From New Year’s games to winter crafts! A roundup of January recreation activities to enjoy in childcare

Paku-Paku Lion Sisters

[New Year’s Craft!] It really chomps! A chomp-chomp lion made from a milk carton! [Preschool/Kindergarten Activity] #shorts

The mouth can open and close! Here’s a fun shishimai (lion dance) craft you can make and play with using a milk carton.

You’ll be cutting the milk carton, but be careful—if you cut in the wrong direction, the mouth won’t move.

Cut colored construction paper to match the pieces you cut from the carton and glue it on.

Attach the facial parts made from the colored paper, and draw the mouth with a pen.

Next, cut colored plastic cords, bundle and tie them to make the lion’s hair.

For the body, dye calligraphy paper with paint, let it dry, and attach it to the lion’s face to finish!

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first calligraphy of the year

[5-year-old] Trying first calligraphy!

From children to adults, kakizome is a New Year’s activity that anyone can enjoy.

It originally began as a court ceremony, but it is said to have spread to the common people during the Edo period.

Calligraphy also helps with mindfulness and improving concentration.

Since you’ll be using ink, don’t forget precautions like wearing a smock.

Handling ink and brushes can be challenging, so let’s have five-year-olds give it a try.

Choosing a favorite hiragana character to express can make it a fun and engaging activity.

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Paper plate spinning top

[For Preschool Teachers] Az Sensei’s Easy Craft Play: How to Make a Paper Plate Spinning Top

How about making “paper plate tops” for your January craft activity—easy enough for kids to spin well? When a traditional spinning top feels a bit advanced, the fun part is that you can craft and play together! All you need are a paper plate and a plastic bottle cap.

Fold the paper plate to create a cross-shaped set of creases, then attach the cap at the center—and it’s done! You can also draw on the paper plate to make it extra special.

Let the children decorate freely and create a one-of-a-kind top.

When you spin it, the drawings change and it looks really cool!

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ema (votive wooden plaque)

[New Year Craft for Kids] For preschoolers to elementary schoolers: New Year decorations, stamping, tissue-paper flowers, fun crafting—make an ema (votive plaque). Nurtures fine motor skills and expressive abilities. #PreschoolCrafts

Ema are the items used when making wishes at shrines and temples! Many people probably entrusted their New Year’s wishes for exam success to an ema.

How about making ema by hand and letting children experience this traditional practice? It’s also great for strengthening fine motor skills and nurturing expressive ability, so be sure to include it in your January craft activities! Cut colored construction paper into the shape of an ema, and have the children write their wishes on it.

For children who can’t write yet, drawings are perfectly fine.

Decorating with stamps, strings, or ribbons will make it even more wonderful!

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battledore (a traditional Japanese decorative paddle used for New Year, also used in the game hanetsuki)

[Craft Play] Let’s make a New Year’s “Hagoita” (battledore) using a milk carton

Hanetsuki is one of the traditional New Year’s games.

While it may have become less familiar in recent years, we still want children to know about this tradition.

Did you know you can make a hagoita paddle out of a milk carton? Why not give it a try? Cut the milk carton into the shape of a hagoita, then insert and secure a pair of chopsticks as the handle—done! It’s easy to make, and the best part is you can actually play with it afterward.

If you make the shuttlecock out of yarn, it won’t hurt if it gets hit, so children can play safely.

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Playing postman

[Craft Play] Post Office Pretend Play with Letters! Perfect for New Year Too 🎍🐭 [Ages 3–5]

Let’s try writing letters while playing post office! Be sure to share the fun of writing letters with the kids.

What you’ll need are: a cardboard mailbox, postcards made from construction paper, and stamps made from origami paper.

First, cut the mail slot in the cardboard for the mailbox, then use double-sided tape to attach red construction paper, and add the mailbox symbol.

Once the mailbox is ready, cut white construction paper into postcard shapes and use a red pen to draw the postcard design.

Finally, stick double-sided tape on patterned origami paper to make stamps, cut them out, and you’re done!

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Snowflake stamp

Easy Craft: Snowflake Stamps Made from Lactic Acid Drink Containers [Ages 0–1]

Make it with a lactic acid drink bottle! Here’s how to create a snowflake stamp.

You’ll need a lactic acid drink container, a bump-protection sheet (foam sheet), a plastic bottle cap, and vinyl tape.

First, use vinyl tape to attach the plastic bottle cap to the mouth of the lactic acid drink container.

Next, cut the bump-protection sheet to the size of the bottle cap, then cut it into a snowflake shape and stick it onto the cap to complete the stamp! Decorate it with masking tape and enjoy stamping with paints together with the kids.

It’s also fun to try different stamp patterns.

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