For 4-Year-Olds: January Crafts! A Collection of Fun Ideas with Winter and New Year Themes
When it comes to crafts for four-year-olds in January, it’s all about New Year’s and winter-themed motifs! So this time, we’re sharing craft ideas perfect for the season.
From paper-cutting with scissors and a three-dimensional kagami mochi made with whipped paint, to a shishimai (lion dance) you can make and play with, these projects are full of elements that spark children’s curiosity.
As they use their hands and engage with seasonal events, their interest in Japan’s traditional culture will naturally grow as well.
Children also feel a special attachment to creations they’ve made themselves.
Be sure to incorporate these into your childcare activities! Because the children’s creations are treated as works, the term “制作” (seisaku, creation/production) is used in the text.
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[For 4-year-olds] January Crafts! A collection of fun ideas themed around winter and New Year (1–10)
Cute mittens origami

Here’s an idea for making mitten gloves out of origami.
First, fold the paper in half twice to create a square and make crease lines.
Place the paper with the colored side up, then fold the bottom edge up to align with the central crease.
Fold the left corner of the folded-up section downward to form a triangle, then unfold the bottom edge once and make a roll fold along the crease.
Turn the paper over, and fold the left and right edges diagonally so they align just outside the center line.
Next, fold the top left and right corners toward the center line.
Finally, fold down the top corner to finish.
When making the second mitten, reverse which corner you fold into a triangle so you get the opposite hand.
Made with sponge stamps! Fun oden

Using sponge stamps, we’ll create patterns for oden ingredients.
For example, for konnyaku, if you press a coarse-textured sponge or a sponge with raised bumps onto a triangle-cut piece of gray construction paper like a stamp, you can make the konnyaku’s speckled texture.
In the same way, using a sponge with carved grooves will make the daikon’s striations, and a sponge with fine cuts can create the wavy, mottled pattern of fish cakes.
Once your oden ingredients are ready, paste them onto construction paper cut into the shape of a pot to complete your oden hot pot!
For winter childcare! Origami oden

Let’s make oden out of origami, with three items—konnyaku, daikon, and chikuwa—skewered on a stick.
First, fold a gray sheet of origami paper twice to make a small triangle, draw a pattern, and you’ll have the konnyaku.
Next, fold a yellow sheet using the “cushion fold,” then fold all four corners inward to round it out; draw a cross-shaped slit to finish the daikon.
For the chikuwa, draw a pattern on brown origami paper and roll it into a tube shape.
Finally, fold another sheet into a long, thin skewer and attach the three pieces you made.
Your oden is complete!
For 4-Year-Olds: January Crafts! A Collection of Fun Ideas with Winter and New Year Themes (11–20)
Perfect as a decoration! The Chimney House

Here’s a cute way to fold a little house that also works as an ornament.
First, place the origami paper colored side up and fold it in half into a square twice to make crease lines.
Fold both top corners toward the center to make creases.
After folding the corners, fold the edges to the crease lines twice.
Fold up the bottom edge just a little.
Next, turn it over and fold the left and right sides to the center.
Fold the right corner up to the top crease.
Fold the left edge inward along the crease.
Finally, fold the bottom section up to meet the center crease.
Glue it in place, and you’re done!
Paper cup kendama

Here’s how to make an easy kendama with paper cups.
Even children who’ve never played kendama before will grow attached to one they make themselves.
First, draw pictures on two paper cups, and tape one end of a piece of cotton twine to the bottom of one cup.
Next, firmly tape the bottoms of the two cups together with vinyl tape.
For the ball, crumple aluminum foil into a sphere and secure it with tape; attach it to the twine, and you’re done.
To get the ball into the cup smoothly, you’ll need to experiment with how you move it.
Try it together with your friends!
Snowman made with paper cutting
@hoikusi1 Winter Wall Display: A stylish snowman crafted by a preschool teacher (for 4-year-olds). A preschool teacher creates a stylish “snowman” for a winter wall display. Target age: 4 years old.ChildcareNursery teacher / Childcare worker#NurseryTeacher#FirstYearNurseryTeacher#Nursery School Craft#Making PlayorigamiOrigamiOrigami playEarly childhood education materials#Childcare topicAspiring childcare workersolidworkTranslationStylishWinterSnowman
♪ Original Song – Manual for First-Year Nursery Teachers – Manual for First-Year Nursery Teachers
Let’s make something with scissors! Here are some ideas for making a snowman with paper cutouts.
You’ll need scissors, a compass, a sheet of construction paper for the background, construction paper for the snowman’s hat, and two sheets of white origami paper.
First, fold one sheet of origami paper, sketch where you want to make the cuts, and then cut it out.
Next, use the compass to draw a circle on the other sheet of origami paper and cut it out.
Finally, glue everything onto the background construction paper, and you’re done! You can also draw the snowman’s face with crayons and add falling snow on the background for a cute touch.
Give it a try!
A bubble art snowman
https://www.tiktok.com/@levwell_hoikushi/video/7587300923865648405Soap-bubble art creates unique patterns.
This time, let’s use the technique to make a snowman.
First, prepare some colored bubble solution.
Just mix soap solution into white paint thinned with water.
Dip a toilet paper roll core into the bubble solution and use it as a stamp so that two circles connect.
These will be the snowman’s head and body.
Once it’s dry, draw the face, hands, and a scarf with pens or crayons to finish a cute snowman.



