Lovely childcare

May: Craft Ideas That Excite 4-Year-Olds!

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.

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] Exciting for 4-year-olds! A collection of May craft ideas (41–50)

[Toilet Paper Roll] Koinobori Decoration

Crafting with toilet paper rolls: Easy! Koinobori (carp streamers). How to make stylish and cute koinobori! Perfect decorations for Children's Day. May 5 is Tango no Sekku (Boys' Festival). First festival celebration. Reuse. Recycle.

[Toilet Paper Roll] Koinobori Decoration

Let’s make a carp streamer using a toilet paper roll core.

Flatten a toilet paper roll and wrap it with origami paper to create the koi’s body.

Use origami pieces to make and attach the eyes, scales, and other parts.

Since some parts can be quite small, it might be a good idea for the teacher to prepare them in advance for the children to stick on.

Also, cut origami paper into five color strips and attach them to the flattened toilet paper roll to make the windsock.

By the way, each color of the windsock is said to have its own meaning.

Once everything is ready, connect the carp streamer and the windsock with a string to finish.

By changing how you connect the string, you can also enjoy it as a garland or a hanging decoration.

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[Umbrella Bag] A carp streamer you can make and play with

[Craft] Make-and-Play! Koinobori (Carp Streamer) Craft

[Umbrella Bag] A carp streamer you can make and play with

These are carp streamers made using the plastic bags provided at supermarkets for wet umbrellas.

Since umbrella bags are already tube-shaped, they’re perfect for making koinobori.

You can buy the bags at 100-yen shops.

Cut the plastic bag into a carp-streamer shape with scissors.

Stick on round stickers and draw scales and patterns with a pen.

Insert a ring made from construction paper into the mouth section.

A key tip is to decorate the construction-paper ring with masking tape or draw patterns on it—the colors will make it look wonderful.

Attach eyes made from round stickers and hang it from a stick.

If you add a pinwheel made from origami to the tip, you’ll have an even more authentic koinobori.

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[Origami] Handheld Koinobori (carp streamer)

[Origami] Makeable with paper folding! Introducing a koinobori (carp streamer) [Nursery/Kindergarten]

[Origami] Handheld Koinobori (carp streamer)

Let’s try making carp streamers (koinobori) out of origami.

By varying the folding methods, you can create several types of koinobori even with the same origami paper.

If you have a stick, you can attach the koinobori to it so it looks like a real carp streamer.

Some folding methods are a bit complex, so have a teacher step in to help as needed.

Draw the koinobori’s face and scales with a pen.

Of course, you can also get creative by adding stickers or dipping your finger in paint to make polka dots.

It’s a great way to enjoy children’s free and imaginative ideas.

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[Origami] 3D Scaled Koinobori (Carp Streamer)

[Preschool Craft] Carp streamer craft ♪ Also great for May wall displays! | May carp streamer

[Origami] 3D Scaled Koinobori (Carp Streamer)

This is a craft project for making carp streamers with cute three-dimensional origami scales.

Cut construction paper into the shape of a carp streamer and add eyes using origami paper or stickers.

Apply glue to one end of a strip of origami paper and attach it to the carp streamer.

If you glue the tips of the origami strip together, you can create a three-dimensional scale.

Using patterned origami makes the finish colorful and lovely.

Having a variety of patterned origami on hand will make creating different designs even more fun.

Try using this as a wall decoration idea to brighten up your classroom in May.

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[Paper Cup] 3D Koinobori (carp streamer)

[May Craft/Art] Paper Cup Koinobori (Carp Streamer) <Chopsticks, Rubber Bands> [Children’s Day] Cute and Easy Craft

[Paper Cup] 3D Koinobori (carp streamer)

Here’s a recommended paper cup carp streamer craft for Children’s Day in May.

By making a house with a paper cup, you can create the feeling that the carp streamer is actually swimming in the sky.

Cut two colorful patterned paper cups a few centimeters up from the bottom.

On the bottom-side piece of one cup, make a slit and fold it upward.

Place it over a white paper cup with a door drawn on it to complete the house.

Prepare the chopsticks by cutting them in advance.

Layer the bottom of the white paper cup with the remaining colorful paper cup bottom to create the carp streamer.

Combine the house and the carp streamer to complete a three-dimensional carp streamer scene.

Drawing faces on the carp or adding stickers will bring out the children’s individuality!

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Flower message card

"Mother’s Day Present Origami" – Easy Carnation Flower Message Card Origami (Kids can make it themselves!) · Origami Message Card Flower

Flower message card

In the warm month of May, some flowers reach their peak bloom.

If your center has a flowerbed, you can probably enjoy spring flowers there too.

So this time, we’re introducing a flower-themed message card made with origami.

Fold the origami paper and use wavy-edged scissors to cut it.

This will give the petals a look like dandelions or carnations.

Of course, you can also cut wavy lines with regular scissors.

With a bit of creativity, you can make all kinds of flowers and create message cards that match the season.

We hope this helps children make heartfelt message cards.

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In conclusion

We introduced craft ideas perfect for May that you can enjoy with four-year-olds.

May includes Children’s Day and Mother’s Day, offering many chances to experience traditional events.

Through craft activities, let’s have fun making things as we play.

Since this is also when children are becoming more comfortable using scissors and glue, try incorporating a variety of ideas.