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 (31–40)

Construction Paper Snow Globe

@tensaikids1031
January craft activity for the 1-year-old class ⛄️Genius Kids Club Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Production Aspiring childcare worker Childcare Ideas
♬ My Binky – Baby Version – HeyKids Nursery Rhymes

Recommended for 1-year-olds! Here’s how to make a simple yet cute snow globe.

First, prepare white construction paper cut into a circle.

Next, use crayons in any colors you like to draw circles on the paper.

After drawing the circles, stick colorful round stickers on top.

Peeling the stickers is great practice for using little fingers.

Finally, attach the frame and base you prepared from colored construction paper, and it’s done! Kids can draw to their hearts’ content, so give it a try.

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kepiko

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[Paper Plate] Tissue Paper Snowman

Why not make a cute snowman using tissue paper and paper plates? It’s a simple craft, so try it with the kids! First, make a circular cut in the center of the paper plate and fold the cut section upward.

Then, decorate the plate with balled-up tissue paper and draw the snowman’s face—that’s it! For one-year-olds, encourage them to try crumpling the tissue paper and sticking on the facial features.

Please have a teacher supervise while they work.

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miyabi

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[Balloon Stamp] Daruma

https://www.tiktok.com/@chooobo2/video/7309429103944322305

You can make stamps with a balloon! Here’s a simple yet cute Daruma craft recommended for 1-year-olds.

You’ll need a balloon, construction paper in your favorite color, paint, pre-made Daruma face parts, gold origami paper, and glue.

Put double-sided tape on the back of the face parts ahead of time.

First, inflate the balloon to a size that’s easy to hold.

Dip the inflated balloon in paint and stamp a round shape on the construction paper, imagining the shape of a Daruma.

Once it’s dry, stick on the face parts—kids can enjoy it like placing stickers.

Finally, tear the gold origami paper and stick it on the belly, and you’re done!

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kepiko

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Shishimai (lion dance) made with tissue paper and colored cellophane

Here’s how to make a round shishimai (lion dance) craft using tissue paper and colored cellophane! Even one-year-olds can enjoy making it.

You’ll need construction paper, tissue paper, colored cellophane, a clear plastic cup with a lid, round stickers with a spiral pattern drawn on them, crayons or pens, cellophane tape, and glue.

First, crumple the tissue paper and colored cellophane and put them into the cup.

Stick the round sticker onto the cup lid.

Together with an adult, make the lion dance face parts from construction paper.

Once you’ve assembled the parts with glue, attach them to the cup lid with cellophane tape, and you’re done!

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kepiko

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ozoni making

https://www.tiktok.com/@chooobo2/video/7313883202387496194

Enjoy sticking stickers! Here’s a New Year’s ozōni craft that’s perfect for one-year-olds.

Prepare the ozōni parts ahead of time by cutting them out of colored construction paper.

For the mochi, get thin white paper like tissue paper or crepe paper.

First, glue the ingredient pieces inside the bowl piece.

Next, crumple tissue paper into a ball, wrap it, and make the mochi.

Draw the toasted marks on the mochi with crayons.

Finally, attach the mochi with double-sided tape to finish.

It’s fine to glue the ingredients, but since the mochi is three-dimensional, use double-sided tape to secure it well.

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kepiko

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