Lovely childcare

Fun to make at daycare and kindergarten! A collection of ideas for making caterpillars

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.

Preschool and kindergarten children are highly sensitive to colors and shapes.

This is also a time when their creativity flourishes and they love using their hands.

Here, we’re sharing ideas for making “caterpillars,” a springtime favorite that’s popular with kids.

You’ll find age-appropriate ideas ranging from decorations perfect for spring-themed wall displays to fun crafts children can make and play with.

Try using papers and materials in a variety of colors, and enjoy creating your own original caterpillars together—kids and adults alike!

Fun to make at daycare and kindergarten! A collection of caterpillar craft ideas (11–20)

Egg carton caterpillar

[Craft Play] Stick origami onto an egg carton. Let's make a little caterpillar!

Egg carton caterpillar

The uniquely shaped caterpillar is a popular insect among children and even appears as the main character in picture books.

Let’s make a caterpillar using an egg carton.

Cut the egg carton lengthwise in half, trim the edges, and round them.

Tear about three kinds of origami paper by hand and use wood glue to stick the pieces onto the egg carton.

Once everything is attached, add pipe cleaners for antennae and glue on eyes to finish.

Depending on the colors and size of the torn origami pieces, you can create a caterpillar with lots of personality.

Give it a try!

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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caterpillar fishing

No.167 “Caterpillar Fishing!” [Handmade Toys by a Nursery Teacher]

caterpillar fishing

This is a “caterpillar fishing” game you can make with pool noodles! First, cut the pool noodle into 8 cm-wide pieces.

A template makes it easier! Cut about 10 pieces, arrange them to balance your little “houses,” and glue them together.

Next, make a base out of cardboard.

Attach the pool noodle houses to the base, then make caterpillars using pom-poms and pipe cleaners.

Finally, put a magnet inside a pen cap.

Place the caterpillars inside the houses, and slowly bring the magnet in the cap close to the pipe cleaner—your caterpillar will get “caught”! You can also flip the setup and compete against each other, so get creative and have fun playing!

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In conclusion

How was it? We introduced caterpillar crafts that children in daycare and kindergarten can enjoy making.

There are plenty of easy projects, so please use them as a reference.

We also recommend using these ideas as a springboard to come up with new ones.

We hope that making caterpillar crafts will help you spend even more meaningful time with your child.