[Nursery/Kindergarten] New Year Craft Ideas: A Collection of Projects You Can Enjoy Even After Making Them

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
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.

You want to plan New Year’s crafts at a nursery or kindergarten, but you can’t think of ideas that kids will enjoy while incorporating traditional elements… In times like these, decorations and classic toys made from familiar materials are perfect! Here, we introduce New Year-themed craft ideas ranging from lucky charms like akabeko (red cow), kagami mochi, and shimenawa, to playable crafts such as fukuwarai, kendama, and spinning tops.

They all make use of recycled materials like milk cartons, plastic bottles, and paper cups, so why not enjoy preparing for the New Year together with the children? Since the children’s creations are treated as “artworks,” we use the term “seisaku” (制作) in the text.

[Nursery & Kindergarten] New Year’s Craft Ideas! A Collection of Creations You Can Enjoy Even After Making Them (21–30)

Just stick them on in layers! New Year’s kagamimochi

This is a flat kagami-mochi craft using layered cutouts that you can safely do even in schools where 3D projects aren’t allowed.

Just cut out circles in gradually different sizes and stack and glue them to create a kagami-mochi with a three-dimensional feel, so it’s easy for children to make.

This example uses four layers, but adding more layers will give it more presence, and making it smaller as a mini kagami-mochi is also an adorable variation.

Since simply gluing the pieces together makes it look polished, it’s a project where children can easily feel a sense of accomplishment.

Arranged on a wall as New Year’s decorations, it looks festive—definitely a New Year’s craft to try.

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Stamping Shishimai (Lion Dance)

This is a New Year–themed craft activity that kids can enjoy by stamping away.

Through making it, they can naturally learn that the furoshiki cloth of the shishimai (lion dance) often features auspicious patterns, such as the swirling karakusa arabesque and the powerful ke-manji motif.

The shishimai is a beloved traditional performing art for warding off misfortune and praying for good health, and it’s said that being “bitten” on the head will keep you lively for the year.

As children create patterns with stamping, sharing this background story alongside the activity will greatly deepen their understanding.

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Daruma-chan with decalcomania

This is a creative activity packed with depth and fun that uses the technique of pressing paint to transfer patterns.

Simply folding the paper in half and opening it encourages thinking about symmetry and helps develop spatial imagination.

Plus, because children can experience the flow of prediction, experimentation, and results, it nurtures a curiosity that makes them want to try again and again.

For infants, making a decollage in a single red color and then adding facial parts afterward can look adorable, making it enjoyable at different developmental stages.

Although it looks simple, it’s full of learning—perfect for a winter craft: a little Daruma.

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Kadomatsu decoration made with Japanese-pattern paper plates

@haruharo_made
TikTok document New Year’s Craft / [Kadomatsu Wall Decoration] [Materials] • Ribbon • Japanese-patterned paper plate (Seria) • Scissors • Paper doily • Construction paper • Double-sided tapeCrafts for 4-year-olds　Crafts for 5-year-olds #3-year-old crafts #2-year-old's craft Crafts for 1-year-olds Crafts for 0-year-olds Production #Nursery school Wall decoration #StayHomeTime #AtHomePlay Production ideas #Nursery School Craft Winter Craft #Kindergarten Kindergarten craft Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Kindergarten Teacher wall surface　#ChristmasTree Production for children under age (infants and toddlers)　Simple craft Made in December　# January production Made in February　 New Year’s craft　#Daruma making　Tatsu Production #Mask making　Mask #paint　Sticker application　Round sticker Sticker-pasting craft　　　　　Hanging ornament drawing paper　#ConstructionPaperArt　 Paint making　　paper plate　Paper plate craft　Paper Plate Craft　Threading (a cord/strap through a hole)
♬ Cute marimba heartwarming kids(1035757) – ROUGHTY PRODUCTION

This is a simple craft that lets you create festive New Year’s decor using only familiar materials.

By using paper plates with traditional Japanese patterns, just cutting and pasting instantly brings out a seasonal feel, and simply hanging it on the wall elevates the New Year’s mood.

The steps are very straightforward: use a paper plate as the base, attach kadomatsu parts made from doilies and construction paper, and finish with a ribbon.

Since you can put it together quickly with double-sided tape, it’s perfect for making with children.

You’ll have an adorable, elegant, Japanese-style kadomatsu decoration in no time—an ideal New Year’s craft that brightens up your entryway or room.

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Twisted paper streamer made of decorative tissue paper

@hoiku.labo
Perfect for New Year’s: a twisted shimenawa made with flower paper 🎶 ⭐️Detailed steps and tips are in the comments⭐️Childcare Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Kindergarten Teacher Certified Childcare and Education Teacher #Nursery school #Kindergarten #Kodomoen #NurseryTeacherThings #IWantToConnectWithChildcareWorkers Life with children January #Shimenawa #ShimenawaDecoration New Year New Year tissue paper New Year’s craft
♬ Are You Ready – Deejay Meddy

A perfect New Year’s craft activity where you can make an authentic shimenawa just by twisting tissue paper.

The steps are simple: roll two colors of tissue paper into thin strands, twist them together, make two of the same, and form a ring.

The twisting process is great fine-motor practice as kids learn to control their strength, and they’ll also enjoy choosing the colors.

Showing a real shimenawa or a photo beforehand helps them visualize the result and complete the project smoothly.

Add New Year-themed decorations like pine or snakes at the end to instantly create a festive, eye-catching shimenawa.

It’s easy yet full of seasonal charm—highly recommended for parents and children to enjoy together over the New Year.

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