![[January] Enjoy with 2-year-olds! A collection of craft ideas that capture winter and the New Year](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/oHYiRyuOpw8/maxresdefault.webp)
[January] Enjoy with 2-year-olds! A collection of craft ideas that capture winter and the New Year
January in early childhood education is a season to enjoy traditional New Year’s games and decorations.
For two-year-olds, creating crafts inspired by Japanese culture—such as kites, daruma dolls, and kagamimochi—turns into an experience full of new discoveries.
Hands-on activities like stamping and collage, which let children freely express themselves through textures, expand their imagination and deepen their interest in seasonal events.
Here, we introduce January craft ideas you can enjoy together with two-year-olds.
Savor the joy of making things together while feeling the spirit of January! Because the children’s creations are treated as works of art, we use the term “seisaku” (artwork/production) in the text.
[January] Enjoy with 2-year-olds! A collection of craft ideas that capture winter and New Year (1–10)
Snowman sticker activity
Here’s a snowman sticker activity that helps 2-year-olds develop fine motor skills while having fun! First, teachers or caregivers cut construction paper into circles to make the snowman.
Next, glue the cut pieces onto a backing sheet and decorate the snowman with round stickers.
Children can place stickers as buttons on the snowman’s body, or use white round stickers as snow—great for nurturing their imagination.
To finish, they can draw the snowman’s face with crayons and enjoy some doodling, too!
Gloves with a pattern of hands
Why not use children’s handprints to make artful handprint mittens? It’s perfect for 2-year-olds to enjoy while creating.
First, fold a sheet of construction paper in half, trace the outline of the children’s hands on one side, and cut it out with scissors.
Next, cut tissue paper into small pieces—kids can also tear it by hand! Finally, glue the cut or torn tissue paper onto the other side of the construction paper, and you’re done.
The colorful tissue peeking through the handprint cutout makes a lovely piece of art! You can also switch it up by using patterned origami paper instead of tissue paper.
Daruma made with tissue paper
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0tdYVlJ9KC/Daruma dolls are perfect for New Year’s, aren’t they? A daruma represents Bodhidharma, the monk who brought Buddhism from India, modeled in the posture of seated meditation.
According to legend, his arms and legs withered away from meditating so long, which is why the doll has that shape.
That bold face reflects the fact that he was Indian.
How about making a simple daruma using a clear plastic cup? First, pack crumpled tissue paper into the plastic cup.
Once it’s filled, seal it with a round piece of colored paper.
Add the face and the gold pattern on the belly, and you’re done.
Wobbly Snowman
https://www.tiktok.com/@hoiku.labo/video/7441763620037446930Let me introduce a cute wobbling snowman that sways side to side.
You will need a paper plate, colored construction paper, pens in white, red, and black, and double-sided tape.
First, fold the paper plate in half, then use double-sided tape to attach construction paper cut into the shapes of the snowman’s head and a bucket hat.
Make mitten shapes from the construction paper, draw patterns with the pens, and draw the snowman’s body and face as well.
Stick the mittens on with double-sided tape, and you’re done.
If you push the snowman’s body, it will wobble gently from side to side, making it fun to play with.
The steps are simple, so give it a try!
Colorful spinning top
https://www.instagram.com/p/CmYkyKKJP54/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.
Kagami mochi made with stamps
https://www.instagram.com/p/DCv_onhzATN/If you place a stencil and dab on white stamps, you’ll end up with a delicious-looking kagami mochi.
First, place large and small stencils cut into kagami mochi shapes onto colored construction paper, dip a stamp—made by wrapping cotton and gauze around a chopstick core—into white paint, and dab it on.
The pitter-patter stamping texture resembles mochi, and that feel is likely to be fun.
Once the mochi body is done, stick colored paper of a sanpō (offering stand) beneath it and a mandarin orange on top to finish.
It’s fun, so definitely give it a try!
propeller octopus
https://www.tiktok.com/@yuumaama2022/video/7318581184303320321Kite flying is a traditional New Year’s pastime, isn’t it? This time, I’d like to introduce a propeller kite you can make.
You’ll need one-eighth-size drawing paper, thick paper (cardstock), a pencil, scissors, and kite string.
Cut the drawing paper in half, and cut the thick paper to the same size as one of the six equal sections you’d get if you divided the drawing paper into sixths.
Use the thick paper as a ruler: align it with the corners of the drawing paper and draw two lines, then put small marks at the edges.
Feel free to decorate both sides of the drawing paper however you like.
When you’re done, cut along the lines with scissors and glue the paper so that the marks line up.
Next, punch a hole where the pieces overlap, thread the kite string through, and tie it tightly so it won’t come loose.
Then measure out about 70 centimeters of string, tie it to a strip of thick paper, and secure it with tape so it won’t come off—that’s it.
It spins by itself just by running, so you can enjoy it indoors too.