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。

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

Oni made with finger paint

Let’s enjoy the process of paints blending together and the cool, tactile feeling as we create! This is an idea I’d love children who think ogres are scary to try.

You will need drawing paper, paints in various colors, plastic wrap, crayons, scissors, and glue.

Using two to three colors of paint makes the color blending more fun.

Letting children choose their favorite paints might spark excitement and help them express their creativity.

If you use pastel-colored paints, it will result in a gentle, soft look—be sure to give it a try.

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An ogre mask made with torn-paper collage

Setsubun Craft: A Torn-Paper Oni (Demon) Mask! [For Ages 1 and Up] (ASMR-Style Video)

An ogre mask made with torn-paper collage

Let’s create a project packed with personal touches! You’ll need construction paper oni parts, origami paper in your favorite colors, scissors, glue, thick cardstock, rubber bands, and a stapler.

The simple step of tearing origami paper for the oni’s hair and gluing it on is great even for infant classes, but since this is for a class of five-year-olds, it might be nice to set a theme of finishing their work with careful attention to detail.

They can have fun arranging the hair in rainbow colors or decorating with craft punches.

Give it a try and incorporate it into your activities!

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Tissue paper heart

This is a Valentine’s craft with a heart motif.

Try expressing a heart in various ways in the center of a sheet of construction paper.

For infants, a recommended method is to draw a heart outline and fill the inside with crumpled tissue paper to create a three-dimensional heart.

For children who can use scissors well, try cutting a heart-shaped window in the center of the paper and expressing the heart with a lattice pattern made from strips of construction paper.

As a decoration, making heart-shaped paper cutouts with origami is also recommended.

Create a lovely heart using methods suited to each age group!

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Making oni masks

Making Oni Masks with 2-Year-Olds [Yaizu Preschool]

Making oni masks

Let’s make oni masks to wear for Setsubun! As a first step, cut the base shapes for the oni’s face and hair from construction paper.

Next, cut out the parts for the eyes, nose, fangs, cheeks, and horns, and pre-cut short pieces of yarn for the hair.

Adults can handle the prep, but it might be nice to let the children do it since it’s good practice with scissors.

Once everything is ready, glue each part onto the face base.

After the oni’s face is complete, attach it to the mask base to finish! The mask base should be prepared by an adult in advance.

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Winter foods with sponge stamps

@hoiku.labo
Craft ideas for ages 0–5 💡 @hoiku.labo Winter foods with sponge stamps 🥢 ⭐↓ See the comments for detailed steps and tips ↓⭐ ★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆ ✨Hoiku Kyujin Labo✨ has many childcare job listings 🎉 Our specialized advisors will suggest nursery and kindergarten positions that fit you! We’ll carefully listen to your concerns and preferences and provide support 💁‍♀️ Feel free to contact us first 🎵 @hoiku.labo Register via the link in our profile!Childcare Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Kindergarten Teacher Certified Childcare and Education Teacher #Nursery school #Kindergarten Kodomoen (combined childcare and kindergarten)Childcare job openings Childcare Column #NurseryTeacherThings #IWantToConnectWithChildcareWorkers #Nursery School Craft #DaycarePreparation Nursery School Practicum Childcare student Aspiring childcare worker Childcare Job Lab Childcare Skills Job change activities #JobChange #nursery_teacher_job_change Nursery teacher employment Production #Craft Infant care Infant Craft #Sponge stamp Stamp Sponge #Stamp play Winter Craft Winter infant baby #LifeWithABaby Tampo #Oden #IWantToBeOnTheRecommendations Recommendation #tiktok classroom #fyp
♬ Oden-themed songs(1091648) – Melonest

The feeling of stamping is so fun! Here’s a winter food craft idea.

Cut construction paper into a pot shape and glue it onto white paper.

Then add brown tofu pouches, white eggs, and brown daikon radish.

Draw patterns on the daikon and tofu pouches with crayons.

Dab black paint onto a textured sponge and stamp it onto gray paper.

Cut it into triangles, and you’ve made konnyaku! Put the konnyaku in the pot and your oden is complete! Enjoy chatting while you craft, asking questions like, “What oden ingredients do you like?” and “What was in it again?”

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Let’s make an ogre with a sponge stamp!

@hoiku.labo
Perfect for Setsubun in February: Let’s make an oni (demon) with sponge stamping!Childcare Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Kindergarten Teacher Childcare job openings Childcare Column #NurseryTeacherThings #IWantToConnectWithChildcareWorkers #Nursery School Craft #DaycarePreparation Nursery School Practicum Childcare student Aspiring childcare worker Childcare Job Lab Nursery teacher skills Job change activities #JobChange #nursery_teacher_job_change Nursery teacher employment Production #Craft work Production #Sponge stamp Sponge Stamp Craft Sponge Stamp Production Setsubun craft
♬ Under the skin – &TEAM

This fun activity of dabbing with a sponge is a perfect February craft: making oni (Japanese ogre) characters full of seasonal flair.

It’s very easy to create cute oni, making this idea ideal for daycare centers and at home.

Cut out the oni’s face, hair, and horns from construction paper and glue them together.

Make a stamp using a sponge and a wooden skewer or chopstick, dip it in paint, and stamp the hair area.

It’s fun to see the sponge create patterns as you stamp.

Draw the face with black and red pens, and your adorable oni is complete.

Because it’s quick and simple, it’s perfect for one-year-olds.

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A snowman with tissues as the star

https://www.tiktok.com/@levwell_hoikushi/video/7569469587587140884

It’s a fun idea that lets you enjoy the process of shaping while moving your hands.

Stuff a transparent plastic bag with crumpled tissues.

Once it’s about half full, secure it tightly with a rubber band, then fill the remaining half with more tissues.

Close the bag firmly and tape it so nothing comes out.

Tape the corners as well to give it the rounded look characteristic of a snowman.

Twist two different-colored pipe cleaners together and wrap them around the spot where you secured the rubber band.

Use round stickers to make the face, and finish by adding a construction paper hat.

Let your child choose their favorite colors for the paper and pipe cleaners to create their very own snowman!

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