snowman] We spread paper clay on construction paper and made a snowman ⛄️ We enjoyed the sensory play, and at the end we pressed in sparkly beads—just looking at it makes you excited ✨ Give it a try! 💓Production Wall decoration Winter Production Childcare #Snowman Making
♪ Original song – Chi☺︎ – Chi☺︎

Here’s a craft idea for making a three-dimensional snowman.

On a base made by attaching black construction paper to thick cardstock, shape a snowman out of clay.

Once the snowman is formed, decorate its body with any beads you like and add eyes, a nose, and a mouth.

Next, attach paper mittens to pipe cleaners and stick them into the snowman.

Finally, decorate the base with snowflake stickers and more, and you’re done! You can also put a hat on the snowman if you like.

If you prepare a variety of beads and pipe cleaners, each child will be able to create a snowman full of their own personality.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem