[Childcare] Fun Craft Ideas for Hinamatsuri (Girls' Day)
When you think of Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day), many people probably picture hina dolls.
Some kindergartens and nurseries make hina dolls together with the children in the lead-up to the festival.
This time, we’ve gathered ideas for making hina dolls.
Many can be made with familiar materials like paper cups and origami, so be sure to try them at school or at home.
Customize the colors and designs to create a one-of-a-kind, original hina doll!
Make lots and enjoy a bright and festive Hinamatsuri.
Because children’s creations are treated as works, we use the term “制作” (production/creation) in the text.
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[Childcare] Fun Hinamatsuri Craft Ideas (21–30)
Paper-plate Hina dolls
Paper plates turn into Hina dolls in no time! Fold a paper plate in half and cut around the edge in a cloud-like shape.
Stand it up with the open side down, then stick masking tape in a V shape at the center to recreate the kimono collar.
Layering two strips makes it look even more like a kimono—highly recommended! Next, attach a ritual baton and a fan in the center, and add faces so they peek out from the collar, and you’re done! It’s super easy—just folding and sticking—so you can enjoy making it even with children who aren’t yet comfortable using scissors.
Chigiri-e: Making Hina Dolls
These torn-paper Hina dolls are fun even for little kids! Torn-paper collage is a delightful craft technique that lets children use their hands.
It helps develop fine finger movements that are important for growth, so why not incorporate it into your Hinamatsuri crafts? To make this, apply glue to a paper cup and stick on pieces of torn paper until it’s covered.
Add the small decorative parts of the Hina dolls at the end for an even lovelier finish.
You can also put the paper cup and torn paper into a plastic bag and work inside it to make cleanup easier.
Try tearing and arranging origami papers with different patterns!
Wobbly Hina Dolls
Let’s make a cute Hina doll with a wobbly head using a chenille stem and paper cups.
Cut off the bottom third of a paper cup and draw the face and hair.
Turn another paper cup upside down and attach a spring-shaped chenille stem to its bottom.
This cup will be the body, so cover it with origami paper to dress it in a kimono.
After attaching a ritual baton or a fan, place the face cup over the top of the chenille stem, and you’re done! When you play with it, gently tap it with your finger so the chenille stem doesn’t bend.
Handprint and Footprint Hina Dolls
The children’s small, adorable handprints and footprints transform into beautiful kimono for the Hina dolls! Paint the hands and feet to make prints, then cut around them once dry.
Create the Emperor and Empress faces using colored construction paper, and attach them to a paper plate along with the handprints and footprints.
To add a festive touch, make a fan out of origami paper, stick it to the back of the plate, and position it so it peeks out from the front.
Finally, punch a hole in the plate so it can be hung, thread a ribbon through, and it’s complete! Because it preserves a record of their growth along with the artwork, the finished piece will become a cherished keepsake for the family.
Paper cup Hina dolls
These are adorable Hina dolls made by stacking paper cups! Wrap origami around a paper cup for the body to create the kimono, then place half of a white paper cup over it.
Next, cut another paper cup into hair shapes for the Empress (Ohina-sama) and Emperor (Odairi-sama), color them black, and place them on top.
Use the leftover pieces of paper cup to make accessories like a scepter, fan, and crown, glue them on, and draw the faces to finish.
Since the base is a paper cup, they’re very stable! After making them, display them in various places like at home, in daycare, or on kindergarten display shelves.
Hina dolls in a wash painting style
How about making Hina dolls using a coffee filter bleeding art activity? As prep, the teacher should make the Emperor and Empress faces out of construction paper or origami.
Have the children draw on two coffee filters with water-based markers.
If you separate the markers into warm and cool color sets, you’ll get colors that suit the Emperor and Empress.
After they enjoy drawing, wet the coffee filters with a mist spray or by floating them on water in a tray to let the colors bleed.
Once they’re dry, attach the faces and you’re done! It’ll be fun to see the children’s expressions as the colors spread.
Rabbit Hina Doll (Princess)
Let’s make a cute rabbit Hina doll! First, fold the origami paper into a triangle twice, then open the pocket to form a square.
Fold the flappy layer all the way up to make a crease, then unfold it, and fold the tip up again to the crease.
Fold both left and right corners toward the center crease, then fold along the center line on the back starting from the top corners on both sides—you’ll start to see rabbit-like ears appear! Flip it over, fold the flappy layer up, and fold the tip down so it lines up with the center line.
Fold both sides in a triangle toward the center line, then fold the flappy parts outward, and you’re done! You can use the same folding method to make the rabbit prince doll too!