[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.
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[January] Enjoy with 2-year-olds! A collection of craft ideas that capture winter and New Year (71–80)
[Scribble] Ema (votive plaque) making
![[Scribble] Ema (votive plaque) making](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0ZzUTQdBIOc/sddefault.jpg)
Why not make ema (Shinto votive plaques) with the children as a recommended craft or wall decoration for January? It will be a great opportunity for one-year-olds to experience traditional New Year’s customs! First, the teacher should prepare the ema bases in advance.
It’s nice to add auspicious motifs like pine, bamboo, and plum.
Next, let the children freely draw with crayons, pens, or paints! How about entrusting it to their free imagination and creating one-of-a-kind works of art?
[Toilet Paper Tube] Rolling Snowman
![[Toilet Paper Tube] Rolling Snowman](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BufltcgzIp4/sddefault.jpg)
Try making a rolling snowman using toilet paper cores! To make it, stack two halves of a paper core wrapped in white origami paper, attach them together with double-sided tape, and add a hat and face.
If working with one-year-olds, have the teacher prepare the snowman base, and let the children enjoy decorating by sticking round stickers or drawing.
It’s a perfect idea for the cold season.
Why not incorporate this craft on a chilly day?
[Paper Plate] Wobbly Daruma
![[Paper Plate] Wobbly Daruma](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IOryVNPY9uk/sddefault.jpg)
This is a fun project to make wobbling daruma dolls that are perfect as New Year’s decorations! Cut out the daruma parts from construction paper, glue them together, and have the children draw the faces.
It’ll be exciting to see what unique expressions they create! After that, simply stick the daruma onto a paper plate folded in half.
As an added twist, before cutting the daruma into a circle, let the children scribble freely to create patterns—this makes for a lovely, decorated daruma! The gently wobbling dolls are sure to capture the children’s curiosity.
[Paper Plate] Swaying Shishimai (Lion Dance)
![[Paper Plate] Swaying Shishimai (Lion Dance)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pN8IooSPdto/sddefault.jpg)
A wobbling shishimai lion made with a paper plate—perfect for New Year’s crafts! The highlight is the shishimai’s humorous expression.
It’s also a great chance for children to experience Japanese tradition.
To make it, simply fold a paper plate in half, attach green construction paper, and add patterns and a face.
Kids can enjoy sticking on round stickers for patterns and gluing the face parts of the shishimai.
Since it uses fine motor skills and boosts concentration, it’s an activity well worth trying with one-year-olds.
snow globe
Making fun snow globes with kids using everyday materials is perfect for indoor crafting during the cold winter season.
All you need are a plastic bottle, paper clay, potato starch, and glue.
How to complete a snow globe full of originality with such simple materials depends on the children’s imagination and the teacher’s support.
You can make an oni figure out of paper clay with Setsubun on February 3 in mind, or sprinkle in heart-shaped trinkets for Valentine’s Day—both are lovely ideas.
The moment a child’s smile breaks out as they gaze at the finished snow globe will be a priceless treasure in any childcare setting.
Why not try this idea and help nurture the children’s creativity?
Salt painting
How about trying sparkling, adorable salt painting? Since it’s a unique craft that uses real salt, it’s sure to capture children’s interest! First, draw a New Year–themed design on construction paper using white craft glue, then sprinkle plenty of salt over it.
Please have the teacher handle this step.
Next, the children can have fun painting with water-diluted watercolor paints.
Finally, let it dry thoroughly, and it’s done.
The salt painting’s dimensional texture gives it great presence, making it a lovely choice for a January wall display.
Kadomatsu made from paper towel/toilet paper cores
Kadomatsu are New Year’s decorations traditionally placed at a home’s gate.
You don’t often see them at private homes, but some children may have seen them displayed in front of shops.
This time, let’s make a kadomatsu using toilet paper rolls.
Cover the roll with green origami paper and cut the tip at an angle.
Make three of these and place them in a box made from a milk carton.
Then, use pipe cleaners and decorative pom-poms to add a festive touch.
Since this craft involves scissors, teachers should handle any steps that are difficult for two-year-olds.
