Lovely childcare

[For 1-year-olds] Let’s Learn About May! A Collection of Recommended Craft Ideas

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.
Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

At around one year old, children’s range of movement and interests expand dramatically as they stand, walk, and reach out with their hands.

You’ll want to provide creative activities that stimulate them during craft time, too.

May includes Children’s Day and Mother’s Day.

Let’s enjoy crafts related to these events with one-year-olds.

Here is a roundup of May craft ideas designed for one-year-olds that they can do without strain.

Because we treat what children make as works of art, the term is written as “seisaku (制作)” in the text.

Please use this as a reference.

[For 1-year-olds] Let’s learn about May! Recommended craft ideas (1–10)

Spring laundry

Let’s have fun playing with colors! Here are some spring laundry-themed craft ideas.

Using paint for art projects is great for one-year-olds because it stimulates their senses and creativity.

By freely applying and mixing paint, they can develop self-expression and curiosity.

Making art with their hands and fingers also supports sensory growth by letting them enjoy different textures.

If you’d like to enjoy paint with children who are interested in it, here’s what you’ll need for the spring laundry craft: drawing paper, scissors, paint, origami paper, jute twine, paper towels, and craft glue.

Give it a try!

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Samurai helmet made from a footprint

Make adorable kids’ footprints the star! Here are ideas for crafting a samurai helmet (kabuto) using footprints.

This is a perfect project for anyone who wants to create an item kids can wear on Children’s Day.

You’ll need an envelope, construction paper, paint, sponge daubers, stickers, glue, and scissors.

In addition to making decorations for the venue, having wearable items for the day will boost the children’s excitement! Be sure to try this for Children’s Day.

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Ladybug made with tissue paper

[From around 1 year old] Make a ladybug with finger-play. It’s not cute at all, but it’s a fun craft! lol

Ladybug made with tissue paper

It’s fun to stick round stickers all over! Let me share a ladybug craft idea using tissue paper.

For children, ladybugs are tiny, eye-catching, and fascinating—their movements spark kids’ curiosity.

By watching ladybugs, noticing their colors and how they move, children will want to touch and observe them, deepening their learning.

This time, let’s make a ladybug using tissue paper, a small bag, and black round stickers! Stick on as many stickers as you like.

You’ll end up with an adorable, one-of-a-kind creation!

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[For 1-year-olds] Let’s learn about May! Recommended craft ideas (11–20)

Rapeseed blossoms made with tissue paper

Making Rapeseed Flowers with Tissue Paper (from around age 1)

Rapeseed blossoms made with tissue paper

Tear, paste, and have fun! Here are ideas for making rapeseed blossoms with tissue paper.

Brightly colored, eye-catching flowers are so appealing to children.

They use their five senses to learn—drawn to the colors, shapes, and fragrances of flowers, enjoying touching and smelling them.

Let’s try creating the rapeseed blossoms they saw and touched on a walk! Tearing and pasting tissue paper, and feeling its texture, can also become play that uses the fingers and a chance to practice fine motor skills.

Give it a try and incorporate it into your activities.

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Ants’ Errand

Here’s a craft project featuring the familiar “Ant’s Errand” from the song.

Prepare black construction paper and crayons, and let’s get started.

Have the children draw pictures on the construction paper using crayons.

When cutting out the ant’s parts from the paper, the key is to cut from the areas where the children’s drawings are.

Once all the parts are glued onto the base sheet, stick on round stickers for the eyes, add a mouth cut from construction paper, and it’s complete! Adding stickers or torn origami around it gives it a warm, handmade feel—highly recommended.

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Shirokuma-chan’s Hotcakes

Here’s an introduction to making a craft inspired by the popular children’s picture book, Shirokuma-chan’s Pancakes.

Prepare construction paper, paint, brushes, scissors, and glue.

Cut out and assemble a plate and pancakes from the construction paper ahead of time.

If you prepare plates in several colors, children may enjoy choosing their favorite.

Use paint to represent butter and add color to the pancakes with a brush.

Form butter shapes from cellophane or origami paper, then glue them on top to complete a delicious-looking pancake.

For Shirokuma-chan’s eyes, we recommend using round stickers.

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Soramame-kun’s Bed

Here’s an introduction to making a fava bean bed craft that’s perfect for May.

Gather paint, sponge stampers (tanpo), construction paper, cotton, colored pens, and glue, and let’s get started.

Stamp paint onto construction paper cut into the shape of a pod to create the fava bean’s bed.

Use colored pens to freely draw grass on the base sheet of construction paper.

Glue the pod onto the base, add the cotton, and the fava bean bed is complete.

Kids can enjoy the feel of the cotton and the color variations created by dabbing with the sponge stampers.

Give it a try!

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