Lovely childcare

Handmade gifts for Respect for the Aged Day! A collection of popular craft ideas 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.
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.

With Respect for the Aged Day coming up, how about enjoying some exciting craft projects with preschool and kindergarten children? Here, we introduce fun ideas tailored to different ages—like a glasses stand, a tea canister, and a cute fingerprint tree.

Encourage the children to create a one-of-a-kind, special gift filled with gratitude for their beloved grandparents.

Imagine the children’s smiles and their grandparents’ delight as you enjoy making heartfelt presents together! Since the children’s creations are regarded as works of art, the term “seisaku” (制作) is used in the text to mean “production/creation.”

Handmade Presents for Respect for the Aged Day! A Collection of Popular Craft Ideas in Childcare (11–20)

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Let's color the nursery with autumn hues using a maple leaf wreath.

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How about giving a wreath on Respect for the Aged Day to express your congratulations and gratitude to your grandparents? Wreaths make lovely decorations to brighten up a special day and can be hung on indoor walls or doors.

Since Respect for the Aged Day falls on the third Monday of September, a maple-leaf wreath with an autumn theme is also a great idea.

Instead of flowers and leaves, just prepare a paper plate and attach origami maple leaves—done! Aside from cutting out the center of the plate, it’s simply folding and gluing, so children can enjoy making it safely.

Why not convey your feelings with a cute, autumn-themed gift?

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[0 years old] Footprint card

[Former Nursery Teacher] Simple and Cute Card-Making ✨ #crafts #0yearolds #nurseryteacher #RespectforTheAgedDay

[0 years old] Footprint card

Cards made with footprints are a delightful gift that lets you feel how little ones are growing! Put ink on the soles of their feet and stamp, then cut around the footprint.

For infants (0-year-olds), it’s best to gently ink the sole and stamp while they’re sleeping.

After that, match a theme like a caterpillar or an animal, and finish by attaching the footprint to a backing sheet along with a face photo and any pre-cut parts.

You can just picture the grandparents lovingly gazing at those tiny footprints.

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Message Card

20 message card ideas ✨

Message Card

Let’s make a message card to send to Grandma and Grandpa for Respect for the Aged Day.

It’s a classic idea to put your gratitude into a message card for grandparents who always play with you, but it’s something they’ll be happy to receive, and it will surely become a treasured keepsake.

Of course the message matters, but how about making the card itself by hand, with a little gimmick? Pop-up or interactive cards are recommended—ones where opening a hidden flap reveals another message or photo.

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[Ages 1 and up] Grape Cards

Respect for the Aged Day grape postcard

[Ages 1 and up] Grape Cards

This is a handmade grape card created by sticking round stickers all over it.

What you’ll need: a card, round stickers for the grape berries, a pen, and origami paper.

First, stick the round stickers, imagining them as grapes.

If 1- to 2-year-olds are making it, it’s recommended to mark guide spots with a pencil beforehand and work together.

After the stickers are in place, draw vines and leaves or attach cut pieces of origami paper to fill the empty spaces and complete the card.

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[Ages 4 and up] Portrait Bookmark

[Kindergarten/Preschool] A Grandparents’ Day Gift! Making Grandpa and Grandma Bookmarks

[Ages 4 and up] Portrait Bookmark

These are portrait bookmarks that slip over the corner of a book or planner page.

Crease an origami square with a cross fold, open it once, then fold one corner inward to meet the center.

Continue folding to form a small square again, and once you draw a face, it’s done! In addition to drawing with a pen, we also recommend cutting origami paper to make parts like glasses, a mouth, or a hat and sticking them on.

Portraits that children draw with all their effort, imagining facial features, will be treasures for grandparents.

Every time they read or write in a journal, the adorable faces of the children will come to mind.

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[Ages 3 and up] Cosmos Flower and Doily Card

A festive card with cosmos flowers and doilies.

Cut a sponge into an easy-to-hold rectangle, dab it with paint, and stamp flower shapes so the petals cross at the center to create a cosmos pattern.

Use several colors for a vibrant finish, then cut out and paste portraits of Grandma and Grandpa drawn on a separate sheet of paper.

Finally, decorate by attaching pieces of cut doily to the edges and corners, and add a message of thanks from the children to complete it!

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Handmade gifts for Respect-for-the-Aged Day! A collection of popular craft ideas in childcare (21–30)

pen holder

[Creative Play] Easy with Paper Clay! Gift Craft: Stylish Pen Holder

pen holder

You might think there’s no need to go out of your way to buy a pen holder, but it’s actually pretty handy to have.

So how about making one using an empty bottle and air-dry clay and giving it as a gift? Here’s how: use wood glue to wrap and stick twine around the bottle, then apply air-dry clay over it.

Before the clay dries, press in game counters or beads.

You can also paint the clay or tie a ribbon around it.

It’s easy to make with scrap materials and items from the 100-yen shop.

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