[Early Childhood Education] Ideas for childcare that make use of light

Stained glass made with crayons

Hold it up to the light: DIY stained glass with crayons

Would you like to try making a stained-glass-style craft using crayons and baking paper? First, shave the crayons with a utility knife and separate the shavings by color into small containers.

Next, have the children sprinkle the crayon shavings onto a sheet of baking paper.

Overlapping the colors to some extent will make the result look nicer.

Then place another sheet of baking paper on top and press a low-heat iron over it.

Be sure to do this in a place where children can’t get close.

Once the crayons have melted, attach the sheet to a pre-cut black construction paper frame, and it’s done!

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tsukada moe

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Salt painting

Sparkling fun! How to make salt paintings [Nursery/Kindergarten]

Salt painting uses an everyday material—salt—that’s rarely used in crafts! Draw any picture you like on a backing sheet with white craft glue, and before it dries, sprinkle plenty of salt over it.

Shake off the excess salt, then brush on watercolor paint thinned with water, letting it soak into the salt.

You can use a brush or a dropper, or even dab the colors on with your finger for a beautiful effect.

Once the glue dries completely, your artwork will sparkle with glittering salt! It looks great even with simple patterns instead of specific pictures, so try incorporating it into your craft time.

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yuri

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Let’s play with hand shadow puppets

Let's play with hand shadow puppets!

Shadow puppetry has long been a beloved form of play using light.

Hand shadow puppets—creating shapes of objects and creatures with your hands—are fun to watch and fun to imitate, making them perfect for activities in preschools and kindergartens.

Hands seen through the screen look like entirely different creatures.

Imitating the shapes can lead to new discoveries, such as, “So my hands can move like this!” In addition, giving instructions like “Let’s put your thumb together with your middle and ring fingers” can help children learn the names of their fingers.

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yuri

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[Ages 2 and up] Shadow Play

What is this!? Let’s play with shadows — a parent-child activity to feel the wonders of nature

Shadow play is something you can enjoy outdoors even on days with strong sunlight.

Wherever light shines, a shadow always appears.

For adults, it’s an obvious phenomenon, but for children it might still feel mysterious.

Try observing the direction shadows form and how their size and sharpness change when you move closer or farther away.

Children might make some new discoveries! Just be sure to watch out for heatstroke when it’s hot.

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Yoimachi Jēn

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[Ages 3 and up] Make Dragonfly Glasses

[Nursery/Kindergarten] Dragonfly craft ideas you can make and play with! How to make see-through glasses toys

Let’s make a fun craft like in the song “Tonbo no Megane,” where the scenery looks different through special glasses.

First, for preparation, draw guide lines for dragonfly wings on color clear files.

Also, pre-cut the glasses frames from thick paper.

Cut color cellophane into sizes that are easy to attach to the glasses.

Next, have the children freely draw on the wings and cut them out with scissors.

Let them also decorate the chopsticks however they like.

In addition to pens, they can use masking tape and stickers for both the wings and the chopsticks.

Once you’ve attached the color cellophane to the glasses frames, assemble everything into a dragonfly shape—and it’s done!

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sparkling teru-teru-bōzu

Let’s make colorful teru teru bozu and display them by the window.

First, stick colored cellophane onto a clear plastic file.

Prepare several pieces of cellophane cut to appropriate sizes in advance.

Next, create a frame for the teru teru bozu’s body with construction paper and stick it on top.

Then cut along the outline of the body frame.

Finally, attach the teru teru bozu’s face.

If you have the children draw the faces or make them with stickers, each one will have its own personality.

If you make lovely teru teru bozu that let the light shine through, your wish for sunny weather might just come true on the day you want it most.

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Shining Fish Made from Aluminum Foil

How about making a sparkling fish with aluminum foil? First, cut construction paper to the size of the fish’s body and cut drawing paper into the shape of a fish with a tail.

Make small slits around the construction paper, then hook and wrap twine around it.

Next, cover it with aluminum foil and secure it on the back.

Gently press so the shape of the foil stands out.

Color the spaces between the raised strings with permanent markers in any colors you like.

Finally, glue it onto the drawing paper—and you’re done! You’ll have a shiny fish that sparkles in all kinds of colors.

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