[Nursery/Kindergarten] New Year Craft Ideas: A Collection of Projects You Can Enjoy Even After Making Them
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.
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[Nursery Schools & Kindergartens] New Year’s Craft Ideas Special! A Collection of Projects You Can Enjoy Even After Making Them (41–50)
Daruma’s Mayudama Rolling
A mysterious toy with a marble inside that moves as if it’s alive when you roll it: the Mayudama Roller.
In this idea, it’s made with a daruma motif.
First, cut three strip-shaped pieces measuring 1.5 × 10 cm from red construction paper.
Layer the three strips radially and glue them together at the center.
Gather all the ends, place a marble inside, and glue the ends together to form a sphere.
Then stick on a white round sticker with a face drawn on it to finish.
Try rolling it down a slope and have fun!
Fluffy Snow Bunny Wall Decor
Why not try making a cute snow-bunny wall decoration? The round, pure white bunny will bring a wintry touch to your room.
First, layer and roll up tissues to create the bunny’s body.
Next, attach red eyes made from round stickers and ears made from green origami paper.
Glue the bunny onto a colored cardstock base, then decorate the empty spaces with snowflakes punched out using a craft punch and flower accents created by combining round stickers.
You’ll have a lovely decoration that evokes winter memories just by placing it on display.
Spins great! A top made from a paper cup
Why not open up a paper cup and make a well-spinning top? You will need a paper cup, markers, origami paper, and so on.
First, mark the rim of the paper cup into eight equal sections.
Cut along the marks, but don’t cut all the way—leave a little uncut.
Once you’ve made the cuts, fold them and spread them out.
Trim off the tips and decorate with markers or similar.
A continuous pattern may look nicer when it spins.
Next, fold the shaft using origami paper.
Fit the shaft into the bottom (underside) of the paper cup, and you’re done.
Make it with straw stamps! Snowman craft
Let’s make a snowman wall art with straw stamps.
First, an adult draws large and small circles on construction paper.
Using a plate as a guide is fun, too.
Then, draw a snowman’s hat on colored construction paper or origami paper.
Have the child cut it out.
Glue the cut-out pieces onto a darker-colored construction paper.
Once they’re glued, draw the snowman’s face with crayons.
For the straw stamp, cut slits into the end of a straw and spread them out so it forms a flower shape.
Dip it in white paint and dab it on—this creates lovely snowflake-like prints.
Cute when lined up! Zodiac Daruma
When Daruma dolls transformed into the twelve zodiac animals are lined up, they make a splendid New Year’s decoration.
Prepare origami paper, colored Posca markers, and construction paper, and let’s get started.
Take one sheet of origami paper and fold it to create the shape of a Daruma, making crease lines as you go.
For each zodiac animal, use construction paper and colored Posca markers to add features like whiskers, ears, and manes.
Writing the name of the zodiac animal on the Daruma’s belly will enhance the festive look.
Once you’ve completed all twelve zodiac animals, display them together at the end.
It will elevate the celebratory atmosphere of the New Year.
