Lovely childcare

[May] A collection of craft ideas to try with 5-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 has pleasant weather, and it somehow makes you feel excited, doesn’t it?

The five-year-olds, now the oldest in the class, may have settled down a bit since moving up a level.

May is also known for events like Children’s Day and Mother’s Day, so we’d love for you to try activities and crafts themed around these occasions and the month of May.

This time, we’ve gathered a variety of fun ideas using different materials and techniques.

These are ideas that five-year-olds will feel motivated to tackle precisely because of their age, so please give them a try.

Because the children’s creations are treated as works (art pieces), we use the term “seisaku” (制作) in the text.

[May] A collection of craft ideas to do with 5-year-olds (61–70)

koinobori rocket

[Children’s Day Craft] How to Make a Koinobori Rocket

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!

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Poppy

Origami in May — Poppies and Buds —

Poppy

Beautiful like the real thing! Here are some ideas for making poppies out of origami.

Poppies belong to the buttercup family and are known for their brightly colored blossoms.

They often come in vivid shades like red, orange, and yellow, and their beauty makes them popular in gardens and flower beds.

This time, let’s try making poppies with origami! You’ll need origami paper, round stickers, glue, scissors, and a bamboo skewer.

Some steps can be a bit challenging, but it’s a good idea to finish them with help from a teacher or friends.

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Unbreakable soap bubble

Unbreakable soap bubbles that spin with a magnet!?

Unbreakable soap bubble

Let me introduce unbreakable soap bubbles.

Prepare wire, ring-shaped magnets, round stickers, prism tape, and a hole punch, then let’s get started.

Attach four strips of prism tape to the magnet so they form a dome, making sure not to cover the hole of the ring magnet.

On the side opposite the magnet, stick on a round sticker to secure it, then punch a hole in the center with the hole punch.

Using shorter pieces of prism tape, make another dome in the same way and add a round sticker as before.

Make one more of the same piece.

Curl the tip of the wire and thread the three pieces onto it from smallest to largest.

Finally, thread the one with the magnet so the magnet ends up on top, and you’re done! It will spin around like a soap bubble.

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Space Travel Game

Crafts: A fun game powered by magnets, “Space Travel Game” #shorts #handmadeToys #crafts

Space Travel Game

Let me introduce a handmade space travel game.

Prepare 10 round magnets, round stickers, straws, and construction paper, and let’s make it together.

For the spaceship, attach a straw to a magnet, stick on a round sticker, and draw a rocket illustration.

Next, create a flight course for the spaceship on a base sheet of construction paper.

Cut black construction paper into circles and glue magnets at the center to make black holes.

Stick several of these black holes along the course, and you’re done.

Pilot the spaceship and try to reach the goal without getting swallowed by the black holes.

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Climbing ladybug

Easy magnet craft! A climbing ladybug! Recycle plastic wrap and toilet paper cores! #crafts #handmadeToys #summerVacationCrafts #recycledCrafts

Climbing ladybug

Climbing up! Sliding down! A freely moving ladybug is so much fun! Here’s an idea for a climbing ladybug.

For children, ladybugs are familiar insects they see in picture books or on walks, right? This unique idea makes it look like the ladybug is playfully roaming around.

What you’ll need: round magnets, a toilet paper tube, a plastic wrap tube, a half-sphere of Styrofoam, wooden sticks or chopsticks, construction paper, pens, scissors, and double-sided tape.

Give it a try!

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