Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Recommended crafts and activities for March, such as Hina Matsuri (Doll’s Festival) and cherry blossoms

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
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.

March, when you can feel spring arriving.

The warm, sunny spring weather naturally lifts the spirits, doesn’t it?

This time, we’ve gathered recommended craft ideas perfect for March.

From events like Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day) and graduation ceremonies to seasonal themes such as cherry blossoms, butterflies, and strawberries, there are plenty of ideas that capture the feeling of spring!

Before you start making things, we recommend going on a walk with the children to see and touch the charming spring plants and insects unique to the season.

It will surely expand their image of spring and help them create wonderful works!

Display what you make around the room and fully enjoy the spring atmosphere.

Because items made by children are treated as “works,” we refer to them as “seisaku (制作)” in the text.

[Childcare] Recommended crafts and activities for March, such as Hinamatsuri and cherry blossoms (1–10)

Chirashi sushi preparation

Let’s make chirashi-zushi, the festive dish eaten during the spring Hina Matsuri, as a March craft project.

Prepare a paper plate, construction paper, glue, tissue paper (hana-gami), and paper towels.

Cut the paper towels to look like rice and glue them onto the paper plate.

Using scissors, cut ingredients you’d find in chirashi-zushi—such as salmon, shredded omelet, tuna, and cucumber—into squares and thin strips.

Cutting construction paper into different shapes and sizes changes how you move the scissors, making it great scissor practice.

Draw faces for the male and female Hina dolls (Obina and Mebina), attach them, and you’re done.

It’s recommended to start practicing with scissors gradually around age three, according to each child’s development.

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Dandelions in a wet-on-wet painting

Let’s use the wet-on-wet (bleeding) technique to create a familiar spring flower: the dandelion.

This technique uses water-based pens and water-resistant paper.

Shoji paper or coffee filters are recommended.

Cut the paper into a circle and draw patterns on it with pens in any colors you like.

When you’re done, mist it with water; the colors will gently bleed and spread.

Even if you scribble so the colors mix messily, the way they bleed and blend is beautiful and fun.

Attach a base for the dandelion flower and a stem, and you’re done.

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Puku-Puku Strawberry

Let’s make cute, puffy strawberries using tissue paper! You’ll need: a clear wrapping bag, red or pink tissue paper, round stickers, and colored construction paper.

First, crumple the tissue paper into balls and stuff them into the wrapping bag.

Seal the top of the bag with cellophane tape, and tape the bottom corners so the bag forms a pointed strawberry shape.

Add the strawberry seeds by sticking round stickers on from the outside.

Cut a strawberry calyx (leafy top) from green construction paper and attach it with double-sided tape to finish.

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[Childcare] Recommended craft activities for March, such as Hinamatsuri and cherry blossoms (11–20)

Skeleton Hina Doll Display

Let me introduce a skeleton-style Hina doll display that features clear plastic cups.

Prepare plastic cups, transparent chiyogami paper, glue, thick straws, yarn, and construction paper.

To make it easier to apply the transparent chiyogami, spread glue on the plastic cups and stick the paper on.

Use stickers or colored pens to draw the faces of the Empress and Emperor dolls.

After threading yarn through the straw to create the base, use an awl to make a hole in the bottom of each cup, thread the yarn through, and you’re done! Tie a tight double knot to secure it so it won’t come loose.

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Tissue paper corsage

[Graduation/Entrance Ceremony] Tissue Paper Corsage 🌸 — Handmade Gifts and Mementos for Children

Tissue paper corsage

Here’s a perfect tissue paper corsage craft for children to make as a gift for the graduates at the March graduation ceremony.

Prepare tissue paper, ribbon, glue, and pom-poms.

Accordion-fold the tissue paper and staple it in the middle, then gently open the layers so they don’t tear.

Glue a pom-pom to the center of the tissue paper flower, cut two pieces of ribbon and glue them to the back, and you’re done! Make a lovely corsage filled with gratitude.

Using pom-poms in various colors can add a warm, handmade touch.

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5 Easy Spring Origami Models

[Nursery/Kindergarten] 5 Easy Spring Origami 🌷 [March / Hinamatsuri Crafts & Wall Decorations]

5 Easy Spring Origami Models

Speaking of spring, various things come to mind, like the Doll Festival, flowers, butterflies, and bush warblers.

How about making some spring-themed motifs with origami? Children can easily try making simple pieces, such as hina dolls and imperial attendants by folding washi-patterned origami to look like kimonos and drawing faces, or tulips by folding the flower, stem, and leaves separately and then gluing them together.

Let’s decorate the wall little by little with everyone’s creations and get ready for the long-awaited spring!

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Paper cup Hina dolls

[A Must-See for Nursery Teachers!] Hinamatsuri / Handmade Hina Dolls

Paper cup Hina dolls

Let’s make handmade Hina dolls that everyone can decorate together! Using paper cups makes it easy even for young children.

First, draw the faces of the Empress (Ohinasama) and the Emperor (Odairisama) on construction paper and cut them out.

Next, prepare two paper cups and make small slits on both sides of each cup with scissors.

Layer and glue origami paper over the cups to look like kimonos.

Cut a slit in the bottom of each cup and attach the faces you made from construction paper.

You can make the Emperor in the same way, so give it a try!

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