Lovely childcare

Craft ideas perfect for June for 2-year-olds

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.

June brings a lot of rain, and in daycare and kindergartens there are many days when children can’t play outside.

At times like that, how about enjoying some indoor craft activities? Craft time lets children feel a sense of “I did it!”, making it perfect for indoor play.

Here, we’ll introduce several craft ideas recommended for two-year-olds.

There are plenty of fun activities like touching with their hands and coloring.

Through making things, children’s creativity and sense of accomplishment are nurtured.

Let’s treasure what the children create as everyone’s artwork.

Since the things children make are treated as works (art pieces), we use the term “seisaku” (制作) in the text.

[For 2-year-olds] A roundup of craft ideas perfect for June (21–30)

[Ages 0–2] Crinkly Tissue Paper Snail

[Nursery/Kindergarten] June Craft Perfect for the Rainy Season! How to Make a Snail [Toddler/Infant Class]

[Ages 0–2] Crinkly Tissue Paper Snail

A recommended craft for children aged 0 to 2 is making snails using tissue paper.

Beforehand, the teacher should cut out the snail’s body and eyes from construction paper.

Have the children crumple lots of tissue paper in their favorite colors and stuff it into a plastic bag.

Once it’s filled to a certain extent, seal the bag and shape it into a round form.

It’s best for the teacher to handle the shaping step as well.

When it’s ready, attach it to the snail’s body to finish.

You’ll have a colorful and cute snail!

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snail

[Nursery/Kindergarten] June Craft Perfect for the Rainy Season! How to Make a Snail [Toddler/Infant Class]

snail

Here are some craft ideas themed around snails, the quintessential creatures of the rainy season.

Let’s make various kinds of snails—from ones you can place in a room to wall-hanging decorations! If you’re using construction paper, we recommend adding patterns with batik techniques or stamping.

Once you roll the construction paper into a spiral, attach eyes made from pipe cleaners to finish.

If you’re using a paper plate, you can depict the snail’s pattern with torn-paper collage.

You can also put tissue paper into a clear bag to create a three-dimensional snail.

Try making projects that harness children’s free and creative ideas.

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raincoat

A raincoat is indispensable during the rainy season.

Here’s an idea to use raincoats—something familiar and friendly to children—as a wall decoration.

Instead of simply cutting out raincoat shapes and displaying them, why not try adding a creative twist? Prepare raincoats in a variety of bright colors, then create patterns by rolling marbles dipped in paint over colored construction paper, or by flicking paint from a brush in a dripping style.

After adding the patterns, cut the paper into raincoat shapes to make unique, personalized raincoats.

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Rainy Day Bear

Let’s use the marble-rolling art technique to make a cute “Rainy Day Bear.” First, place small drops of paint on drawing paper and roll marbles over it.

Be sure to use a container with raised edges so the marbles don’t roll out.

Since this will become the bear’s raincoat, choose bright colors for a cute finish.

Once the paint is dry, cut it into the shape of a raincoat and attach the bear’s face and rain boots.

Finally, use a green paint handprint as a leaf umbrella for the bear to hold, and you’re done!

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[Collage] Hydrangea Craft

[June Project] Hydrangea Collage (Paper-Pasting Art)

[Collage] Hydrangea Craft

Let’s make a hydrangea collage that’s perfect for the rainy season.

First, prepare origami paper in several colors and cut it into small squares.

Next, either cut out a rough, round hydrangea shape from construction paper and paste it onto another sheet, or draw the shape directly on the paper.

Depending on the children’s age, teachers may need to handle the step of cutting the squares and cutting out the hydrangea shape.

Once the prep is done, start pasting the square pieces of origami randomly onto the round hydrangea base! By letting the children work freely, you’ll end up with a wonderfully unique, one-of-a-kind hydrangea.

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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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Making umbrellas with sponge stamps

[Rainy Season Craft] Make Cute Umbrellas! Perfect for Rainy-Season Projects! Easy with Sponges! [For 1-Year-Olds]

Making umbrellas with sponge stamps

Let’s make a cute umbrella using a sponge as a stamp! Prepare construction paper cut into umbrella shapes ahead of time, and have your child do the stamping.

Cut the sponge into a size your child can hold.

Dip the sponge in paint and let them stamp different colors however they like.

Once they’re done, attach a pipe cleaner or similar material to the back of the paper to make the umbrella handle.

If you want to make it three-dimensional, roll the paper into a curve first and then attach the pipe cleaner handle.

Give this a try as a craft activity during the rainy season!

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In conclusion

We’ve introduced craft ideas for two-year-olds to try in June.

Let’s create rainy-season themed pieces using a variety of techniques.

Two-year-olds gradually get better with glue and paints, too.

Choose ideas that match the children in your class.