May: Craft Ideas That Excite 4-Year-Olds!
May is the time when the new school year settles down a bit and the weather is perfect for enjoyable outdoor activities.
Four-year-olds are surely excited about the new season, too.
May also includes Children’s Day and Mother’s Day, making it a great time to deepen learning about traditional events.
In this article, we’ll introduce May craft ideas you’ll want to enjoy with four-year-olds.
Four-year-olds are increasingly energetic.
Let’s incorporate ideas that not only involve making crafts, but also add twists to the process and allow children to play with what they create.
Because items made by children are treated as works of art, we use the term “制作 (seisaku),” meaning “creation/work,” rather than “製作,” in the text.
[May] 10 Craft Ideas for 4-Year-Olds That Spark Excitement (1–10)
koinobori rocket
Carp streamers burst out with energy and excitement! Here’s an idea for a Koinobori Rocket.
When you think of Children’s Day, many people picture koinobori, right? This time, let’s make a toy with a carp streamer motif that you can build and play with! You will need two paper cups, two rubber bands, decorative materials like stickers and colored paper, scissors, a craft knife, and clear tape.
The decoration is very flexible, so it’s sure to spark kids’ creativity!
Sparkly Helmet
Let’s make it with newspaper! Here are some ideas for a sparkly samurai helmet (kabuto).
May is known for Children’s Day, right? Many preschools and homes display kabuto helmets and carp streamers (koinobori).
This time, we’re sharing kabuto ideas that you can not only display but also wear, so take this opportunity to give it a try! What you’ll need: origami paper, round stickers, square stickers, mirror tape, construction paper cut into circles, scissors, glue, crayons, and double-sided tape.
With shiny tape, stickers, and origami, kids are sure to get excited!
Paper Cup Windmill
May is when it gets warmer and kids spend more time playing outside.
In this refreshing season, many children are probably looking forward to outdoor activities.
A pinwheel made from a paper cup could make playing outdoors even more fun.
Make a hole in the center of the cup’s bottom, then cut the rim into six equal sections with scissors.
Use a pen to draw patterns on the rotating part of the pinwheel.
The drawing step lets children enjoy expressing their creativity.
Fix the pinwheel using a toothpick and a straw with a chopstick inside, and it’s done.
If you set aside time in pleasant May weather to run and spin the pinwheel, the children are sure to be delighted.
My one-piece dress
Why not have fun trying a painting activity inspired by the popular children’s picture book “My Dress”? You will need rabbit parts, a triangle-shaped piece of paper, bottle caps with felt attached, paint, glue, and a pen.
First, stick felt in any shape you like onto a plastic bottle cap.
Dip the felt in paint and stamp patterns onto the triangle paper.
Once the paint is dry, glue on the face and hands.
Draw the face, add decorations around it, and you’re done! Make it colorful with your favorite colors.
figure-eight pinwheel
Feel the spring breeze! Here’s how to make a figure-eight pinwheel that’s perfect for preschool activities.
You will need: paper plates, double-sided tape, wood glue, bamboo skewers, beads, and decorations.
Cut out the centers of two paper plates.
Punch four holes, then combine the plates into a figure-eight shape using double-sided tape.
Put a bit of wood glue into a bead’s hole and attach it to a bamboo skewer.
After threading it through the hole, wrap tape around the skewer so the plate doesn’t slide down.
Assemble the second tier the same way, add decorations, and you’re done!
Wavy 3D butterfly with fluttering wings
The wings sway gently and look so cute! Here’s how to make a 3D butterfly that’s perfect for spring.
First, dip a plastic bottle cap in paint and stamp it onto thin strips of colored construction paper.
You can use both sides of the cap for different effects.
Next, cut out the butterfly’s wings—which will also form its body—using scissors.
Stamp the wings as well, then fold them down the middle.
After that, bring the ends of the first stamped thin strip together to create a 3D wing shape.
Make two of these and attach them to the body wings with double-sided tape.
Finish by adding antennae with a pipe cleaner, and you’re done! These are great for wall decorations too, so try making them with the kids.
sensory koinobori
Fun to make for both kids and adults! Here’s a recommended carp streamer (koinobori) craft.
First, put transparent origami or any parts you like into a clear plastic bag.
Next, pour in liquid laundry starch (or glue) and seal the opening with clear tape.
Roll it up into a tube and tape both sides to secure.
Attach a koinobori frame with the center cut out onto the plastic using tape.
Add double-sided tape around the edge, then stick another sheet on top to seal it.
Finally, add the eyes and it’s done! Using stickers or illustrations of your favorite characters inside also looks cute.