Lovely childcare

Recommended in February! A collection of easy origami ideas perfect for childcare to enjoy the season.

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.

February is still quite cold, but it’s also a season full of fun events like Setsubun and Valentine’s Day.

Many teachers at nurseries and kindergartens may be looking to incorporate activities that reflect the season.

With that in mind, we’ve gathered origami ideas perfect for February.

From ogres (oni) and heart motifs to winter foods and penguins, there’s a rich variety to choose from.

We’ve picked options ranging from very simple steps to slightly more complex ones, so enjoy easy, seasonal origami with the children!

Perfect for February! A collection of simple origami ideas to enjoy the season in childcare (31–40)

heart

[Origami] A nursery teacher shows how to make a heart — how to fold a heart

heart

As February begins, indoor origami activities are popular in nursery schools and kindergartens.

Heart-themed origami for Valentine’s Day can be used as wall decorations or card embellishments, brightening the atmosphere throughout the facility.

Working together with teachers or parents creates opportunities for parent-child communication and offers a valuable experience that nurtures creativity.

Starting with heart-shaped origami and gradually adding variations to try original designs can be fun as well.

Through origami, why not foster children’s thinking and concentration while creating a heartwarming seasonal activity?

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glove

Christmas Origami ⭐︎ Easy Mitten Folding Tutorial [With Audio Commentary]

glove

February is still a very cold season, isn’t it? So I’d like to introduce an origami project that captures the seasonal feeling: origami mittens.

This one uses a single sheet of origami paper to make mint-style mittens.

The front color expresses the hand portion, while the back color represents the cuff.

The steps are simple, so it’s easy to enjoy making and lining up mittens in various color combinations.

You can also fold animal or human faces with origami and display them together—it would look lovely.

Since it’s just the mittens, it also sparks the imagination with thoughts like “Whose are these?” which is part of the charm.

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Heart Rabbit

Easy Origami: How to Fold a Bunny Heart with One Sheet

Heart Rabbit

It’s fun to draw your favorite expressions! Here’s an idea for a heart bunny.

All you need is one sheet of origami paper in your favorite color or pattern, and a pen.

It’s a cute and unique idea that looks like a bunny has merged with a heart.

You can enjoy drawing bunnies with all kinds of expressions, like a beaming smile or a slightly nervous look! Once you add the facial expressions, your heart bunny becomes more than just a bunny—it transforms into a work of art full of emotion.

Give it a try!

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chocolate

That chocolate made with origami! An easy Valentine’s craft #shorts

chocolate

Origami that represents chocolate, inspired by February, is very appealing to children.

Creating these projects together with teachers in nursery schools and kindergartens offers a great opportunity to strengthen parent-child bonds.

Using colorful paper, children can enjoy various chocolate-themed origami, which also serves as a perfect material to enhance the Valentine’s Day atmosphere.

By trying three-dimensional creations, they can have a fun experience that nurtures creativity and thinking skills.

These origami pieces also make heartwarming gifts for parents.

Expressing seasonal events through origami provides opportunities to enrich children’s sensitivity and aesthetic sense.

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Heart envelope

@tocco.kurashi
This is the perfect letter for Valentine’s Day 🩷Valentine's Day #diy Origami
♬ I Want To Be Loved – Yumcha

It’s sure to convey a fluttering, excited feeling! Let me introduce a heart-shaped envelope.

All you need are origami paper in your favorite colors or patterns, scissors, and tape or glue.

It’s nice that after folding the origami, you can actually use it, not just decorate with it.

How about putting a message card or small items in the heart envelope? The design is perfect for Valentine’s Day, too.

Since you’ll trim the heart shape with scissors, it’s best to work on it together with a parent or teacher.

Give it a try!

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Recommended in February! A collection of simple origami ideas perfect for enjoying the season in childcare (41–50)

cat

Easy! Origami Cat

cat

Perfect for Cat Day crafts! Here are some ideas for making cats out of origami.

All you need are two sheets of origami paper, pens or colored pencils, and tape or glue.

Did you know February 22 is considered Cat Day in Japan, inspired by the cat’s meow, “nyan”? Use these ideas to celebrate Cat Day! After you fold the cat’s head and body from origami paper, draw the face freely with pens or colored pencils.

Sleeping faces, smiling faces—this is a great crafting idea that lets kids enjoy creating cats with their own personalities.

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clover

[Origami] How to Make a Clover (Clover Basics and Applications)

clover

Clover spreads across the fields in spring.

Among them, the four-leaf clover—also a symbol of luck and love—is perfect for wall decorations.

First, fold the origami into a triangle with the green side facing inward.

Open the pocket like when folding a crane and flatten it into a square.

Fold the bottom corner up to the center, then fold it up again where the creases intersect.

While pinching the center, open it and fold the middle inward.

Finally, overlap each section slightly as you fold back and shape the leaves, and it’s done.

Adding butterflies or flowers alongside makes it feel even more springlike.

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