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 Gifts for Respect for the Aged Day! A Collection of Popular Craft Ideas in Childcare (41–50)

origami

Origami, where you use a single sheet of paper to create shapes, is something your grandpa or grandma have probably played with, too.

Each piece can stand alone as a finished work, but if you’re giving it as a present, you’ll want to make something more eye-catching.

How about combining origami in various shapes to create one large piece? Place a work featuring your grandpa or grandma at the center, then decorate around it with flowers and other creations.

Because it’s made with origami, it has a soft, gentle feel—that’s one of its charms.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Finger stamp art

A childcare worker explains making an autumn tree for 2- and 3-year-olds using finger stamping!

Finger stamp art

Stamp art is made by dipping fingers in paint and stamping colors onto drawing paper.

With its rich autumn feel, it’s perfect as a Grandparents’ Day gift.

To make it, the teacher first uses a pen to draw tree branches and a trunk in the center of the paper.

Prepare paints in autumn colors like orange and yellow.

Once everything is ready, the children add color around the tree.

The trick is not to smear, but to lift and press the finger each time like a stamp.

Sprinkling glitter will give it an even more festive finish.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Shoulder Tapping Ticket

[Respect for the Aged Day] A first-grader gives their grandparents a brutally strict shoulder-massage coupon

Shoulder Tapping Ticket

A simple yet heartfelt gift where children give hand-drawn coupons.

It’s a way to celebrate the grandparents who always take care of them, while also letting them enjoy the special perk of a shoulder massage.

Don’t just write “Shoulder Massage Coupon”—add a short message, too.

It’s also a good idea to intentionally set a short expiration date to encourage more interaction.

If you’re making them at a nursery school or kindergarten, try using crayons and construction paper to put extra care into the decorations!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

necklace

Let's gather the autumn and make original accessories♪

necklace

How about giving an original accessory made from natural materials as a gift? You can gather materials like pinecones and use items such as yarn to craft them into accessories.

If wearing them might be difficult, it could be a good idea to aim for a gorgeous finished piece that works simply as decoration.

By using natural materials, the thought and care put into going outside to collect them for the accessory will surely come across.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

In conclusion

For Respect-for-the-Aged Day, why not give a handmade gift created with the kids? We’ve shared craft ideas starting from age 0, so try choosing ones that suit your child’s age.

Warm, heartfelt creations made in various ways—messages, drawings, handprints, or finger stamps—will be thoughtful presents that bring joy to grandpa and grandma.