[Childcare] Feel May! A special feature of fun craft ideas to make

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.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

May, with its warm and refreshing breezes, is full of exciting events for children!

Many teachers may be thinking about creating crafts that capture the feeling of the season.

In this article, we’ll introduce recommended craft projects for May.

We’ve gathered plenty of fun ideas you’ll want to make—from event-themed crafts to insects and fruits seen in May, as well as vividly colored plants.

Feel free to adapt the activities to match children’s interests and curiosity, and enjoy making them together.

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

[Childcare] Feel May! A collection of fun craft ideas to make (41–50)

Butterflies made with swipe art

The colorful hues spark children’s curiosity! Here are butterfly ideas you can make with swipe art.

Swipe art is an art technique where you pour paint onto a canvas or drawing paper and swipe it horizontally using a sponge or a card.

The charm lies in how the colors blend and create unique patterns as you swipe.

This time, let’s make the butterfly that appears in The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

It’s a fun idea where you can enjoy the changes as the vibrant paints mix together!

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[Childcare] Feel May! A collection of fun craft ideas to make (51–60)

bag-style accessory case

Make it with a clear file folder and paper plates! Here’s an idea for a small pouch that looks like a handbag.

It’s perfect for yourself, and also recommended as a gift for Mother’s Day or Family Day.

You’ll need paper plates, a hole punch, chenille stems (pipe cleaners), beads, a clear file folder, scissors, and double-sided tape.

If you place carnations made from the children’s handprints in the finished piece, it will make an even more wonderful gift.

Take this opportunity to give it a try!

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar made with fluid art

@buchiko_hoiku
🐶 @buchiko_hoiku ◂◂◂◂ Check out my other posts, too 🌼 Thank you so much for all the likes 🩷 This time: A Very Hungry Caterpillar made with a new kind of art 🐛 Do you know fluid art (pouring art)? With just liquid laundry starch/glue and acrylic paint, you can enjoy a super fun paint play activity 🩵 I had so much fun that before I knew it, I’d been playing for two hours 🤣 My recommendation: use four colors, and make one of them gold paint—the sparkle is so cute 💖 Since it has laundry glue in it, it takes time to dry! Mine was completely dry in about a day and a half ☺️ I used the pieces I made with fluid art to create a Very Hungry Caterpillar theme 🍎🍐🫐🍓🍊 I didn’t have yellow, but I still made a butterfly and it was so fun! Please try making it yourself 🌈 Thank you for reading to the end 🐶 I share easy, copy-ready ideas you can follow from the intro to the craft ♬︎ I’ll be over the moon if you like ♥, save 𖤘, and follow 𖤐 😂 Comments are super welcome, too 🤍🤍Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Kindergarten Teacher #Spring crafts #Wall Creation Toddler Crafts Play that expands from picture books #FluidArt Pooling Art #TheVeryHungryCaterpillar
♬ Lilac – Mrs. GREEN APPLE

Let’s create a popular picture-book character! We’ll introduce ideas for making The Very Hungry Caterpillar using fluid art.

The picture book The Very Hungry Caterpillar is famous worldwide, and many children are likely familiar with it from reading it at preschool or at home.

Some kids might also know it from hand-play activities or songs.

This time, let’s try making it with fluid art.

Fluid art is an art technique that uses flowing paint to create natural movement and patterns on surfaces like canvas or drawing paper.

Because the movement of the paint is unpredictable, you can create unique and original works!

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Strawberries made with sensory play

Let’s try making something while enjoying the feel of paint! Here are some strawberry craft ideas using sensory play.

These ideas are perfect for anyone who wants to do a strawberry-themed project in spring.

You’ll need: bees, strawberries, hearts, caps (leaf tops), and a backing made from construction paper; paint; zipper-seal bags; round stickers; crayons; glue; and scissors.

As the children touch the paint inside the zipper-seal bags, we want to observe and support them while watching how they react.

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Little Bamboo Shoot made with Paper Plates

Make the most of paper plates! Here are some ideas for creating little bamboo shoots using paper plates.

Bamboo shoots are well known as an ingredient that signals the arrival of spring.

They grow quickly, have strong vitality, and their growth process is fascinating—one of their many charms.

How about trying a bamboo shoot craft with the wish that children grow up healthy and strong? You’ll need paper plates, paint, crayons, colored construction paper, a pen, and scissors.

It’s a craft that infants to preschoolers can enjoy, so give it a try!

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Sunny with occasional clouds painted in watercolors

The key is dynamic creation! Here are ideas for painting “Sunny with occasional clouds” using paints.

There are many days with a bright, cheerful sun, but the rainy season is about to begin as well.

Since many children are interested in the weather at this time of year, let’s try a dynamic painting activity of “sunny with occasional clouds” using paints.

Prepare three sheets of white drawing paper, colored construction paper, paints, a thick brush, and crayons.

This bold project is sure to be exciting both while making it and when it’s on display! Give it a try.

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Butterflies drawn with colored ice water

Also great as a sensory play activity! Here’s an idea for painting butterflies using ice made from colored water.

It’s a highly recommended sensory play activity! The chill of the ice combined with the vivid colors will engage children’s senses, making the creative process fun.

As they watch the ice melt, they can enjoy the way the colors spread, making it a fulfilling activity.

It’s also nice to do on warm days out on the terrace or in the playground.

A wonderful idea to enjoy both coolness and art!

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