[Childcare] A collection of craft ideas for enjoying Setsubun
As Setsubun approaches, nursery schools and kindergartens get busy preparing for bean-throwing.
Crafts that incorporate Setsubun-specific motifs—like oni (ogre) masks, bean boxes, and eho-maki—are a wonderful opportunity to deepen children’s interest in the seasons.
Here, we’ve gathered ideas for Setsubun crafts that you can enjoy using familiar materials such as origami, paper plates, and construction paper.
By drawing cute oni expressions or designing their own horns, each child can create a piece that shines with their individuality.
How about enjoying the Setsubun festivities while making things together with the children?
- Fun Setsubun Activities for Childcare: A Collection of Exciting Games and Craft Ideas
- [Childcare] February Setsubun Bean-Throwing! A Fun Collection of Oni Craft Ideas
- [Childcare] Enjoy Setsubun! A collection of handmade ideas you can decorate with and play with
- [Childcare] Fun February Indoor Play Ideas That Work for Both Small and Large Groups
- [Childcare] Handmade Oni Masks: Craft Ideas by Material
- Paper cup crafts that elementary school kids will love! A collection of fun project ideas
- [February Wall Decorations] Perfect for Setsubun! A Collection of Ideas You Can Use in Childcare
- Perfect for January bulletin boards! A collection of Daruma craft ideas kids will love in childcare settings
- [Childcare] Cute to display! A collection of wall decoration ideas you’ll want to make in February
- [Setsubun] Let’s make an oni mask! A collection of ideas using everyday materials
- [Nursery Schools & Kindergartens] Liven Up Setsubun! Entertainment Ideas
- [February Bulletin Board] Perfect for Setsubun! A Collection of Oni (Demon) Craft Ideas to Enjoy in Early Childhood Education
- [Childcare] Fun Craft Ideas for Hinamatsuri (Girls' Day)
[Childcare] A collection of craft ideas to enjoy Setsubun (71–80)
paper puppet theater
Do you know what a “peep-show puppet theater” (peep-sart) is? In Japanese, “peep-sart” refers to a paper puppet show—a puppet theater made of paper.
You attach sticks or similar handles to paper character puppets and move them in time with the story.
These paper puppet shows are very popular in nursery schools and kindergartens.
Of course, you can also make them at home and enjoy them with your child.
Seasonal events in February, like bean-throwing Setsubun and ogre-chasing games, can also be played using this peep-sart.
After you create ogre illustrations with colorful origami or construction paper, try giving them lively movements.
You can turn them into a puppet show, or simply stick them on the wall—both are great options.
pochette
It’s a cute little demon-themed pochette that will make you want to carry not just Setsubun beans but all kinds of small items! Cut a milk carton to a size that makes it easy for children to put their hands in and take things out.
Leave one side longer so it can serve as the flap of the pochette.
Next, cover the sides with construction paper in your favorite colors, and attach horns, hair, and facial features so that when the flap is closed, it looks like an oni face.
Add a string so it can hang from the neck, and you’ll be all set to enjoy bean-throwing to the fullest!
lease
This is a Setsubun wreath featuring motifs that evoke Setsubun and the New Year, such as Otafuku masks, ogres (oni), holly with sardines, and plum blossoms.
Make four zigzag-shaped pieces from origami and combine them into a ring to form the wreath.
Then simply fold Otafuku and oni from origami and decorate the wreath! If folding is difficult, you can also cut each motif from colored paper and glue them onto the wreath for an equally charming result.
Once you learn the base wreath, you can enjoy various arrangements to match the seasons.
[Childcare] A Collection of Craft Ideas to Enjoy Setsubun (81–90)
origami
This is an origami oni craft where you can freely draw the face to finish it! Fold the paper to make the shape of an oni with a single horn, then draw the face with a pen and use masking tape or stickers to give the oni some pants.
It’s also a great idea to make the oni’s spiked club (kanabō) out of origami and add it as an accessory! There are many ways to make an origami oni, but some can be difficult for children.
In that case, the teacher can do part of the folding in advance, and let the children draw the face and stick on tape with their favorite patterns.
Origami: Otafuku (Traditional Smiling Woman Mask)
Otahuku is written in kanji as “お多福.” It’s a traditional mask depicting a woman’s face and is known as a symbol of good fortune.
Many of you have probably seen Setsubun beans sold together with an Otahuku mask as a set.
To drive away demons during Setsubun and invite plenty of good luck, let’s make an Otahuku out of origami with the kids.
With just one sheet of black origami paper, you can create the Otahuku face.
Draw the facial features however you like and get everyone ready to welcome happiness!
Origami: Ehomaki (lucky sushi roll)
Many people probably look forward to eating ehomaki as part of their Setsubun festivities.
The large futomaki rolls packed with various fillings are delightful to look at and instantly lift your spirits.
How about recreating the look of ehomaki using origami and other materials? Wrap origami to represent the fillings and rice, stuff it into a toilet paper tube, and finish by attaching black origami to mimic the nori seaweed.
You can reproduce the classic fillings, of course, but it might also be fun to create your ideal ehomaki by packing it with whatever you’d most like to eat.
Origami: Ogre
Speaking of Setsubun, ogres (oni) are an essential motif.
They’re seen as symbols of evil and have a scary image, but if you design them in a cute way, people might enjoy Setsubun even more.
We’ll fold origami into the shape of an oni, and using techniques like reverse folds, how you represent the horns is a key point.
Using red or blue origami and giving the oni one or two horns is the standard, but it could be fun to try other colors or shapes to see how the impression changes.
Finally, draw the oni’s expression to complete it—choosing what kind of face to give it is also an important point for making a cute oni.