![[Childcare] Ideas for props for a school play. Easy ways to make them.](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/eVoXcnBz4a8/maxresdefault.webp)
At many kindergartens and nursery schools, children often put on plays or dances for recital days and performance showcases.
These events are valuable opportunities for parents and guardians to see how hard the children have worked and how much they’ve grown.
We want to keep spirits high and make sure everyone has fun while participating.
So this time, we’re sharing prop ideas you can use for such recitals.
From hats and masks the children can wear to chairs, drums, and pom-poms, we’ve got plenty of ideas to make your program even more vibrant and exciting!
If you make the props together with the children, their imaginations will expand and the fun is sure to double!
Be sure to give these ideas a try!
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[Childcare] Ideas for props for a recital. Easy ways to make them (1–10)
treasure chest
A treasure chest that’s sure to make frequent appearances at school plays! If you cut it haphazardly, you may end up with lopsided sides or a lid that won’t close.
Use a template to draw accurate outlines on the cardboard, then assemble it while securing pieces with tape or a hot glue gun.
Decorate the sides with construction paper or tape, and attach a key piece made from cardboard to the center—voilà, a splendid treasure chest! Kids will be bursting with excitement, itching to peek inside.
It might even encourage them to tidy up if you use it as a toy box.
ribbon scrunchie
A handmade scrunchie that looks cute whether you tie up your hair with it or wear it on your wrist like a bracelet.
All you need are one elastic band and two colors of ribbon! Cut the two ribbons to the same length, layer them, and secure them to the elastic with a bow knot.
Pull tight to secure the knot and shape it, and you’re done in no time! If you want more volume, make three bow knots; for a simpler look, make two—adjust to match your desired finish.
It’s perfect for matching accessories when you dance, so give it a try!
paper-mâché
Hariko is a technique in which paper is pasted onto a mold made from materials like bamboo or clay to form a shape.
In kindergartens and nursery schools, it’s used to make masks.
Masks or hats made from a single sheet of paper tend to tear or get crushed during practice, but those made with hariko are sturdy, so they can be used for lots of practice and still stay in good condition until the performance day.
You create a framework that fits the head by cutting thick paper into strips, then paste newspaper onto it while applying glue.
After that, paste washi (thin Japanese paper) over it, let it dry, and paint it to finish!
Wolf hat
This is a wolf hat made from construction paper! Take a 25 cm square sheet, fold one corner into a triangle, fold the tip back, then fold the whole piece flat.
Next, cut out the ears and mouth with scissors, and fold and adjust so the wolf’s mouth can open wide.
Attach eyes made from origami, and add an elastic band to the opening—now you’ve got a wolf hat with a big, snapping mouth! If you use a stapler to secure the elastic, be sure to cover the staples with tape so no one gets hurt when touching it.
chair
Assemble milk cartons stuffed with newspaper, and you’ll have a sturdy chair! Put four rolled-up newspaper bundles into a milk carton with the spout section cut off.
Then insert an upside-down, empty carton into it and press down; this completes a component strong enough to support a child’s weight.
Make 16 of these sets plus 8 mini sets about 10 cm tall.
Assemble them, securing as you go with duct tape.
Finally, fix everything in place and neatly coat the sides with colored vinyl tape, and your milk carton chair is complete!
firewood splitting set
A handmade firewood set that’s perfect for both school plays and everyday play! Cut soft pool noodles to a suitable length and wrap them with cardboard about three times, securing with glue as you go.
Slice the piece in half vertically, then attach a paper with tree-ring patterns to the exposed pool noodle face.
For the cut ends of the logs, stick on thick paper with magnets attached and cover them with tape.
Finally, apply paper with a wood-grain pattern to the sides and cover the entire piece with a low-friction tape to finish the logs! You can also make an axe using a wrapping paper tube and cardboard—great for your school play.
Ninja Scroll
A ninja scroll you can use for plays featuring ninjas or everyday pretend play! Cut copy paper lengthwise in half, connect the pieces horizontally to make a long sheet, and stick washi-pattern origami paper on the ends.
Attach a flat cord to the center of a straw to make a small part, glue that onto the origami section, then roll the end around to wrap it.
Glue an empty tube-shaped snack container to the opposite end, roll everything up, and tie the flat cord—your scroll is complete! It’s also great for treasure hunts: write the location of the hidden treasure inside.
Since you can write inside it, there are plenty of ways to use it beyond school plays.