Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Fun to Make! February Craft Ideas Collection

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.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

February is full of unique delights—like Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, and activities that make the most of the cold, such as ice-making—that children look forward to.

However, when it snows or the temperature drops too low, there will be more days when you can’t go outside.

So this time, we’re sharing craft ideas perfect for February.

We’ve gathered lots of fun projects that will excite children and blow away the winter chill.

Be sure to try making them together with your kids.

Note: Since items made by children are treated as artworks, we refer to them as “creations” in the text.

[Childcare] Fun to Make! February Craft Ideas (21–30)

Setsubun Oni Handprint Art

Handprint Art: How to Make a Setsubun Oni | Petapeta-art handprint art to capture your baby’s “now”

Setsubun Oni Handprint Art

Let’s make a Setsubun craft using handprint art to capture your child’s growth! First, stamp an upside-down handprint on the backing paper to represent the ogre’s body.

Next, stamp a footprint slightly overlapping the thumb area; this will represent the kanabō (spiked club).

For the ogre’s head, imagine a circle and create it with finger stamps.

Once the ink is dry, glue on the ogre’s hair and shorts made from chiyogami paper, then draw the face, horns, and the club’s pattern with a pen to finish! Decorating the blank areas of the backing paper would also look lovely.

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Oni roly-poly doll

[Handmade for Setsubun] Okiagari-Koboshi Oni 👹

Oni roly-poly doll

Here’s an idea for a roly-poly oni (ogre) made with balloons from the 100-yen shop! You’ll also use shoji paper and flower paper.

First, inflate a balloon, add a small weight, tie the neck, and make it the base.

Tear the shoji paper, then use glue thinned with water to layer it onto the balloon and shape it.

Once dry, stick on flower paper to add color, and attach eyes, mouth, and horns made from construction paper to complete the oni.

Kids will love how it pops back up when knocked over.

It’s also fun to adapt it for the season into a daruma or animals.

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[Childcare] Fun to Make! February Craft Ideas (31–40)

a one-horned ogre

Recommended for Setsubun crafts! Let’s make an oni (demon) face with origami.

First, fold the paper into a triangle to make a crease.

Open it back up, then fold the two left edges in to meet the crease.

Once you’ve done that, rotate the paper so the folded left side is at the bottom, and flip it over.

Next, fold the top corner down about 2 cm, then fold it back up so the tip aligns with the base of the triangle you just made.

This will be the oni’s hair.

Flip the paper over again, fold the bottom corner up to create the horns on the head.

Then fold the left and right corners inward so they line up with the sides of the part you folded up, and fold the bottom corner as well to shape the face.

Your oni is complete!

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Stained glass of a heart

A heart-shaped stained glass that, when displayed by a window, catches the light and shows translucent colors.

The method is simple, so it’s easy for kids to make.

Cut construction paper into any shape you like and cover one side with clear tape.

Then stick small pieces of colored cellophane onto the clear tape.

You can place them freely in any arrangement.

February is Valentine’s season, so shapes like hearts, chocolates, or snowmen are recommended to capture the seasonal feel.

Try layering the cellophane and enjoying how the colors blend—you might discover something new.

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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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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!

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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 – Chii ☺︎ – Chii | Simple cute crafts

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.

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