Lovely childcare

[For 2-Year-Olds] A Collection of Fun Craft Ideas to Make in May

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.

Two-year-olds are becoming able to enjoy activities that use their hands, and their range of interests expands significantly.

They’re also ready to take on more kinds of art projects.

May brings Children’s Day and Mother’s Day, making it an exciting season that sparks ideas about what to create.

Here are some fun craft ideas to enjoy with two-year-olds in May.

What will the children be drawn to, and how will they respond?

Thinking up ideas is exciting for teachers too, isn’t it?

Be sure to create wonderful pieces together with the children.

Because the children’s creations are treated as works, we use the term “seisaku” (production/work) in the text.

[For 2-year-olds] A collection of fun craft ideas to make in May (1–10)

Figure-eight wind turbine

Figure-Eight Pinwheel | Make and Play! | #shorts #childcare #crafts #handmadeToys

Figure-eight wind turbine

It’s so fun to watch it spin in the wind! Here’s an idea for a figure-eight pinwheel.

Pinwheels are delightful to watch as they whirl with the power of the wind.

If you color them brightly, they look especially captivating when they spin in a breeze.

How about making one together with kids? You’ll need two paper plates, scissors, a hole punch, double-sided tape, beads, craft glue, a bamboo skewer, masking tape, and your choice of stickers and pens.

It’s a good idea to have the kids handle the decorating with stickers and pens!

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Flappy butterfly

[Childcare Craft] Spring craft ♪ Cute, playable flapping butterfly | Cute flapping butterfly

Flappy butterfly

Arranging is fun! Here are some fluttering butterfly ideas.

Speaking of butterflies, you might see them often this season when you go for a walk or an outing.

They also appear frequently in fingerplay and picture books, so they may be an insect familiar to children.

This time, let’s make a butterfly you can wear on your finger and flap to play.

What you’ll need: construction paper in your favorite colors, origami paper, round stickers, scissors, glue, and a pen.

The best part is that you can enjoy decorating the wings with paints or crayons.

Customize it to suit your child’s growth and interests!

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Shirokuma-chan’s Hotcakes

Let’s jump into the world of picture books! Here are some ideas inspired by Shirokuma-chan’s Pancakes.

The heartwarming picture book Shirokuma-chan’s Pancakes, in which Shirokuma-chan makes warm, fluffy pancakes and everyone eats together, is beloved by both children and adults.

This time, let’s try creating a scene from the book! It’s unique how mixing shaving foam with craft glue can recreate the fluffy texture of pancakes.

Give it a try!

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[For 2-year-olds] Fun Craft Ideas Made in May (11–20)

Ants’ Errand

The clumsy little ant is so cute! Here are some ideas for an ant’s errand craft.

The children’s song “Otsukai Ari-san,” featuring an ant rushing off to run an errand, is probably familiar to many kids.

This time, let’s make that hasty little ant using construction paper.

You’ll need black construction paper, crayons, paper parts made from construction paper, a backing sheet, glue, and scissors.

Have fun making bold, free crayon strokes on the black construction paper! The crayon lines will pop against the black background, and kids are sure to be absorbed in the activity.

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Making bento (Japanese lunchbox)

Great for pretend field trips and picnics too! Here are some ideas for making pretend bento lunches.

In May, many preschools probably have the older classes go on field trips, right? The infants and toddlers can also enjoy a special experience by making a bento and going out for a walk.

What you’ll need: a bento box and side dishes made from construction paper, round stickers, glue, and scissors.

Choose your favorite side dishes and place them in the bento box to complete your very own original bento!

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little bird

Arranging is so much fun! Here are some little bird ideas to try.

The children’s song “Kotori no Uta,” featuring a bird that loves to sing, is probably well loved in nurseries and kindergartens, isn’t it? This time, let’s make a little bird out of construction paper.

All you need is construction paper in your favorite colors, crayons, and round stickers.

It’s super cute to use the children’s handprints as the bird’s wings, so we highly recommend it! Make your little bird using crayons and round stickers, and let the kids arrange it in any style they like.

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Rainbow Chameleon

Let’s spin it around and have fun! Here’s an idea for a rainbow chameleon activity.

Have you ever read a picture book featuring a chameleon that changes into colorful hues? Books like “The Rainbow Chameleon” and “A Color of His Own” really captivate children.

This time, let’s make a colorful chameleon.

You’ll need paint, a plastic bag, two paper plates, pipe cleaners, stickers, and an awl (hole punch).

The process lets children enjoy the texture of the paint, so it’s nice to share impressions like, “It’s cold,” or “It feels squishy.”

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