Craft activity ideas that parents and children can enjoy together during a preschool observation day
Preschool observation day is when guardians come to see how their children are doing at daycare or kindergarten.
It’s an event that not only the children but also their guardians look forward to.
Many teachers may be thinking, “We want to make observation day a special time that parents and children can enjoy together!”
So this time, we’re sharing recommended craft ideas for observation day.
We’ve gathered plenty of project ideas that parents and children can enjoy together—memorable keepsakes, toys you can play with after making them, and instruments that make sounds.
Everything can be made easily with familiar materials, so please use these as a reference!
We hope your observation day will be full of smiles and deepen the bond between parents and children.
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Ideas for craft activities that parents and children can enjoy together at a preschool observation (1–10)
Kendama
This is a paper-cup kendama that even children who find heavier wooden kendamas difficult can enjoy.
Prepare two paper cups, glue construction paper to the sides, and decorate them with pens, stickers, or masking tape.
Cut a piece of string to a length that lets the ball fit neatly inside the cup, and attach a crumpled paper ball to the end.
Tape the other end of the string to the bottom of one paper cup, align the bottoms of the two cups, and secure them with tape—your handmade kendama is complete! It could be fun to have parents and children compete to see who can handle the kendama better.
Snap Frog
A frog made from a milk carton takes a big jump! Cut off the bottom of a milk carton, flatten it, and trim it so it’s about 9 cm wide.
Make small slits along the fold lines of the carton, hook rubber bands into the slits so they bite in, and you’ve got a mechanism that stretches the bands when you press from above and springs up when you let go! Attach parts like eyes and ears to turn it into your favorite animal or character.
Be careful not to crease areas other than the original fold lines—if they bend, the carton will crumple when pressed and won’t jump as well.
bowling
Bottle bowling with kid-designed pins! Prepare paper large enough to wrap around plastic bottles, and let children decorate freely with stickers and crayons.
You can also offer different ways to add patterns to suit the children, such as collage by tearing and pasting paper, or making single cuts with scissors to create short, strip-shaped pieces.
Once the paper is attached to the bottles, you’re ready to play! Enjoy bowling together while counting the fallen pins with the children and their caregivers.
Ideas for craft activities that parents and children can enjoy together during preschool observation (11–20)
Fluffy Paper Cup Ghost
When you blow into it, a ghost appears! This is a fluffy ghost craft made with a paper cup and a plastic bag.
Decorate the paper cup with stickers or markers and make a hole in one spot.
Insert a straw through the hole so that the tip of the straw sticks out from inside the cup.
Next, draw a ghost face on a plastic bag and attach the bag to the tip of the straw so that no air can escape.
Pull the straw outward as far as it will go, tuck the plastic bag into the paper cup, and you’re done! Each time you blow through the straw, the ghost pops out all fluffy, and the kids are sure to love it.
buzzing top
This is a buzz-top that spins round and round when you pull the string.
Prepare the bottom or mouth section of a milk carton and use an awl or similar tool to make two holes in the center.
Thread kitchen twine through the holes and tie it.
Twist the string as if winding the top, then pull—your buzz-top will spin vigorously! If the twine is hard to thread, wrap the end with cellophane tape to help it slide through.
A plain milk carton can look a bit dull, so let your child decorate it freely with pens and stickers.
den-den daiko (Japanese pellet drum)
Make a traditional Japanese toy, a den-den daiko, together with your child! Cut construction paper into the shape of your favorite animal’s body, and attach cardboard to the back of the belly area.
If you make the belly wide and round, it will be easier to strike once it’s finished.
Attach a wooden skewer (or chopstick) to the cardboard side, cover it from above with construction paper, and then stick the facial parts on the front.
Make holes on both sides with an awl, and attach pieces made from bottle caps tied with string.
And there you have it—an animal den-den daiko! Move it to the music and enjoy the cheerful popping sound together as the beaters strike.
Puzzle
Let’s turn your children’s one-of-a-kind drawings into a puzzle! Prepare a piece of cardboard slightly larger than the drawing paper, attach the drawing in the center, and trim around it.
Glue this frame-shaped cardboard onto another piece of cardboard that will serve as the puzzle base.
Next, use a craft knife to cut the drawing into puzzle-piece shapes, and fit the pieces into the base—your original puzzle is complete! It’s a wonderful toy that lets you admire your child’s artwork while playing together, even after you bring it home.