[January Crafts] Fun DIY Ideas for Kids: Perfect for Use in Childcare

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 as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is 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.

January, when we welcome the New Year, is a perfect time for children to experience traditional Japanese culture.

New Year–themed crafts—like origami hair ornaments, kagami mochi made with shaving foam, and hagoita paddles made from milk cartons—spark kids’ creativity.

Many ideas can be played with after making them, and through the process, children can also learn the meanings of auspicious items.

Why not use familiar materials to create festive, New Year-style pieces? Here, we introduce January craft ideas that nursery and kindergarteners, elementary school students, and even adults can enjoy.

Bring in these fun January projects to celebrate the start of the New Year!

[January Crafts] Kid-Friendly! A Collection of Fun Handmade Ideas Useful for Childcare (31–40)

A fun igloo with stamp play

@hekimen_25
[Building a Kamakura with Stamp Play ☃️] Using a sponge to stamp—pop! pop! A stamping craft that kids can enjoy with total fascination 😆✨ In snowy regions, their imaginations might expand even more, making it even more fun… 🤭#Childcare Crafting #Production Video Nursery teacher / Childcare worker #Nursery school　Production Kamakura　Stamp　#paint　
Tomodachi Collection – Love

Let’s try a fun winter craft with stamping.

First, apply white paint to a square sponge and stamp it all over a sheet of blue construction paper.

After the paint dries, cut the paper into the shape of an igloo.

Cut out the entrance of the igloo, a kotatsu, and the face and hands from construction paper, then glue them onto the igloo to finish.

Draw expressions on the face parts with crayons, and add any pattern you like to the kotatsu.

You can also use stamps or stickers to add patterns.

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sasashina

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Cute bubble-patterned! How to make a daruma doll

http://www.lemon8-app.com

Here’s a craft idea using bubble wrap, which is handy as cushioning material.

First, paint the bubble wrap with red paint and transfer the pattern onto red construction paper.

Cut it into a daruma shape with scissors and paste it onto a base.

Add facial features made from construction paper and decorative patterns made from gold origami.

Fill the empty space on the base with flower pieces, and it’s done.

The bubble wrap pattern looks like polka dots and is cute, and the texture makes the daruma appear to pop out.

I think it would also look great in colorful variations.

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sasashina

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Daruma-otoshi with masking tape!

@hekimen_25
[Making a Daruma Otoshi with Masking Tape ⚒]▫️ Ages: Preschool (4–5) and up▫️ Goals:- Work on the craft by imagining the finished piece, applying masking tape, and adding color- Develop fine motor skills👩🏼‍🏫 If children actually play Daruma Otoshi first, they’ll have a clearer image and enjoy the crafting process even more 👍💭Nursery teacher / Childcare worker #Nursery school #Kindergarten　#Childcare Crafting New Year New Year’s craft Production process #Production Video #Drawing Masking tape　#Daruma Otoshi
The beginning of a fun time – LoFi Siberinyan

A Daruma-otoshi that even small children can make is a great way to learn about traditional New Year’s games.

Prepare construction paper, scissors, masking tape, and crayons, and let’s get started.

Cut out the face and body parts from the construction paper, then apply strips of masking tape at your preferred widths.

Color over the masking tape with crayons, using different colors as you like, and then peel off the tape.

Attach the face on top and draw the facial expression.

Once you glue together the dropping stick cut from construction paper, it’s complete.

You’ll end up with a Daruma-otoshi that showcases each child’s individuality.

Feel free to adjust the width of the masking tape and the colors you use to your liking.

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mayumi

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Just roll it up and stick it on! Easy-peasy kagami mochi

@hoiku.labo
For New Year’s crafts: Just roll and stick it on!? Easy kagami mochi 🎍✨Childcare Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Kindergarten Teacher Childcare job openings Childcare Column #NurseryTeacherThings #IWantToConnectWithChildcareWorkers #Nursery School Craft #DaycarePreparation Nursery School Practicum Childcare student Aspiring childcare worker Childcare Job Lab Nursery teacher skills Job change activities #JobChange #nursery_teacher_job_change Nursery teacher employment Production #Craft work tissue paper flowers New Year Kagami mochi New Year’s craft Easy to make Year of the Dragon
♪ Original Song – Craft Ideas for Childcare ♪ Hoiku Kyujin Labo – Hoiku Kyujin Labo | Nursery Teacher Job Changes and Helpful Information

Let’s try making New Year’s kagami mochi out of tissue paper.

It’s just rolling and gluing, so it’s great for small children, too.

First, glue a paper sanpō (offering stand) that you cut from construction paper onto a backing sheet.

Next, tear the tissue paper into vertical strips.

Spread glue on top of the sanpō, then crumple the tissue paper into little balls and stick them on.

Finally, glue on a round “daidai” orange cut from construction paper to finish.

Drawing a little face on the orange is cute, too.

Display it in your entryway or living room to create a lovely New Year’s atmosphere.

Give it a try!

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Recommended for infants! Daruma handprint craft

Paint white ink on your palm and stamp your handprint onto red construction paper! Cut the paper into a daruma shape and draw the face.

Then punch flower shapes out of gold origami paper and stick them on as decorations to finish.

For the face, try dipping your fingertip in black paint and enjoy making finger-stamp features.

If you use a different color for the handprint, it’s best to first make a white paper base for the face and then draw the eyes and mouth.

Create daruma in various colors and expressions to celebrate the New Year!

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sasashina

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