[Craft] Make and Display! A Special Feature on Ideas for Making Koinobori (Carp Streamers)
When it comes to Children’s Day, many people think of koinobori (carp streamers).
Koinobori are displayed at schools and at home to wish for children’s healthy growth.
This time, we’re sharing ideas for making koinobori.
There are plenty of fun ideas: perfect for wall displays, ones that use handprints and footprints, and even wearable versions! If children arrange them freely with their own ideas, they can create wonderfully unique koinobori full of personality.
Through making activities, let’s also teach the origins and customs of Children’s Day to deepen their interest in the event.
We use the term “seisaku” in the text because the items children create are treated as works or projects.
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[Crafts] Make and Display! A Special Collection of Ideas for Making Koinobori (Carp Streamers) (21–30)
Koinobori binoculars
Hidden discoveries are waiting in the everyday scenery! Here’s an idea for a carp streamer binoculars craft.
When you think of Children’s Day, many people probably picture carp streamers, right? This time, let’s make a playful toy with a carp streamer motif! You’ll need: toilet paper rolls, red and blue origami paper, paint, gold origami paper cut into eighths, a hole punch, string, glue, and scissors.
Once your carp streamer binoculars are finished, grab them and set off on an adventure!
Pac-kun carp streamer kendama
Let’s make and play with a kendama using a milk carton! Here’s an idea for a “Pak-kun Koinobori” kendama.
When you think of Children’s Day, many people picture koinobori carp streamers, right? This time, let’s create a playful, make-it-yourself toy with a koinobori motif! You’ll need a milk carton, a 50 cm length of string, scissors, cellophane tape, colored construction paper, and a pen.
It’s a unique kendama that looks like a koinobori is “chomping” on a rice ball! Give it a try!
Koinobori made with tissue paper
How about making a fluffy koinobori using a plastic bag and tissue paper? Tear and crumple tissue paper and put it into a clear plastic bag.
Some children will tear boldly, some will crumple small pieces, some will use a single color, and others will make it colorful with many colors.
Since even infants create with their own preferences and intentions, it’s best to value their free ideas and let them proceed as they wish, as long as it’s safe.
Attach fins, an eye, and scales to the filled bag, then fix it to a stick made by rolling up paper—and it’s done! Take your koinobori along and enjoy a walk.
Braided Koinobori (carp streamer)
Grow focus! Here’s an idea for woven koinobori (carp streamers).
You’ll need colored construction paper, glue, scissors, a pencil, a ruler, and a compass.
Make the base of the koinobori with your favorite color paper and cut a slit down the middle.
Take long, narrow strips of paper and weave them through the slit, alternating back and front to complete the first row.
From the second row onward, the key is to adjust the strips so the colors alternate.
Because it involves lots of fine finger movements, this is a stimulating craft idea for children.
a carp streamer with a helmet on top
Must-have items for Children’s Day decorations are carp streamers and samurai helmets.
Here’s an idea that combines both: decorate by putting a helmet on a carp streamer.
Carp streamer decorations have a certain cuteness, while helmets give a strong, bold impression.
A carp streamer wearing a little helmet on its head looks so cool—kids are sure to love it.
It would also be great for the children to make their own carp streamers and helmets in any colors they like.
It’ll create a colorful and wonderful wall display.
Koinobori made with stamps
Let’s make use of scrap materials we usually throw away! Here’s an idea for creating a carp streamer using stamps.
You’ll need: construction paper cut into a carp-streamer shape, a brush, a palette, paints, carp-streamer parts made from construction paper, glue, rubber bands, an empty lactic acid drink bottle, and bubble wrap.
Bubble wrap makes a fun “pop-pop!” sound when you press it with your fingers, but this time let’s use it for crafting without popping it! Attach a cut piece of bubble wrap to the empty lactic acid drink bottle with a rubber band, and your stamp is ready.
Dab your favorite paint onto the construction paper and have fun stamping! You’ll get patterns that look just like the scales of a carp streamer.
Handprint Koinobori
How about making one big koinobori together? If you look closely at this windsock carp… each and every scale is made from the children’s handprints! Cut colored construction paper into scale shapes, have everyone stamp their handprints on them, and then write their names or draw pictures on top.
Next, stick the handprint scales onto a large koinobori drawn on poster paper.
It’s very colorful and a great idea for a wall decoration.
You can just picture the kids having fun searching for where their own handprints are!
Wearable carp streamer
A big, fluttery carp streamer made from colored plastic bags.
The fun part is that once it’s finished, you can wear this carp streamer like a poncho! Prepare colored plastic bags and cut slits on one side to resemble a tail fin.
Then have the children use paper plates and colored construction paper to create the carp’s scales and face.
When everyone wears their carp streamers made from their favorite colors, it looks so colorful and adorable! Don’t forget to take a group photo!
Wobbly Paper Plate Koinobori
Here’s a cute wobbling carp streamer craft.
Prepare a round paper plate and cut off about one-third of it.
On the larger remaining piece, let the children freely stick round stickers.
If you cut the round stickers in half, they can represent scales, but if sticking them is difficult, keeping them round is still very cute.
Once decorated, fold the plate in half and add eyes on both sides.
That’s it! Place it on a flat surface and gently press it with your finger—the carp streamer will wobble and it’s lots of fun.
It’s a carp streamer you can both make and play with—give it a try!
Carp streamers hopping boing-boing
How about making a koi windsock that hops when you press its tail fin? You’ll need a milk carton, colored construction paper, a marker, and double-sided tape or glue.
Cut the milk carton about 13 cm up from the bottom and wrap the outside with colored paper.
On both sides of the cut edge, make a crease at the center and fold it inward.
Attach the scales and eyes you made from colored paper with double-sided tape, and you’re done! When you press the folded-in section near the cut edge with your fingers, it will spring forward with a little hop.