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] A collection of recommended craft ideas to make in February (31–40)

Origami Mumps

[Origami] How to Make an Otafuku for Setsubun – February Origami – An Easy Folding Method Kids Can Do [Origami]

Origami Mumps

Would you like to make an Otafuku, which is said to bring good fortune and stands in contrast to oni, considered symbols of malevolent energy? It’s a simple process and a kid-friendly idea! First, fold the origami paper into a triangle twice to create creases, then unfold it back to the original shape.

Next, fold the bottom corner up to meet the center to make a crease.

Unfold that corner, then fold the bottom corner again along the new crease, and use the top crease to make a wrapped fold.

Fold the right corner next to it in the same way to create Okame’s hair.

Finally, fold the remaining corners in toward the center to form Otafuku’s characteristic rounded outline—and you’re done.

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Easy! Heart Stick

[Valentine’s Craft] A Heart Stick That 3-, 4-, and 5-Year-Olds Can Make

Easy! Heart Stick

When you shake the stick, the beads inside the heart jingle and look adorable.

If you bring this to a Valentine’s event, something wonderful might happen! You’ll need construction paper, beads, an OPP bag, and a straw.

First, cut the construction paper into a heart shape and cut out the inside as well to make a frame.

You’ll need two of these frames, one for each side.

Put the beads into the OPP bag and seal it, then attach it to the heart frame.

Next, glue a straw to the bottom of the heart as a handle and place the remaining heart frame on top.

Tie a ribbon around the straw for an even cuter finish.

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Chocolate sticks made with construction paper

[Easy February Craft] Paper Heart Chocolates ❤️🍫 #PreschoolCrafts #PreschoolTeacher #TeachingIdeas #TeacherInTraining #TeacherLife #WithKids #ConstructionPaper #ValentinesDay #ValentineCrafts

Chocolate sticks made with construction paper

Let’s make heart-shaped chocolate sticks that are perfect for pretend play or Valentine’s Day.

Cut construction paper into heart shapes and draw designs with crayons.

Flip the heart over, tape a stick to the back, then slip a clear bag over it to wrap it up, and you’re done.

It’s also a great idea to decorate cutely by using torn origami paper or washi tape when drawing pictures or patterns on the construction paper.

If you make chocolates in various shapes—like stars and circles—just looking at them might make you feel excited, not only for pretend play.

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Picture-book-style heart message card

Simple! Flip-open heart picture-book-style message card: 'Cute Letter Origami'—great for Valentine's Day (kids can make it themselves!) • Origami easy heart memo valentine

Picture-book-style heart message card

This is a heart-shaped message card made with origami.

It has multiple surfaces to write messages on, so you can flip through them and enjoy it like a picture book.

The method is very simple: fold the origami paper into a triangle three times, then cut it into a heart shape with scissors.

Open the paper and, following the crease lines, alternate mountain folds and valley folds to collapse it.

When folding, place the colored side of the origami facing up before folding into a triangle.

Also, when cutting the triangle into a heart shape, you’ll trim off two corners, but be careful not to cut the corner that is the center of the origami.

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Snow fairy! Adorable long-tailed tit (Shima-enaga)

[Easy Origami] How to Make a Long-Tailed Tit 💡 #Hokkaido #SnowSpirit #Bird #Birdie #bird #새 #鸟 #Winter #Animals #Cute #HowToFold #Origami #Paper #DIY

Snow fairy! Adorable long-tailed tit (Shima-enaga)

Why not try making the popular long-tailed tit as a “snow fairy” with origami? All you need is a single sheet of your favorite origami paper and a black pen, so preparation is super easy.

Fold by creasing and flipping the paper as you go: use the white front side to represent the body and the colored back side for the wings.

Finish by drawing the eyes and beak with a black pen to enjoy different expressions.

With few steps, it’s easy even for a 3-year-old, so it’s highly recommended.

After it’s done, you can show them to each other or line them up on the wall to create a cute atmosphere.

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[Age 3] Recommended Craft Ideas to Make in February (41–50)

ogre’s iron club

[Setsubun Origami] Easy Oni's Club with One Sheet ✨ How to make a paper spiked club #dokkaebi #oni #club #bangmangi #Setsubun #howtofold #origami #paper #easy #diy

ogre's iron club

For this idea, use origami paper measuring 7.5 cm × 15 cm.

First, position the paper so the 15 cm sides are at the top and bottom.

Next, fold it in half by bringing the top and bottom edges together, crease well, and open it.

Then fold the top and bottom edges in to meet the center crease.

After that, fold the right edge over the left edge to fold the paper in half, and create a step by folding back a strip about 1 cm wide from the crease.

This step separates the club (kanabō) section from the handle section.

For the handle, fold the top and bottom of the right-side portion of the paper in toward the center crease, and squash the pulled corner into a triangle.

Finally, fold the four corners of the remaining club section into triangles to round them off, and you’re done.

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Warm gloves made with decals (decalcomania)

@hoiku.labo
[December Craft Recommendation♪] Let's make original gloves with decalcomania 🧤🎨#Childcare Crafting Nursery teacher / Childcare worker #Drawers of Childcare #NurseryTeacherInTraining #NurseryTeacherThings With children #paint Paint making Decalcomania
♪ Original Song – Craft Ideas for Childcare ♪ Hoiku Kyujin Labo – Hoiku Kyujin Labo | Nursery Teacher Job Changes and Helpful Information

A must-have item for the cold winter! Since kids can choose their own colors and design the piece themselves, it will stimulate their creativity.

This time, we’ll finish the project using a technique called decalcomania, in which paint is placed between sheets of drawing paper to create matching patterns.

When each child places their favorite colors wherever they like, it looks like we’ll end up with works that truly showcase their individuality.

Mittens are recommended for the glove shape, as the larger surface area allows the paint to spread more.

Be sure to give it a try on this occasion.

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