[Childcare] Ocean-themed craft ideas! From wall displays to 3D projects
In summer, ocean-themed crafts are a common activity in childcare.
Ocean motifs feel refreshing and are perfect for the season.
Sea creatures like fish and crabs are fun for children to make.
However, finding age-appropriate ideas and new forms of expression can be challenging.
So, we’ve gathered a collection of ocean-themed craft ideas here.
You’ll find a variety of projects, from flat drawings to three-dimensional creations.
Please use these as a reference and enjoy a fun summer with the children! Note: Since the children’s creations are treated as works, the term “seisaku” (制作) is used in the text.
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[Childcare] Ocean-Themed Craft Ideas! From Wall Displays to 3D Projects (21–30)
Colorful fish
Speaking of the sea, you probably imagine a scene full of fish, right? Let’s create a dazzling ocean scene by making colorful fish! One way is to cut fish shapes out of construction paper and glue on small pieces of origami paper like patterns.
It’s also recommended to add patterns to the fish using wet-on-wet painting or wax-resist techniques.
You could also use flashy paper itself—something sparkly or with cute patterns.
Try creating a bright, lively ocean you wouldn’t often see in real life.
Cute seashell
Let’s make a summery, seasonal seashell out of origami.
Prepare one sheet of origami paper.
Fold the paper in half, then fold the left and right corners toward the center crease.
Fold toward the center crease again.
Flip it over and further fold the left and right corners toward the center crease.
Open the paper, fold the corners, and shape the whole piece into a seashell.
The overall crease lines represent the lines of the shell, giving it a more three-dimensional look.
The finished seashell is also great to incorporate into crafts that evoke an underwater scene.
fish
Let’s try folding an origami fish.
Fish live in the water, so they’re one of those things that make us feel cool and refreshed.
First, fold the paper in half, then fold it in half again, and bring the two corners toward the center.
Now flip it over and again bring the two corners from the other side toward the center.
Next, fold it diagonally, then fold it in half with the white side tucked inside.
After that, just flip it over and draw an eye.
Try making fish in various colors and sizes.
Lining up lots of fish will make it feel even cooler.
3 summer wall decoration ideas
Here are three summer craft ideas for infants.
The first is a refreshing-looking fish made with a clear bag and tissue paper.
The second is a whale made with flat plastic ribbon (suzuran tape) and construction paper.
The third is a wall decoration of a rabbit made with a paper plate and construction paper.
Crumple tissue paper, stick on stickers, and draw patterns and designs with crayons… These are all wonderful ideas that help little ones use their fingers a lot.
With a few adjustments, toddlers can enjoy them too, so feel free to use these as references and give them a try!
snow crab
This is a snow crab, a sea creature characterized by its large claws and unique shape.
Fold the origami into a triangle, then fold back the bottom portion to create additional creases.
Turn it over and continue folding along the creases to form steps; this will create the crab’s body.
To represent the crab’s signature large claws, layer the paper as you fold, sharpening the tips for a realistic finish.
Once you’ve shaped the claws, draw the eyes with a pen at the end to complete a cute snow crab with an expressive look.
Whale and Swaying Jellyfish
How about making a big whale with jellyfish swimming around it? For the whale, cut out the shape from construction paper and add various patterns as you like.
For example, you could paste on flowers made from construction paper, origami, or tissue paper, or create patterns by flicking paint with a toothbrush through a mesh.
If you want jellyfish that gently sway, it’s best to make them three-dimensional and hang them as decorations.
The way they sway in the breeze looks very refreshing and gives the feeling of swimming in the sea.
Try making good use of items like plastic raffia (suzuran tape), too.
A giant fish painted with finger painting
How about making a big fish with finger painting? Finger painting, where you paint using paint on your fingers or hands instead of brushes, offers a different kind of charm from regular paintings.
One recommendation is for the teacher to create the rough shape of the fish and have the children help with coloring it using finger painting.
You can cover the whole thing with color, or use the shapes of hands and fingers like patterns to add color—let’s skip the rules and paint freely!