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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- Origami to Enjoy January and Winter! A Collection of Simple Ideas to Use in Childcare
- Perfect for January bulletin boards! A collection of Daruma craft ideas kids will love in childcare settings
- [Childcare] Ideas for January wall decorations
- Have fun with one-year-olds! A collection of craft ideas featuring recommended January motifs
- [January Crafts] Fun DIY Ideas for Kids: Perfect for Use in Childcare
- [For Age 4] Must-Read in January! Picture Books to Enjoy Winter
- Brighten up your winter daycare room! A collection of recommended wall decoration ideas
- [Nursery/Kindergarten] New Year’s wall decorations! A collection of craft ideas to enjoy with children
- From New Year’s games to winter crafts! A roundup of January recreation activities to enjoy in childcare
- Ideas for Winter-Themed Crafts and Bulletin Board Projects for 5-Year-Olds
[For 4-year-olds] January Crafts! A collection of fun ideas with winter and New Year themes (111–120)
A cozy hat made with crayon-resist painting
@shokaaijien Winter CraftTsunashimaShohana Nursery School#Nursery schoolNursery teacher / Childcare worker#IWantToConnectWithChildcareWorkerswall surface4-year-old child#knit beanieSnowman
Winter Begins feat. Noriyuki Makihara – Every Little Thing
Cold winters call for cozy essentials! Here’s an idea for making a warm hat using crayon-resist art.
You’ll need white construction paper cut into a hat shape, a background sheet of construction paper, origami paper in your favorite colors, crayons, paint, a brush, glue, and scissors.
First, draw patterns on the white hat-shaped paper using a white crayon.
Next, paint over the crayon with watercolor paint.
Finally, stick pieces of origami paper on like a pom-pom to finish! Mount it on the background paper to display.
It’s sure to warm the heart!
snow globe
A snow globe lets you enjoy the sight of fluffy, snow-like flakes swirling in a small space.
You can easily make one using small containers like those for lactic acid drinks or drinkable yogurt! First, put your favorite beads and glitter into the container.
Adding lots of glitter makes it sparkle beautifully.
After adding the beads and glitter, pour in water and liquid laundry starch (or clear glue).
Close the lid, then seal around it with vinyl tape to prevent leaks—and you’re done! Turn the container upside down, and the beads and glitter will flutter and drift inside.
Octopus made from a plastic bag
Here’s how to make a plastic bag kite using a supermarket bag you have at home.
Draw your favorite illustrations on the bag with a permanent marker, then tie cut strings to the bag’s handles and knot the two free ends together.
Attach colored raffia tape or packing string to the bottom of the bag to represent the kite’s tails.
Finish by adding stickers.
If tying the strings to the bag is tricky, try doing it together with a friend! It’s a fun item you can enjoy flying even indoors.
Handmade omikuji (fortune slips)
@kids_worker Let's make a handmade omikuji♪Parent-child timeHow to spend the New YearNew Year’s holidaychild#HandmadeToysOmikuji
♬ Katakoto – sloppy dim
I wonder what today’s fortune will be! This time, I’ll introduce an idea for a handmade omikuji (fortune stick).
Here’s what you’ll need: a cylindrical snack box, six ice cream sticks, colored construction paper, glue, craft adhesive, and a utility knife.
First, cover the cylindrical snack box with the colored paper.
Next, use the utility knife to make a hole in the lid.
It should be big enough for the ice cream stick to come out.
Finally, write the fortunes on the ice cream sticks, and you’re done! You can also customize what you write on the sticks to make the activity even more fun.
roly-poly doll
How about making a lucky Daruma for a New Year’s craft? Here’s a fun wobbling “roly-poly” Daruma made with a paper plate.
To make it, fold a paper plate in half, attach the Daruma body and face—cut from colored construction paper—then draw the face with crayons and finish by adding origami paper or stickers.
As an extra touch, you can color the construction paper with crayons or paint before cutting out the Daruma to make each piece more unique.
Feel free to adapt the activity to suit the children’s ages!
