Fun January Crafts! A Collection of Ideas You Can Make and Play With for 5-Year-Olds

Winter origami! Cute kotatsu

[Winter Origami] How to Fold a Kotatsu [Origami]

Here is an introduction to making a kotatsu out of origami.

First, fold a sheet of origami paper in half in the color you like.

Since it’s a kotatsu, a patterned paper might be cuter.

Then fold back about one-third.

After folding, unfold it, fold it to half that width, and return it.

On the back side, fold back one-third as well.

Next, fold the back diagonally to create the kotatsu’s slope, and the main body is complete.

Now make the tabletop for the kotatsu.

Use a quarter-size sheet of origami paper for this.

Next, make the mandarin orange, which is essential for a kotatsu.

This one is very small, so have an adult help you.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Three homemade kites!

[Craft] Introducing Recommended Homemade Kites for the New Year [Nursery/Kindergarten]

Let’s make kites that are perfect for New Year’s.

It’s also a lot of fun to go out and fly the ones you’ve made.

I’ll introduce three types of kites.

The first is a twirly, spiral kite.

It’s great because you can practice cutting curves while making it.

The next kite is made by stapling construction paper into a paper-airplane-like shape.

You only need a stapler and a hole punch for this one.

The third kite uses a plastic shopping bag.

First, fold an A4 sheet of paper and draw lines to make a template.

Then cut the plastic bag based on that template.

If you draw a picture on it before assembling, you can create a one-of-a-kind kite.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Let’s display the first-calligraphy daruma.

[Wall Decorations] 'Lucky Daruma' New Year Decoration – Crafting, Handmade, Origami Decoration, First Day of Spring Decoration, Preschool Craft, Elderly Care Recreation – How to Make a Japanese Daruma

Perfect for the New Year! Let’s try a craft idea for making a daruma.

In this idea, you’ll cut the body, the face base, and the whiskers from construction paper, then use a brush and ink to draw the eyebrows, eyes, nose, and mouth.

You might usually use crayons and not be very familiar with brushes, but think of it like your first calligraphy of the year and draw freely.

Once you’ve finished the expression, attach the whiskers on both sides and glue them to the body.

Then take a strip of gold origami paper, join the two ends to make a teardrop shape, stick it on the body as a decorative pattern, and you’re done!

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sasashina

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Let’s try playing Fukuwarai!

[New Year’s Games] Let’s make a Fukuwarai!

Why not try making a fukuwarai using crayons, scissors, and construction paper? Fukuwarai is a traditional Japanese game said to date back to the mid-Edo period.

First, draw parts like eyes, nose, and mouth on construction paper and cut around each piece.

Then make a base.

For the base, you can either cut pale orange construction paper into a face shape and glue it down, or draw the face with crayons.

Once everything is ready, start arranging the parts.

You can express different emotions—like a smiling face or a sad face—depending on how you place the pieces.

It’s also fun to arrange the parts while blindfolded.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Make a stylish snowman!

[Winter Bulletin Board] Stylish Snowman Craft by Preschool Teachers (for 4-year-olds)

We usually imagine snowmen as pure white, but let’s get creative and turn them into stylish art.

First, fold a sheet of white origami paper and make several cuts.

The key is to cut it so that when you unfold the paper, it forms a round shape.

You’ll get a circular shape with beautiful patterns.

Children will be excited to see how the snowman’s pattern changes depending on where they cut.

Use the patterned cutouts to make the snowman.

If you stick it onto black cardstock, you’ll have a lovely winter craft.

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Nakajima Junko

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Handmade crafts for New Year’s games

Let me show you how to make a battledore and shuttlecock for the classic New Year’s game hanetsuki.

You’ll make the battledore from a milk carton and a pair of chopsticks, and the shuttlecock from tissue paper and aluminum foil.

First, cut off the bottom of the milk carton to make it a rectangle, then cut a strip about 2 cm wide along the side near the former bottom.

Using the creases on both sides, fold the milk carton flat and secure it with tape.

Trim off both corners on the drinking-spout side to create the striking surface.

Next, fold the 2 cm strip you cut earlier in half, sandwich the chopsticks inside, and attach it as a handle.

For the shuttlecock, stack several sheets of tissue paper, shape them into a rectangle, twist one end to form the base, and shape the rest into feathers.

Make three of these, then wrap the twisted bases together with aluminum foil to finish.

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sasashina

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For New Year decorations! Mini kadomatsu

@soramame.sensei

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♬ Oshogatsu Pico Pico Chiptune Version(1376601) – STUDIO incho3

Let me share a handmade idea for a mini kadomatsu you can make with simple steps.

In this idea, you’ll make a kadomatsu, a folding fan, plum blossoms, and red-and-white gohei from origami or construction paper, attach them to bamboo skewers, and create decorative parts.

Then place floral foam in a cup of your choice, insert the skewers, and arrange the parts for good balance.

Finally, fill any gaps with crumpled flower cores to finish.

If the bamboo skewers are too long, it’s best to cut them; however, they’re hard to cut with scissors, so prepare skewers that have been cut to an appropriate length in advance.

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sasashina

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