Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Ideas for January wall decorations

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.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

In this article, we introduce January wall decoration ideas that are useful both in childcare settings and at home! For children, January is full of fun—New Year’s Day otoshidama gifts, traditional New Year’s games, playing in the snow, and more.

Let’s create an original wall display that incorporates all the fun events of January! We’ve gathered New Year–themed ideas like ema wishing plaques, hanetsuki paddles, and shishimai lion dances, as well as wall art projects you can make together with children.

Create a bright, festive display that’s perfect for welcoming the New Year!

[Childcare] January Wall Decoration Ideas (51–60)

Perfect for wall displays! Cute Shishimai (lion dance)

Preschool Craft: Make a Cute Shishimai (Lion Dance) for a January Bulletin Board

Perfect for wall displays! Cute Shishimai (lion dance)

The shishimai (lion dance) has long been cherished as a New Year’s good-luck charm that brings fortune.

The method is simple: cut vertically down the center of a toilet paper tube with scissors, roll it, secure it with a rubber band, and stamp on the shishimai patterns.

Then attach the lion’s eyes, nose, mouth, mane, and ears.

Adjusting the amount of glue while sticking the parts helps children learn how to use glue properly.

Glue the body, face, and legs of the shishimai onto a backing sheet, then finish by pasting torn pieces of origami paper around it.

Using finger stamps or crayons to draw New Year–themed pictures is also recommended to give it a seasonal feel.

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Cute with origami! Kadomatsu made of origami

[One sheet of origami] Easy Kadomatsu tutorial 🎍 How to make a paper Kadomatsu #Seollal #NewYear #NewYear’sDay #PlumBlossom #NewYear’sMorning #Nandina #HappyNewYear #Craft #FoldingMethod #Origami #Origami (Chinese) #Paper #PaperFolding (Korean)

Cute with origami! Kadomatsu made of origami

Recommended for those who want to make simple New Year’s decorations! Kadomatsu are New Year decorations made with pine and bamboo that are set up at entrances during the holiday, right? Many children have probably seen them while out on walks or outings.

This time, let’s finish it using just one sheet of green origami paper.

The key points are to make firm creases along the lines and to align the corners.

There are many steps where you create a crease and then use it to form the next one, so it would be great to enjoy making it while keeping these points in mind.

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You can make it with origami! Kagami mochi origami

[New Year Origami] Easy and Cute Kagami Mochi Origami / Origami Kagami-mochi

You can make it with origami! Kagami mochi origami

Kagami mochi is characterized by stacked rice cakes and a bitter orange on top.

It looks lovely whether you stick it onto a surface or let it stand on its own, and it’s great for preschool craft projects! You’ll need white origami paper, light yellow origami paper, orange origami paper, green origami paper, colored pens, glue, and so on.

It’s exciting to make each part—the mochi, the daidai (bitter orange), and the sanpō (the wooden stand)—separately and then assemble them.

Since the origami sizes differ for each part, please follow the video to check the sizes as you make it!

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Make it with paper plates! Cute snowman

[Childcare Craft] Winter craft! Easy paper plate snowman

Make it with paper plates! Cute snowman

This is a snowman craft idea that also lets kids enjoy sticking stickers.

Stack and glue two paper plates vertically to make the base, then finish the snowman using round stickers and parts cut from construction paper.

If infants are doing this activity, it may help to put double-sided tape on the back of the parts to turn them into stickers.

Also, pre-cut the pipe cleaners to use as arms and assist with attaching them using tape.

Changing the colors of the construction paper and stickers will change the snowman’s look, so let the children choose the ones they like.

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New Year’s shishimai (lion dance) craft

[New Year] Making a Shishimai (Lion Dance) #January #NewYear

New Year’s shishimai (lion dance) craft

This is a handmade activity that lets you enjoy and feel close to traditional events.

While assembling the face and learning the parts of the shishimai (lion dance)—eyes, nose, and mouth—children naturally develop their observation skills.

By freely combining the parts, you can create a lion with tons of personality, from smiling faces to humorous expressions.

It’s also great fun to play as a fukuwarai game, letting you fully enjoy the New Year atmosphere.

Making it together while asking, “What kind of face will it be?” is enjoyable with family and friends, and it’s perfect as a winter break craft activity.

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