Lovely childcare

Preschool: Lantern craft ideas to make in summer!

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.

Lantern crafts perfect for Tanabata and summer festivals.

Making them with children is fun, but it can end up being the same method every year, or sometimes the process feels difficult.

So here, we introduce lantern-making ideas you can enjoy with kids.

From simple to slightly challenging, there are various materials and techniques.

You might find options suited to the children’s ages.

By creating while having fun, you can spend time that becomes a lasting memory.

子どもたちと一緒に、すてきなランタン作りをぜひ楽しんでください！注：子どもたちが作ったものは作品として扱われるため、本文では「制作」と表記しています。

[Childcare] Lantern craft ideas to make in summer! (1–10)

Paper cup lantern ghost

Craft a Paper Cup Lantern Ghost! A Preschool Teacher Explains the Easy How-To

Paper cup lantern ghost

Also great for summer decorations! Here’s an idea for a paper-cup lantern ghost.

Summer often brings more talk about ghosts and yokai, right? This lantern ghost idea is perfect to make with kids who are interested in ghosts! You’ll need three sheets of origami paper, tape, chopsticks, scissors, glue, round stickers, two paper cups, rubber bands, vinyl tape, and so on.

Not only can you display it, but it’s portable too, so try making it and playing with it together with the kids.

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[Origami] Simple Lantern

Origami Lantern Decorations: SUMMER Garland

[Origami] Simple Lantern

Let’s make a simple lantern using origami.

First, fold a sheet of white origami paper in half.

Next, prepare a sheet of origami paper in the color you want for the lantern and make crease lines on it.

After folding a narrow strip along the edge, fold the paper in half, then in half again—folding it a total of three times.

Unfold it, and carefully cut along the crease lines with scissors, taking care not to cut through the edge.

Cut off only the single strip on the left side, and glue the edge to the white origami paper.

Lift the outer colored paper, apply glue to the opposite side of the white paper, and attach the outer paper so it curves outward into a rounded shape.

Finally, shape it into a circle and attach a black origami band to finish!

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Lantern with a cap

No.143 “Lantern with Bottle Caps” [Handmade Toy by a Nursery Teacher]

Lantern with a cap

Make it from scrap! Here’s an idea for a lantern made with bottle caps.

It’s great when you can use familiar materials or recycled items as you gather supplies.

This time, let’s make a lantern using unwanted caps.

You’ll need: two black PET bottle caps, eight red and eight white caps, twine, a glue gun or adhesive, pom-poms, round stickers, a hair elastic, a disposable chopstick, and an awl.

When using an awl or adhesives, be sure a teacher or guardian is present and supervising at all times.

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[Childcare] Lantern craft ideas to make in summer! (11–20)

[Ages 1 and up] Easy Paper Lantern

Paper Cup Lanterns: Summer Craft for August–September 🏮 Evening Cool-Off Party Decorations (Nursery/Kindergarten)

[Ages 1 and up] Easy Paper Lantern

Here’s a paper cup lantern activity that even one-year-olds can try.

First, decorate two paper cups.

Use pens and stickers to decorate them freely.

Next, place the open ends of the cups together and tape them in place.

Choose a thin ribbon, make it into a loop, and tape it to the top of the cups so it can be hung.

Adding holographic stickers for extra decoration is also cute.

Have fun making original lanterns with the children!

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Sound-emitting lantern

Let’s make a rattle lantern that’s perfect as a room decoration or for summer festival displays at daycares and kindergartens.

Prepare a toilet paper roll, put a few beads inside, and seal the open ends.

Then wrap it with origami paper that has been slit to create a softly rounded shape.

That’s it—your rattle lantern is complete.

You can also use it as a maraca.

If you hang it as a decoration, it will make cute sounds when touched or when the wind blows, adding a lively touch to the room.

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lantern decorations

Tanabata decoration: lantern Tanabata origami

lantern decorations

The lantern decorations you often see for Tanabata add a nice touch of traditional Japanese flair! Although they may look tricky to make at first glance, you can easily create them using a toilet paper roll and origami paper—perfect for a fun project with kids.

First, wrap origami paper around a toilet paper roll, then remove the roll.

Next, fold another sheet of origami paper to make creases, unfold it, and fold it in half again.

Cut slits along the folded edge with scissors.

Once you’ve cut the slits all the way across, open it up, wrap it around the tube you made earlier, and glue the top and bottom to secure it—that’s it! Decorating the inner tube with stickers and more is a lovely touch, too.

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Cute origami lantern

[Preschool Craft] Summer craft! Cute lanterns made with origami ♪ | Cute lanterns with origami

Cute origami lantern

Mini-sized and perfect for decorating anywhere! Here are some cute origami lantern ideas.

When you think of making lanterns, many people probably picture using construction paper.

This time, let’s try making lanterns with origami paper, which comes in a wide range of colors.

You’ll need origami paper, pipe cleaners, scissors, glue, and clear tape.

Plain origami works well, but using Japanese patterns or washi-style paper can create a lovely atmosphere—give it a try!

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