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)

Crafting fish with 100-yen shop magnets

[Easy Kids Craft] Flippity-Flopping with 100-Yen Store Magnets! Jumping Fish Craft! (Summer Project/Home Play)

Crafting fish with 100-yen shop magnets

Freshly caught and flopping! Here’s an idea for a fish craft you can make using magnets from a 100-yen shop.

It’s perfect for anyone wondering, “What kind of craft can I make with magnets?” All you need are construction paper, tape, a pen, scissors, and a magnetic sheet.

The video mainly features mackerel, but it looks like you can adapt it to other fish like flounder or filefish.

It’s such a unique idea that you’ll want to make it flop again and again!

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Magnet and pipe cleaner toy

No.108 “Magnet and Pipe Cleaner Toy” [Handmade Toy by a Nursery Teacher]

Magnet and pipe cleaner toy

Let me introduce a toy using magnets and pipe cleaners.

Prepare an empty 6-piece cheese box, bottle caps, pipe cleaners, a plastic sheet, drawing paper, string, clear tape, vinyl tape, and glue, and let’s make it.

Line the inside of the empty cheese box with drawing paper to create the base.

Cut the plastic sheet into a circle to make a window.

Choose the colors of the pipe cleaners, cut them to length, and place them inside the cheese box to get ready.

Put a magnet inside a bottle cap, and tape two caps together with vinyl tape so the magnet won’t fall out.

Make a hole in the cap, thread the string through, and create the magnetic part that will move the pipe cleaners.

By holding the magnet against the outside of the cheese box, the pipe cleaners inside gather and move, making it a fun toy to play with!

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Broad beans you make by sticking (pieces) on

Spring Craft: “Broad Beans” Easy How-To Explained by a Preschool Teacher (for 2–3-year-olds) #shorts

Broad beans you make by sticking (pieces) on

Broad beans, said to be in season from April to June, are perfect for spring crafts.

This time, we’ll introduce a craft that incorporates these beans.

Prepare by cutting the pod and bean shapes out of construction paper in advance.

If the children are comfortable using scissors, it’s also great to let them try cutting the shapes themselves.

Glue the pod and beans onto a base sheet of construction paper, draw faces on the beans, and it’s done.

The steps are very simple, so even young children can enjoy this activity.

The bright green of the broad beans is sure to energize the kids even more.

Give it a try!

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[Side Dish Cup] Mother’s Day Carnation

Let's try making handmade carnations for Mother's Day!

[Side Dish Cup] Mother's Day Carnation

Let’s make carnations for Mother’s Day using bento cup liners! First, cut the wire to a suitable length and curl one end into a loop.

Thread several cup liners onto the wire from the opposite end, then shape them so they look like petals.

Wrap the uncurled end of the wire around the bottom of the cup liners to secure them, then twist the rest of the wire to form the stem.

Your carnation is complete—tie a ribbon or add other cute touches to finish it off.

Try giving it not only to your mom, but also to anyone you want to show your appreciation to.

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[Egg Carton] 3D Koinobori (carp streamer)

Easy Craft: “Egg Carton Koinobori” [Daycare Activity • May Craft]

[Egg Carton] 3D Koinobori (carp streamer)

Let me introduce an idea for making colorful carp streamers using an egg carton.

First, choose origami paper in your favorite colors and crumple each sheet by hand.

If you’re using a carton for 10 eggs, crumple 10 sheets and place them into the hollows.

Fold a piece of construction paper in half to make the carp’s face, and draw eyes on both sides near the fold.

In the same way, fold another piece of construction paper in half, cut it diagonally to make the tail fin, then attach the face and tail to the closed carton.

Finally, insert a disposable chopstick into the center of the carton and tape it shut to finish!

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