[For 3-year-olds] Perfect January Winter & New Year Crafts! A Collection of Fun, Hands-On Ideas
Do you find yourself wondering every year what to make with the children in January’s childcare activities? It can be surprisingly hard to find crafts that three-year-olds will enjoy while taking in New Year’s motifs and the feeling of winter.
In this guide, we’ll share ideas you can enjoy together with three-year-olds—from New Year-perfect projects like paper plate spinning tops, kagami mochi, and shishimai (lion dance), to wintery crafts like fluffy sheep and snowmen.
Activities that use hands and fingertips, such as finger stamping, finger painting, and origami, will spark children’s curiosity.
Some of the things you make can also be played with afterward, so please use these ideas for inspiration! Because the children’s creations are treated as artworks, we use the term “seisaku” (production/artwork) in the text.
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[For 3-year-olds] Winter and New Year crafts perfect for January! A collection of fun, make-and-enjoy ideas (121–130)
Snowman made with a paper plate
Here’s a paper-plate snowman idea that also helps train children’s fine motor skills.
Stick double-sided tape on two paper plates and attach them together, then glue on construction paper cut into the shape of a hat.
Glue on the eye and nose pieces, draw the mouth with a pen, and add round stickers wherever you like on the snowman.
Finish by attaching arms made from cut pipe cleaners.
Preparing the parts in advance lets the children enjoy the process—another plus.
These paper-plate snowmen are adorable displayed on a wall.
Paper plate spinning top
Recommended for 3-year-olds! Here’s a craft for a paper plate spinning top you can make and play with during New Year’s.
You will need: a paper plate, clear tape, stickers, and a plastic bottle cap.
First, make two cuts in the paper plate like pizza slices, and cut through at one spot.
Leave a small blank area in the center, and decorate the plate with stickers.
Colored paper also looks cute.
Next, tape the cut gap closed with clear tape.
Finally, glue the plastic bottle cap to the center—and it’s done!
Hagoita made with vegetable stamps
Here’s an idea for making hagoita, the traditional New Year’s paddles beloved by children, using vegetable stamps.
Cut drawing paper into the shape of a hagoita, then dip cross-sections of vegetables in paint and stamp them onto the paper.
Stamping on a plain white sheet lets children create freely drawn illustrations.
Using vegetables like bell peppers, okra, and lotus root produces a variety of patterns.
You can also switch up the paint colors to create different looks even with the same vegetable.
It’s a hagoita craft that kids can enjoy easily without using scissors or other sharp tools.
Snowman sticker activity
A snowman craft idea that lets kids enjoy the fun, sticky feel of placing stickers.
Once you paste circular cutouts of construction paper onto a backing sheet, you’re ready to go.
Children can freely draw their own snowmen with colored pencils or crayons.
Having round stickers on hand is great for decorating falling snow or adding snowman parts however they like.
Since you don’t need scissors or cutters, kids can work on it safely.
You can also make the snowmen extra cute by adding pipe cleaners or beads.
[For 3-year-olds] Perfect Winter & New Year Crafts for January! A Collection of Fun-to-Make Ideas (131–140)
Daruma threading
@haruharo_made TikTok Document New Year’s Craft / Daruma Lacing Materials: • Yarn • Construction paper • Scissors • Cellophane tape • Glue • Hole punch • Paper plate • Round stickersCrafts for 4-year-olds Crafts for 5-year-olds#3-year-old crafts#2-year-old's craftCrafts for 1-year-oldsCrafts for 0-year-oldsProduction#Nursery schoolWall decoration#StayHomeTime#AtHomePlayProduction ideas#Nursery School CraftWinter Craft#KindergartenKindergarten craftNursery teacher / Childcare workerKindergarten Teacherwall surface #ChristmasTreeProduction for children under age (infants and toddlers) Simple craftMade in December # January productionMade in February New Year’s craft #Daruma making Tatsu Production#Mask making Mask#paint Sticker application Round stickerSticker-pasting craft Hanging ornamentdrawing paper #ConstructionPaperArt Paint making paper plate Paper plate craft Paper Plate Craft Threading (a cord/strap through a hole)
♬ Mela! – Ryokuoushoku Shakai
Enjoy lacing! Here’s a recommended Daruma craft for 3-year-olds.
What you’ll need: yarn, construction paper, cellophane tape, a paper plate, round stickers, and Daruma parts.
Cut out the center of the paper plate.
Use a hole punch to make holes all around the inner circle.
Thread one end of the red string through a hole and tie it.
Put a small piece of cellophane tape on the other end to make threading easier, then lace the string through the surrounding holes, connecting them around.
Attach the Daruma’s face and body parts.
Add round stickers and pieces like plum, bamboo, and pine around the edge to finish!
Shishimai (Lion Dance) Made with Cardboard Stamps
@chooobo2 Shishimai making 🎍#Childcare Crafting#Nursery School Craft# January productionNew Year’s craft
♬ NEW LOOK – MISAMO
A wall decoration of a shishimai (lion dance) recommended for 3-year-olds! Perfect for the New Year.
Prepare two pieces of cardboard.
Roll them up like a spiral to leave a curve imprint, then slightly offset the two pieces and roll them together.
Once you’re done rolling, secure firmly with clear tape to make your stamp! Stamp white paint onto colored construction paper, then make the lion dance face parts.
You can use stickers, or draw the face with pens or crayons—both are cute.
Finally, paste all the parts onto the colored paper, decorate the border with masking tape, attach a string, and it’s complete!
Daruma wall decoration
These Daruma wall decorations let each child express their own ideas freely.
Prepare templates for the Daruma parts sized to fit the backing paper, then cut out the Daruma shapes.
After sticking the Daruma body onto the backing, add the eyes, mouth, and nose parts.
The key point is to let the children place the eyebrows and mouth in any direction they like.
Tear origami paper in favorite colors—such as green or gold—and glue the pieces onto construction paper to finish.
It’s a project where kids can enjoy freely moving pens or crayons and the fun, tactile process of sticking paper pieces on.