Lovely childcare

[For 1-year-olds] Craft ideas to enjoy in June | Various expressive play activities

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.
Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

One-year-olds are becoming able to make more and more things.

Here, we’ll share fun craft ideas for June, when we tend to have many rainy days.

Use colored paper to make flowers, or adapt handprints and footprints.

If you try using familiar materials, children are more likely to be interested.

It’s also important to give them time to draw freely with crayons and paint.

Support them and have fun together so they can express their feelings.

The key is to value the moments when they feel the joy of “I did it!” Because we treat what the children make as works, we refer to it as “production” in the text.

[1-year-olds] Craft ideas to enjoy in June | Various expressive play activities (21–30)

[Tissue Paper] Fluffy Hydrangea

[June ☔🐌] Introduction to our craft project. Suitable for all ages 🩷

[Tissue Paper] Fluffy Hydrangea

Let’s try making “fluffy hydrangeas” using crumpled tissue paper.

The steps are simple: stick crumpled tissue paper onto a hydrangea base, then add leaves made from construction paper.

Have the children crumple the tissue paper tightly.

If you put double-sided tape on the base beforehand, the tissue paper will stick just by placing it on.

Prepare plenty of base colors and tissue paper so the children can choose—each child will likely create hydrangeas with different color schemes.

These are easy to put on walls, so they’re also great as wall decorations.

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[Marbling] Umbrella and Frog

Introduction to a Rainy Season Craft Using Marbling [Nursery/Kindergarten]

[Marbling] Umbrella and Frog

Let me share an idea for making “Umbrellas and Frogs” with marbling.

Marbling is a technique where you drip paint onto water to create patterns, then transfer them onto paper.

Fill a tray with water, then drip marbling paints onto it as you like.

Use a toothpick or skewer to create a pattern, and gently lay the paper on top.

Lift the paper, and if the pattern has transferred, let it dry.

Cut the marbled paper into an umbrella shape, glue it onto a backing sheet, and draw the umbrella handle and raindrops with a pen.

Finally, add an origami frog, and you’re done.

It’s a fun project that makes you excited to see what kind of umbrella pattern you’ll get, so give it a try in June!

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Paper Plate Resist-Painting Umbrella

[Nursery/Kindergarten] Resist-Painting Umbrellas Made with Paper Plates [Rainy Season Craft]

Paper Plate Resist-Painting Umbrella

Here’s a perfect craft idea for June: a resist painting umbrella.

First, use crayons to draw umbrella patterns on the back of a paper plate.

Once you’ve finished the patterns, paint over them and enjoy the resist effect.

If you thin the paint with plenty of water, it will repel nicely from the crayon.

Cut a slit in the paper plate and overlap the cut edges to form the umbrella shape.

Make a small cut on one end of a straw and open it up; then tape it to the back of the umbrella-shaped paper plate, and you’re done! If you bend the accordion part of the straw, it becomes the umbrella handle.

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[Paint and Glue] Frog on a Rainy Day

[2-year-olds] Frog Crafting

[Paint and Glue] Frog on a Rainy Day

June is the rainy season, so we often get to see rain.

Today, we’re introducing a perfect craft for June: “Rainy Day Frog.” First, use watered-down paint to create rain on construction paper.

Let the children use brushes to draw lines and dots—have them paint the rain however they like.

Next, glue the eyes, mouth, and belly pieces onto the frog base cut from construction paper.

Finally, stick the frog onto the rainy background paper—and it’s done! When attaching the parts, have the children use their fingers to apply glue to the back side.

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A rainbow made with torn paper collage

Making a Rainbow with Torn-Paper Collage: Easy with Origami! Great for Wall Displays (For ages 4 and up)

A rainbow made with torn paper collage

Here’s a craft idea for a rainbow torn-paper collage that will instantly brighten up indoor spaces during the gloomy rainy season.

Try making a collage by reusing colorful origami or scrap paper.

In torn-paper collages, you create pictures using small, torn pieces of paper, which helps develop finger strength through the tearing motion.

You’ll also use glue to attach the pieces, letting children enjoy the texture of the glue and learn how to use it properly.

Make a big rainbow collage to liven up your classroom!

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Rain art made with colored water

[Rainy Season Craft] Colored Water Rain Art

Rain art made with colored water

On rainy days when you can’t play outside, why not take your time enjoying art indoors? Here’s a rain-themed art activity using colored water.

First, draw a rainy-day picture on construction paper with crayons.

People holding umbrellas, snails, frogs, and hydrangeas are great ideas.

Next, prepare blue, red, and yellow colored water, and use a dropper to place drops of your chosen colors across the paper.

Finally, lift the paper vertically, and the colored water will run down as if rain is falling.

It’s fascinating to watch the water flow downward and see the colors blend together—what an interesting piece of art.

I can’t wait to see how the children react.

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In conclusion

How was it? We introduced some craft ideas you can try with one-year-olds in June.

One-year-olds aren’t used to scissors or paints yet, but it’s important for them to experience colors and shapes.

They can also enjoy activities like sticking stickers and touching fabrics or paper.

Be sure to spend a fun time together with the children!