Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Let's make and display in May! Wall Decoration Craft Ideas

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.

When we think of May, it’s that pleasant season between spring and the rainy season, isn’t it?

That said, when it comes to May wall displays, many teachers may be struggling to come up with motifs.

You want to decorate with a fresh, May-like vibe, right?

Beyond Children’s Day, we’ve gathered a variety of ideas—materials and recyclables, colorful elements that capture the season, and both flat and three-dimensional shapes—so you can create wonderful wall displays that convey the vibrant time of year.

Please use them for inspiration.

We’d be happy if, through these projects, children develop an interest in the seasons and traditional events.

[Childcare] Let’s make and display in May! Wall Decoration Craft Ideas (11–20)

Tear and stick, then do the laundry

[Kindergarten/Daycare] May Tearing-and-Pasting Laundry Art/Craft

Tear and stick, then do the laundry

Here’s a craft activity called “Tear-and-Stick Laundry.” Prepare a wide, horizontal base sheet, clothing templates, tissue paper, string, clothespins, trees, scissors, glue, and tape.

Start by tearing the tissue paper and gluing it onto the clothing templates.

Talking with the children about what colors they want for the clothes can help them picture the result more easily.

Next, tape the string onto the horizontal base sheet, attach the trees and clothespins, and clip the finished clothes onto the clothespins—done! Drawing spring plants and insects around the scene with crayons can make it even cuter.

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[Japanese style] Koinobori (carp streamers), wisteria, and iris

Kimie Gangi May wall decorations: carp streamers, wisteria flowers, irises...

[Japanese style] Koinobori (carp streamers), wisteria, and iris

Classroom walls in preschools and kindergartens are often decorated with cute motifs like flowers and animals.

But every once in a while, why not make a bold change and try decorations with a distinctly Japanese aesthetic? Wall displays inspired by traditional techniques—such as delicately rendered skies, clouds reminiscent of ukiyo-e, wisteria arranged in the style of tsumami-zaiku (a traditional craft), and iris flowers made from gradient-colored origami—will look wonderfully fresh to children.

As they gaze at the display with curious expressions, it might also be nice to tell them stories about customs like the iris bath.

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White Clover and the Animals

We made the May wall display♪ Child Welfare & Future, 3rd-year students

White Clover and the Animals

White clover that blooms with white flowers from spring to autumn.

Did you know it’s the very same clover known for the “four-leaf clover that brings good luck”? Let’s decorate the wall with those leaves that make you feel happy just by looking at them and the cozy, white blossoms.

To recreate the fluffy texture of white clover, we recommend using soft papers like tissues or crepe paper.

If you decorate alongside animals frolicking in the meadow, you can really enjoy the warm, sunny vibe of May even indoors.

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Butterflies with decalcomania

How to make butterflies with decalcomania! Great for preschool classroom wall crafts too!

Butterflies with decalcomania

Decalcomania is a painting technique in which paint is transferred.

Cut drawing paper into the shape of a butterfly and fold it in half, then apply paint to one inside half.

Using thicker paint, add various patterns such as dots and lines.

Fold it closed again, and you’ll get a mysterious, perfectly symmetrical pattern! If you attach wrapping chenille stems as antennae, the butterfly is complete.

When children see these intriguingly patterned butterflies, some may say, “I want to make one too!” and become interested.

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Tadpoles and Frogs

[Craft Idea] Tadpoles, Frogs, Hydrangeas (May–June, Summer) (Wall Decorations) (Senior Recreation/OT/Daycare) (Early Childhood Education) (DIY Papercraft) (Paper Cups) (Origami, Coloring)

Tadpoles and Frogs

Perfect for May when the rainy season begins, this is a wall decoration featuring tadpoles and frogs.

Cut origami paper into tadpole shapes, attach parts like the eyes, then make a small slit between the eyes and overlap the pieces to create a semi-3D tadpole.

You can also cut out tadpoles from a coloring sheet for a cute result.

The frog is made by opening up a paper cup: draw and cut the hands and feet on the sides, unfold, then apply origami paper to form the frog’s shape.

Finish by displaying them together with hydrangeas made by crumpling origami into balls and lotus leaves for the frogs to sit on.

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Connected/decorative carp streamers you can string together

[Craft Idea] Koinobori (carp streamer) decorations (May) (Children’s Day) (activities for seniors) (wall decorations) (early childhood education) (origami) (samurai helmet) (seasonal decorations)

Connected/decorative carp streamers you can string together

These are origami carp streamers that you can make in quantity, line up, and display.

Apply glue along one edge of the origami paper, roll it into a tube, and stick it together.

Gently flatten it, then cut the tail fin into a triangle.

Next, attach the eyes and scale pieces made by cutting origami paper.

Connect thin, folded strips of origami to make a string, thread it through holes you’ve punched at the ends of the streamers, and you’re done—carp streamers swimming side by side! If you make them in different sizes and line them up, they’ll look just like a family.

It’s also fun to do the rolling and pasting of the parts together with children.

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[Childcare] Let’s make and display them in May! Wall display craft ideas (21–30)

semi-three-dimensional carp streamer

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

semi-three-dimensional carp streamer

This is a semi-3D carp streamer that makes you want to touch the origami’s three-dimensional scales.

Cut a sheet of construction paper into the shape of a carp streamer and attach eye parts made from masking tape or circles cut from origami.

Next, crease the origami into four equal vertical sections and cut along the folds to make strips.

Apply glue to the front edge of a strip and stick it onto the construction paper, then curl it into a loop and glue the ends so they overlap.

Continue attaching strips of origami in various colors and patterns so they overlap like scales, and you’ll have a colorful carp streamer with raised, textured scales!

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