[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 (21–30)

A three-dimensional snowman made from tissues

Let’s try making a semi-3D snowman using tissue or crepe paper.

It’s a fun craft where you get to pack the snowman tightly.

First, fold the bottom corner of a plastic bag and secure it with tape.

Next, together with the children, crumple white crepe paper or tissues and stuff them into the plastic bag.

Once it’s filled, tape the bag closed so the opening won’t come undone.

Then lightly tie the middle with a pipe cleaner to shape it like a snowman.

Finally, use construction paper for a hat and round stickers to create the snowman’s face, and you’re done! You can also have the kids draw on the hat with crayons.

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tsukada moe

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Just stick them on in layers! New Year’s kagamimochi

This is a flat kagami-mochi craft using layered cutouts that you can safely do even in schools where 3D projects aren’t allowed.

Just cut out circles in gradually different sizes and stack and glue them to create a kagami-mochi with a three-dimensional feel, so it’s easy for children to make.

This example uses four layers, but adding more layers will give it more presence, and making it smaller as a mini kagami-mochi is also an adorable variation.

Since simply gluing the pieces together makes it look polished, it’s a project where children can easily feel a sense of accomplishment.

Arranged on a wall as New Year’s decorations, it looks festive—definitely a New Year’s craft to try.

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Nakamū

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Crayon Shimenawa

@sakurakusako_a
I made a shimenawa with crayons for New Year! It's pretty fast, so you might want to save it.#oilpastel #OilPastel crayon New Year #NewYearDecorations
♬ NEW KAWAII – So, shall we update? ver. – FRUITS ZIPPER

Let’s make a New Year’s decoration using a drawn shimenawa rope and ornaments! All the parts are flat, but by incorporating shading into the drawings, they’ll look three-dimensional.

First, draw the base shimenawa on white drawing paper.

Start by drawing a large circle, then place teardrop shapes along that line.

Next, fill the inside of each teardrop with a light green.

Once filled, add shading with dark green and white, then rub with a cotton swab to blend the crayon.

You’ll create the decorative parts in the same way, so draw your favorite motifs, such as plum blossoms or a Japanese-style ribbon.

Attach the parts to the shimenawa, punch a hole, thread a string through, and it’s complete!

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sasashina

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Stamping Shishimai (Lion Dance)

This is a New Year–themed craft activity that kids can enjoy by stamping away.

Through making it, they can naturally learn that the furoshiki cloth of the shishimai (lion dance) often features auspicious patterns, such as the swirling karakusa arabesque and the powerful ke-manji motif.

The shishimai is a beloved traditional performing art for warding off misfortune and praying for good health, and it’s said that being “bitten” on the head will keep you lively for the year.

As children create patterns with stamping, sharing this background story alongside the activity will greatly deepen their understanding.

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Nakamū

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Kadomatsu decoration made with Japanese-pattern paper plates

@haruharo_made
TikTok document New Year’s Craft / [Kadomatsu Wall Decoration] [Materials] • Ribbon • Japanese-patterned paper plate (Seria) • Scissors • Paper doily • Construction paper • Double-sided tapeCrafts for 4-year-olds　Crafts for 5-year-olds #3-year-old crafts #2-year-old's craft Crafts for 1-year-olds Crafts for 0-year-olds Production #Nursery school Wall decoration #StayHomeTime #AtHomePlay Production ideas #Nursery School Craft Winter Craft #Kindergarten Kindergarten craft Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Kindergarten Teacher wall surface　#ChristmasTree Production for children under age (infants and toddlers)　Simple craft Made in December　# January production Made in February　 New Year’s craft　#Daruma making　Tatsu Production #Mask making　Mask #paint　Sticker application　Round sticker Sticker-pasting craft　　　　　Hanging ornament drawing paper　#ConstructionPaperArt　 Paint making　　paper plate　Paper plate craft　Paper Plate Craft　Threading (a cord/strap through a hole)
♬ Cute marimba heartwarming kids(1035757) – ROUGHTY PRODUCTION

This is a simple craft that lets you create festive New Year’s decor using only familiar materials.

By using paper plates with traditional Japanese patterns, just cutting and pasting instantly brings out a seasonal feel, and simply hanging it on the wall elevates the New Year’s mood.

The steps are very straightforward: use a paper plate as the base, attach kadomatsu parts made from doilies and construction paper, and finish with a ribbon.

Since you can put it together quickly with double-sided tape, it’s perfect for making with children.

You’ll have an adorable, elegant, Japanese-style kadomatsu decoration in no time—an ideal New Year’s craft that brightens up your entryway or room.

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Nakamū

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