[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 the New Year (81–90)
Snowman Stencil
This is an idea that uses stencils—a painting technique where you place a template and add color to create patterns.
Dabbing on the paint is fun, so why not try it with two-year-olds? First, cut a clear file into a circle to make a snowman template.
Since this step involves using a craft knife, make sure a teacher or guardian does it.
Next, place the template on construction paper, dip a sponge in paint, and dab to add color.
To finish, decorate with a hat, mittens, and other pieces cut from colored paper.
You can also customize it by adding snowflakes or fir trees in the background, or by giving the snowman a ribbon or a scarf.
Snowman made with a paper plate
When it comes to winter-themed motifs, a snowman is perfect.
Let’s make an easy snowman using a paper plate! It’s a craft that lets you enjoy decorating freely, so it can help nurture children’s imagination.
First, cut out a circular section from the inside of the paper plate with a utility knife, leaving a rim, then flip it so it faces upward.
After that, just draw the snowman’s face and add details like a felt scarf, hat, and mittens! You can also decorate the body with sparkly stickers to give it a festive finish.
Please note that cutting the paper plate with a utility knife can be dangerous, so an adult should handle that step.
In conclusion
We’ve introduced craft ideas that are perfect for a class of two-year-olds in January.
With themes like New Year’s good-luck charms and winter traditions, children can enjoy using their hands through activities such as stamping and collage, while becoming familiar with seasonal events.
Even when using the same materials, each child’s unique creation will emerge—so watch over their work and spend time together with the children, adding color to the start of the new year.