Have fun with one-year-olds! A collection of craft ideas featuring recommended January motifs

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.

January is the season for crafts that let you enjoy the New Year atmosphere with children! One-year-olds love using their fingers and experiencing the feel of paint.

Here, we introduce craft ideas featuring January-specific motifs like kite flying, kagami mochi, and daruma.

Crumple and paste tissue paper, dab with stamps, or roll marbles around.

Each activity is something children can immerse themselves in and thoroughly enjoy.

Savor the lingering New Year spirit while enjoying seasonal crafts with the kids! Since the children’s creations are treated as artworks, the term is written as “seisaku” (制作) in the text.

Have Fun with 1-Year-Olds! A Collection of Craft Ideas with Recommended January Motifs (21–30)

Colorful spinning top

Speaking of New Year’s, it’s common to play with traditional toys like spinning tops and battledores.

This time, let’s make a colorful spinning top.

All you do is paint a paper plate cut in half and stick on some chiyogami paper, and it turns out beautifully.

First, cut a paper plate in half and color it with crayons or any colors you like.

Then, paste square pieces of your favorite chiyogami on top, and the body is complete.

You can mount it on a backing sheet or display it as is.

It’s simple, yet each one can show personality—give it a try and make your own unique top.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Just stick it on! Easy ramen

How about a “stick-on ramen” craft as an activity to enjoy with one-year-olds in chilly February? Parents or teachers can prepare yarn and small pieces shaped like noodles and toppings in advance, and the children can stick them onto a backing sheet.

As they recognize the colors and shapes of the ingredients and arrange the colorful toppings, children can experience making their very own bowl of ramen.

Adults should prepare the backing sheet ahead of time and apply double-sided tape.

Beyond displaying the finished work, the process can nurture interest in colors and food.

Make a warm bowl of ramen and enjoy the seasonal feel together!

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Have fun with 1-year-olds! A collection of craft ideas with recommended January motifs (31–40)

[Tissue Paper] Fluffy Snowman

@hoiku.labo
[For December Wall Decor] Fluffy Tissue-Paper Snowman ❄️⛄️#Childcare Crafting Nursery teacher / Childcare worker #Drawers of Childcare #NurseryTeacherInTraining #NurseryTeacherThings With children drawing paper tissue paper flowers Paper plate craft Snowman
♪ Original Song – Craft Ideas for Childcare ♪ Hoiku Kyujin Labo – Hoiku Kyujin Labo | Nursery Teacher Job Changes and Helpful Information

Recommended winter craft for 1-year-olds! Here’s how to make a cute snowman using tissue paper and a paper plate.

What you’ll need: a paper plate, tissue paper, glue, crayons, a white drawing paper circle cut just a little smaller than the paper plate, and colored construction paper cut into a hat shape.

First, fold the paper plate in half and cut out the inside.

Tear the tissue paper into vertical strips, apply glue to the paper plate, then crumple the tissue paper and stick it on.

Using various colors to make it colorful is also cute.

Draw the snowman’s face with crayons on the round white paper, glue on the hat you made from construction paper, then attach the face to the paper plate—and it’s done!

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kepiko

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Tanpo Kagami-mochi

Stamp play is so much fun! Here’s a recommended Kagami-mochi craft for 1-year-olds.

You’ll need construction paper, glue, stickers, paint, origami paper, a pen, thick cardboard, cotton, gauze, a wooden skewer or chopstick, and rubber bands.

First, draw and cut out the shapes of a sanpō stand and a mandarin on the construction paper.

Cut two thick cardboard pieces into oval shapes to resemble mochi.

Next, wrap cotton with gauze, insert a wooden skewer or chopstick, and secure it with a rubber band to make a stamp.

Use paint to stamp onto a backing sheet.

Once dry, glue it onto colored construction paper.

Finally, decorate with stickers and more, and you’re done!

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kepiko

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[Stamp] Shishimai (lion dance) production

@user5055055172884
Kishiwada #Kishiwada KanKan Bayside Mall Orange Nursery School #Company-led childcare center Recruiting childcare workers Ages 0 to 2 Visiting Our Park Empty-Handed New Year Production Shishimai (lion dance)#SMAP The One and Only Flower in the World
♪ Original Song – Orange Nursery School – Orange Nursery School

Have fun with cardboard stamping! Here’s a recommended shishimai (lion dance) craft for 1-year-olds.

You’ll need: face parts for the lion made from colored paper, body parts, cardboard stamps, paint, and glue.

First, put double-sided tape on the back of the face parts in advance.

Stick the parts on like a “fukuwarai” game to make the lion’s face.

An adult should help peel off the tape.

Next, dip the cardboard stamp—made by rolling cardboard into a spiral—into paint and have fun stamping! Stamp patterns onto the lion’s body.

Finally, glue the face and body together, and you’re done!

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kepiko

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[Plastic Bag] Kite Flying

Here’s a fun octopus craft you can make with a 1-year-old using a plastic bag! You’ll need: a clear plastic bag, colored pens, kite string, curling ribbon, double-sided tape, and clear tape.

First, let your child draw freely on the plastic bag with the colored pens.

Next, stick double-sided tape on the sealed end of the bag and attach the curling ribbon on top.

Split the attached curling ribbon into thinner strands.

Be sure an adult helps with this part.

Prepare three pieces of kite string: cut two shorter ones to attach to the octopus, and one longer one so it’s easy for the child to hold.

Tie the two shorter strings to the end of the longer “handle” string.

Finally, tape the two shorter strings to the open corners of the bag using clear tape, and you’re done!

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kepiko

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[Handprints and Footprints] Daruma-san

Here’s an idea inspired by the cover of the picture book series “Daruma-san.” Prepare a Daruma made from backing paper and construction paper.

Put ink on the child’s hands and feet, and stamp one hand and one foot on each side of the backing sheet.

Paste the Daruma in the center and add the text: “◯◯’s hands and feet.” Insert the child’s name in the ◯◯.

Since the “Daruma-san” series is a popular picture book among children, many of them will probably recognize it.

Displaying it will likely bring a smile to parents’ faces too!

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sasashina

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