Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Fun Craft Ideas for Hinamatsuri (Girls' Day)

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

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.

[Childcare] Fun Hinamatsuri Craft Ideas (21–30)

Paper ball ornament

[Origami] Hinamatsuri Decorations ♡ Paper Ball Ornaments ♡

Paper ball ornament

Here’s an idea for paper ball ornaments that are perfect for Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day).

Paper ball ornaments are decorations made by vertically arranging and combining circular pieces of paper, then threading a string through them.

Let’s give them a Hinamatsuri-style twist.

First, consider using soft, pale pink paper to capture the festive feel.

Using traditional Japanese-patterned paper would also be lovely.

Try making and displaying paper ball ornaments to match the atmosphere of your room or venue.

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Small temari ornament

With Hina dolls ✨ Small Temari Hanging Ornament 🎎 How to Hang [Easy & Cute ✨] Mini Size

Small temari ornament

If you’re going for a cute look, small temari-style ornaments are perfect.

This project decorates polystyrene foam balls to resemble temari.

If you make several, line them up in a row and thread a string through them.

Once you’ve made one strand, prepare multiple strands in the same way and hang them from a rod to finish.

Having foam balls in various sizes will make the arrangement look even more charming when displayed together.

Also, the choice of colors and patterns is important.

Decide while considering the balance with your other decorations.

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[Childcare] Fun Hinamatsuri craft ideas (31–40)

Strawberry cake made with paper cups

[Kindergarten/Preschool] Spring Craft / Easy / How to Make a Strawberry Cake ♡

Strawberry cake made with paper cups

The strawberries look so realistic and delicious.

Let me show you how to make a strawberry cake using a paper cup.

Get a paper cup, paint, tissue paper (hana-gami), crayons, red and green construction paper, and glue ready.

Use the paper cup as the cake base and paint it.

While the paint is drying, make the strawberries with the construction paper.

When drawing the center of the strawberries with crayons, I recommend coloring with pink first and then layering white crayon on top to add a three-dimensional effect.

Once you’ve glued the tissue paper onto the paper cup to look like whipped cream, stick the strawberries on top and you’re done.

It’s also fun to try different colors of tissue paper and paint.

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Hinamatsuri garland

Here’s a handmade garland idea to instantly brighten up your wall for Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day).

Garlands originally referred to long, net-like decorations made from flowers, leaves, and other plants hung on windows or walls, but the concept has since been adapted for interior decor beyond just greenery.

How about crafting hina dolls from felt, or cutting out letters and peach blossoms—symbols of Hinamatsuri—from colored paper to decorate? If you’re displaying it to celebrate your child’s Girls’ Day, adding your child’s name would make it even more special.

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Perler beads

Why not make and display some cute, pixel-art-style Hina dolls? These Hina dolls are made with Perler beads that kids love.

Perler beads are a toy where you arrange beads freely to create a design, then press an iron on top to melt and fuse them together.

Some of you might remember them nostalgically.

You can make the Hina dolls, the Emperor and Empress, the three court ladies, as well as diamond-shaped rice cakes and paper lanterns with Perler beads, and they’ll look adorable strung together as a garland or hanging decoration.

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Cherry blossom tree made with plastic bags

https://www.tiktok.com/@lion.sensei_hoiku/video/7348581263697087752

Blow into it and make it! Let me show you how to create a cherry blossom tree using a plastic bag.

You’ll need construction paper, a plastic bag, paint, a cherry tree shape made from construction paper, and glue or double-sided tape.

First, tie the bottom of the plastic bag tightly, turn it inside out, then blow into it and tie it off.

Dab paint onto the plastic bag, which will be puffed up like a balloon, and stamp it onto the paper to make big cherry blossom petals! Attach the cherry tree cutout made from construction paper, and you’re done!

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Three-color dango made with origami

https://www.tiktok.com/@hoikushi_bank/video/6942804580736584962

Speaking of spring, cherry-blossom viewing comes to mind.

Here’s a perfect spring craft: how to make three-color dango with origami.

You’ll need three colors of origami paper for the dango and some bamboo skewers.

First, fold a balloon using the basic balloon base in origami.

Once you’ve made all three colors, simply skewer them one by one to finish.

You can enjoy the origami process itself, and then use what you’ve made for pretend play.

Taking a spring walk with the dango you made together with the kids could be fun, too.

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