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Hedgehog crafts for daycare and kindergarten! A collection of ideas to enjoy autumn 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.

Speaking of autumn, hedgehogs are also popular with children.

In fact, you can represent a hedgehog’s quills using fallen leaves, acorns, yarn, or origami paper! Here, we’ll share hedgehog craft ideas that children ages 1 to 5 can enjoy at daycare or kindergarten, tailored to each age group.

Beyond their cute appearance, choosing, sticking, and arranging different materials helps develop fine motor skills.

Enjoy the feeling of autumn nature with the children as you make prickly little hedgehogs together.

You’re sure to meet a variety of wonderfully unique hedgehogs! Because the children’s creations are treated as works of art, we use the term “production” (制作) in the text.

Hedgehog crafts for nursery and kindergarten! A collection of ideas to enjoy autumn in childcare (11–20)

[Ages 3 and up] Stick-and-paste hedgehog with glue

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[Ages 3 and up] Stick-and-paste hedgehog with glue

Introducing a hedgehog craft activity.

Hedgehogs are said to be cautious and laid-back, and they’re super cute, aren’t they? For this hedgehog craft, please prepare a hedgehog template and the quills in advance.

You’ll make the quills by cutting construction paper into vertical strips.

The children will use glue to attach the quill pieces onto the hedgehog template.

Finally, draw the hedgehog’s face with crayons to finish.

For the face, you could also use round stickers so kids can enjoy sticking them on—that might be a fun option!

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Hedgehogs for infants (ages 1 and up)

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♪ Original Song – Craft Ideas for Childcare ♪ Hoiku Kyujin Labo – Hoiku Kyujin Labo | Nursery Teacher Job Changes and Helpful Information

A hedgehog craft made by sticking pieces is perfect for one-year-olds who find complex tasks difficult, and it’s a great activity that lets them feel a sense of accomplishment from “I did it!” Prepare construction paper cut into parts for the hedgehog’s legs, body, and spines, along with glue and round stickers.

Have the children glue each part onto the body.

Repeating the sticking action is also recommended for promoting children’s fine motor development.

As the teacher encourages them by saying things like “You stuck it on so well,” the children accumulate small successes, build confidence, and this leads to meaningful growth.

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[Ages 2 and up] One-snip hedgehog with scissors

Let’s make an adorably prickly hedgehog using scissors.

Prepare construction paper, glue, and scissors.

It’s recommended that the teacher pre-cut the hedgehog’s spines/fur pieces and the face parts in advance.

Have the children work on the part where they make slits by cutting vertically into the spine pieces with scissors.

Start by practicing cutting straight vertical lines to help them learn how to use scissors.

Folding the cut spine pieces will add a three-dimensional look.

For the face, drawing with crayons or colored pens might result in hedgehogs with a variety of expressions.

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[Ages 3 and up] Hedgehog Snip-Snip Craft

Using everyday paper plates to make hedgehogs is a great craft for 3-year-olds who are starting to enjoy expressing themselves.

Get paper plates, scissors, construction paper, and glue ready.

Prepare the hedgehog bodies in advance, and have the children make cuts around the edge of the paper plate, snipping from the outside toward the inside.

It’s also a good idea to draw guide lines so they can cut along them.

By drawing the hedgehog’s face themselves, each child can create their own original hedgehog.

Giving the hedgehogs names and using them in play can make the activity even more fun.

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[Ages 3 and up] Masking Tape Hedgehog

This is a recommended craft for children aged one and up that lets them have fun creating hedgehog patterns.

Prepare a hedgehog shape made from masking tape, scissors, and construction paper, and get started.

Stick on half-circle pieces of construction paper and strips of masking tape to create an original pattern on the hedgehog.

The sticking process—pinching small scraps with fingertips, peeling, and enjoying the sound of sticking—provides plenty of beneficial developmental stimulation.

Be mindful of choking hazards and adjust the size of the pieces to be larger as you make them.

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[Ages 3 and up] Hedgehog made with yarn

Creating hedgehogs with yarn is a craft that captures the gentle feeling of autumn.

Prepare yarn, a hedgehog base, and glue, and let’s get started.

Tasks like sticking on cut pieces of yarn or wrapping yarn help naturally develop thinking skills, such as controlling the tension while wrapping and deciding where to place the yarn when gluing.

Threading yarn through holes makes it easier to experience a sense of accomplishment.

If you prepare a generous variety of yarn types and colors in advance, the added fun of choosing boosts motivation and turns it into an enjoyable crafting activity.

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Hedgehog crafts for nurseries and kindergartens! A collection of ideas to enjoy autumn in childcare (21–30)

[Ages 4 and up] Hedgehog made with construction paper

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The hedgehog craft that lets children feel the seasons helps four-year-olds further develop their color choices and tool use.

Prepare construction paper, glue, and scissors, and let’s get started.

Cut out the hedgehog’s body, ears, and fur from construction paper using scissors.

Glue the cut pieces together.

Use zigzag scissors to give the fur a three-dimensional look.

Once you’ve glued all the parts together with a good sense of balance, it’s complete.

This activity also encourages children to think about things like how much glue to use and how to arrange the parts.

Give it a try!

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