For 4-Year-Olds: January Crafts! A Collection of Fun Ideas with Winter and New Year Themes

Let’s play with a handmade Fukuwarai

[For 4-year-olds] Laugh together! Let’s make and play Fukuwarai!

Let’s play fukuwarai with family and friends over the New Year.

First, stick a piece of construction paper cut into a face shape onto a backing sheet, and draw the hair freely with crayons or pens.

Next, draw the facial features on a separate sheet and cut them out.

For small parts like the eyes, it’s recommended to outline them with a border first, which makes them easier to cut with scissors.

It’s fun to see how the expression of the face you drew changes depending on how you place the parts.

If you mix and match your friends’ pieces, you can play again and again and really liven things up!

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Handmade kadomatsu (traditional Japanese New Year pine decoration)

Let's make and display it for New Year's! Kadomatsu decoration

Let’s celebrate the New Year with a kadomatsu decoration brimming with vitality.

It’s great that it can be easily made using scrap materials.

For the pine, fold green construction paper in half, make fine slits, then wrap it around a bamboo skewer with the tip trimmed off and secure it with tape.

For the bamboo, glue light green construction paper onto a toilet paper roll and cut it diagonally.

For the center piece, overlap the top using double-sided tape so it sticks out, and you’re done.

Wrapping construction paper around the bamboo—decorated with Japanese-pattern origami—will make it look even more festive!

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A spinning top made from a milk carton

How to Make Spinning Tops Kids Will Love — A Handmade Craft Perfect for New Year’s!

A classic New Year’s game is the spinning top.

Here’s an easy way to make one using a milk carton.

First, cut the four corners straight with scissors.

Next, cut it into shorter pieces of about the same length.

It’s safer if you trim the corners.

You can also do this step in advance.

Draw any design you like, then tape a plastic bottle cap to the center on both sides, and you’re done.

It’s fun to see how the patterns the children drew look when spinning.

You can also have the kids compete to see who can spin theirs the longest—it really livens things up!

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Milk carton battledore

[Daycare/Kindergarten] New Year’s Craft! How to Make a Milk Carton Battledore (Hagoita) [100-Yen Store DIY]

For the New Year, let’s play with a hagoita (traditional paddle) that you can easily make from a milk carton.

Open the milk carton and fold both sides diagonally.

It’s a good idea to use a ruler to make crisp creases.

Attach chopsticks to the handle area with duct tape or similar.

If you also tape chopsticks along the sides for reinforcement, it will be sturdier—highly recommended.

Finish by taping the edge of the paddle and the handle with vinyl tape.

Make the shuttlecock by wrapping tape around a ball of aluminum foil.

Decorate your paddle with Japanese-patterned origami or draw New Year-themed pictures to create your very own hagoita!

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Daruma made from construction paper

[Production] How to Make New Year’s Crafts [Nursery School/Kindergarten]

Daruma dolls are lucky decorations for the New Year.

This time, I’ll show you an easy way to make one using a paper plate.

If the children don’t know what a daruma is, it’s good to explain it first before starting.

First, fold a small, round-cut paper plate in half.

Next, glue together two red construction paper circles.

Draw the face on the upper half of a white paper circle, then cut out patterns from origami paper and stick them on.

Using gold gives it a festive New Year’s feel.

Display the cute, wobbly daruma and enjoy a fun New Year!

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A hagoita with my own face

One and Only in the World! January Winter Craft: “Hagoita with My Own Face” ~For 3- and 4-Year-Olds~ [Nursery/Kindergarten]

Here’s how to make a decorative hagoita (traditional paddle) using construction paper and origami.

The hagoita features a woman in a kimono.

This time, you’ll draw the children’s faces, which will make the piece feel more personal.

It’s a good idea to pre-cut the construction paper for the paddle.

The folding steps for the shuttlecock and the kimono include some tricky parts, so it’s best to go slowly.

Once you’ve drawn the face and glued everything onto the backing paper, it’s complete.

If you cut gold origami paper into flower shapes and add them, it will look even more festive!

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Hanging ornament of a snowman

[Winter Craft] Adorably Round and Cute! Hanging Snowman Decoration [Nursery/Kindergarten]

Let’s decorate the ceiling and walls with snowmen! Here are some ideas for hanging snowman decorations.

You will need white construction paper, colored construction paper of your choice, white thread, white straws, ribbon, scissors, an awl (or hole punch), and clear tape.

First, use the white construction paper to make circles in various sizes.

Sketch and cut out the snowman’s face, nose, and hat on the paper as well.

Next, punch a hole in the center of each circle and thread them onto the string, alternating with short pieces of straw.

Finally, add a ribbon and attach the snowman’s face—your decoration is complete!