[Childcare] A collection of craft ideas for enjoying Setsubun

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

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?

[Childcare] A collection of craft ideas for enjoying Setsubun (21–30)

Oni masks made with various materials and techniques

Let’s make oni masks using fun art techniques! The way to create the mask base and horn parts is the same; only the hair section uses different techniques.

We’ll introduce bleeding watercolor, wax-resist painting, torn-paper collage, and ideas that use glued-on yarn or tissue paper.

During Setsubun, we drive away oni by throwing beans.

Oni are scary, but wearing a mask you made yourself might give you the courage to face them.

Enjoy the crafting process and try expressing your own kind of strength!

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sasashina

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Cute tissue-paper! Oni mask

An ogre mask featuring tissue-paper hair as a key accent is a perfect item to enliven February’s bean-throwing event! Make the base of the mask with red or blue construction paper.

Crumple tissue paper into balls and glue them onto the base.

To create a three-dimensional hair effect, it’s best to scrunch the paper before attaching it.

Make the eyes and horns using construction paper and crayons.

Once you’ve also made the nose, cheeks, and fangs, stick them onto the mask.

Connect a piece of thick paper with double-sided tape to two rubber bands, and you’re done! Create unique ogres—smiling, crying, angry—and enjoy Setsubun.

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moko

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Make it with a cup-folding method! Setsubun goods

@roi_mama.asobi
Have you ever folded this!? Demon 3-WAY 👹💕Setsubun Origami #AtHomePlay #StayHomeTime Handmade crafts
♬ BGM_long when the hurry is in a hurry(1211968) – WataSound

Paper cups made with origami are very easy to make and can be customized, making them perfect for kids’ crafts or passing the time.

Here we introduce three Setsubun items that use paper-folded cups! Once you’ve made the basic cup, attach a face and a string to turn it into a bag.

If you use larger origami paper, it can hold lots of items and will surely be a hit.

Next, turn the cup upside down and add a face to make a finger puppet! It’s fun to make lots of them with small origami paper.

Finally, make a hat using newspaper or wrapping paper.

It can also be used as a substitute for a mask during bean-throwing, and the ways to use it are endless.

It’s a very simple folding method that you can enjoy, so give it a try!

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moko

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A toilet paper roll core transforms into a fearsome oni!

Let’s make a warm and charming oni (ogre) using a toilet paper roll and felt.

First, wrap the toilet paper roll with felt and glue it in place.

Then use faux fur as hair, and attach facial parts and horns made from felt.

Using pearls for the eyes and cheeks will boost the cuteness and add a festive touch.

The key to this idea is layering yellow and brown felt, twisting them to create the pants.

It would also look cute if you use non-traditional colors.

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sasashina

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How to Form a Demon Band

@roi_mama.asobi
[For Setsubun!!] Oni (Demon) Headband 👹Setsubun #HomePhoto #AtHomePlay #StayHomeTime Handmade crafts
♬ Cute up-tempo pop song(1511532) – sanusagi

Ogre headbands that are easy to make with everyday materials are items kids will love.

They’re a great idea for enjoying Setsubun and bean-throwing.

Cut a toilet paper roll and make a ring.

Cover it with your favorite origami paper, then round off the corners.

Use origami or colored construction paper to make and attach the horns, hair, and facial features.

Varying the number of horns, facial expressions, and face colors makes for a colorful and fun set of headbands.

Since they’re quick and easy to make, this is a perfect craft idea for young children.

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moko

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Oni headband

@chooobo2
Making an Oni Headband 👹Made in February Setsubun craft Setsubun #HandmadeToys #Nursery school Nursery teacher / Childcare worker #Nursery School Craft #Childcare Crafting
♬ Find you in the dark feat. Nenashi – Ovall

How about making oni headbands for the bean-throwing event? These colorful demon headbands are perfect for getting into the Setsubun spirit.

Attach horns made from construction paper to a long, narrow strip of thick paper.

Draw patterns on the horns, shape them into cones, and make a few small cuts so you can spread and secure them more easily.

Punch holes in both ends of the thick paper, tie on an elastic cord, then crumple tissue paper into balls and attach them.

Using two or three colors—or multiple colors—creates a bright and cute finish! You can make one horn or two, whichever you like.

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moko

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Demon Bean-Throwing Bag

A Setsubun bag that can hold beans is a great idea for fully enjoying bean throwing.

After the bean-throwing is over, kids can keep playing pretend by putting their favorite items inside, so they’re sure to love it! Fold a piece of colored construction paper in half and make an oni (ogre) face.

Cut out the mouth area so you can see the contents from the outside.

Fold the top edge of a storage bag back by about 5 cm and attach it to the oni’s face.

Glue on the facial parts, hair, and horns, then secure the ribbon to the bag and you’re done! A tip to keep the ribbon from slipping out is to fold it back once.

The bag is very easy to make, so try making it before Setsubun and enjoy the seasonal feeling!

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moko

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