Lovely childcare

Perfect for January bulletin boards! A collection of Daruma craft ideas kids will love in childcare settings

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.

Many teachers are probably thinking about what kinds of daruma crafts they can enjoy making with the children to brighten up the nursery room in January.

Here, we’ve gathered ideas you can also use for classroom wall displays, from stamp play and wobbling mechanisms made with paper plates to growth records that use handprints and footprints.

Let the children enjoy the feel of paint, freely express themselves with glue and crayons, and try daruma crafts that bring out their “I want to try!” spirit.

Use these ideas as a reference for creating a warm wall display that’s perfect for starting the new year.

子どもたちの作品は芸術作品として扱われるため、本文では「制作（seisaku）」という用語を用います。

I want to decorate the January wall! A collection of daruma craft ideas for enjoying in childcare (41–50)

[Origami] Picture Book “Daruma-san”

Origami “Daruma-san” Picture Book [Easy Folding Method]

[Origami] Picture Book “Daruma-san”

How about making daruma out of origami, inspired by the beloved children’s picture book series “Daruma-san”? Since there are some intricate folds, it’ll go more smoothly if teachers or guardians work together with the kids.

You’ll end up with unique daruma figures that capture the cozy vibe of the books.

Let the children draw the facial expressions freely.

They can create daruma with a personal, original touch.

You can also add other characters from the books—like Banana-san or Strawberry-san—to make the wall display even livelier!

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I want to decorate the January wall! A collection of daruma craft ideas for enjoying in childcare (51–60)

Construction paper: Simple daruma

[Wall Decorations] How to Make a New Year Daruma! Daruma, Winter, December, January—Easy with Free Templates! Construction paper craft, wall decoration, papercraft, paper craft

Construction paper: Simple daruma

A wall decoration of daruma dolls made by combining construction paper will brighten up the space with the vivid contrast unique to construction paper.

Since you only need to prepare colored paper for each part and glue them together, it’s suitable even for 2-year-old classes that are just starting to practice using glue.

The facial parts are small, so it’s best for teachers or guardians to prepare them in advance.

There are also websites nowadays where you can download templates.

If you’re unsure about the facial parts, feel free to use those as a reference.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Daruma ema

[Origami] How to Make an Ema (Daruma, Exam Success Prayer) – Origami

Daruma ema

Here’s how to make a “Daruma ema” out of origami—combining the lucky Daruma doll with an ema votive plaque.

Because people once dedicated actual horses, which were believed to be vehicles of the gods, the character for horse is still used in the word ema today.

It might be fun to make these with children while sharing such trivia.

If you write your wish on a Daruma ema you’ve made with care, it just might come true.

Since there are some detailed folds, work together with a parent or teacher.

Thread a ribbon through the top of the ema and display it!

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Cat snowman

[Origami] How to make a Cat Daruma and a Daruma

Cat snowman

A cat daruma with cute triangular ears.

It’s perfect for cat-loving kids, and also great for a parent–child craft activity! Since there are steps that involve making lots of creases, younger children should try it with adult support.

By slightly changing the finishing touches, you can alter the color of the cat ears or even turn it into a regular daruma.

Draw the face however you like, use different colors of origami paper, and add your own twists to create a one-of-a-kind cat daruma!

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Handprint Stamp Painting: Daruma’s Hands

[Kindergarten/Daycare] May “Daruma-san’s Hands”! Handprint Stamp Art/Craft

Handprint Stamp Painting: Daruma's Hands

Handprints are a great way to feel your children’s growth, so it’s nice to keep lots of them.

Let’s make a daruma that incorporates those handprints.

First, prepare paper cut into the shape of a daruma and use a sponge stamper to add color.

For the daruma’s face, attach one made from origami.

You can use stickers for the facial features, or let the children draw them for a cute finish.

Stamp your child’s handprint next to the daruma to complete it! Since you’ll need scissors to make the template and facial parts, it will go smoothly if teachers or guardians prepare them in advance.

If you make one every year, it will serve as a growth record that shows just how much they’ve grown over the year.

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New Year’s 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

New Year's first calligraphy daruma

This craft combines kakizome—New Year’s first calligraphy, a long-standing seasonal tradition—with the lucky Daruma doll.

By painting the Daruma’s face with a brush, you can create a bold, distinctly Japanese look that differs from crayons or markers.

The unique brush strokes allow each child’s individuality to shine.

Becoming familiar with brushes and ink is also a valuable experience for children.

Decorating the Daruma’s body as well will make an even cuter doll that really captures the New Year’s atmosphere.

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Hoshino Takashi

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A tiger daruma that can also be used for fukuwarai

New Year’s Craft: Tiger Daruma Fukuwarai Wall Display♪

A tiger daruma that can also be used for fukuwarai

A tiger-and-daruma combo: the Tiger Daruma.

By combining it with an animal kids love, children may become more familiar with the daruma, a traditional Japanese folk craft.

Cut colored construction paper to make the base daruma and parts for the tiger’s face.

When working with small children, it might be best for an adult to pre-cut the parts and let the child do the pasting.

If you attach the facial parts with easy-to-remove materials like masking tape, you can enjoy using them for games like Fukuwarai even after taking the wall decoration down!

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