Craft ideas for 2-year-olds! A cute collection of creations to enjoy October events

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.
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.

Here are some craft ideas you can enjoy with two-year-olds in October! From creations using autumn natural materials like nuts and fallen leaves to cute Halloween-themed projects, we’ve gathered wonderful activities bursting with children’s excitement.

There are also activities that let them enjoy textures, such as finger stamping and playing with paint.

While valuing children’s “I want to try!” spirit, nurture their rich expressive abilities through seasonal crafts! Because we’re introducing ideas that foster children’s free expression, we use the term “seisaku” (production/craft-making) in the main text.

Craft ideas for 2-year-olds! A cute collection of creations to enjoy October events (21–30)

stylish tree

Perfect for the art-filled days of autumn! Here’s a stylish, artistic tree-making idea.

It’s a creative activity that draws out children’s free imagination, so why not try it at your nursery or kindergarten? The teacher cuts construction paper into leaf shapes, and the children freely color them with crayons or paint.

Next, tear craft paper (or similar) into branch and trunk shapes and glue them on.

Finish by arranging the colored leaves you made earlier.

If you have time, you can add a stamping activity using various recycled materials—kids will love it.

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miyabi

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Tissue paper mushroom

Let’s make colorful and cute mushrooms using tissue paper! First, cut out a large mushroom stem (stipe) from construction paper.

Depending on the children’s ages, the teacher can prepare these in advance.

Next, have the children choose their favorite colors of tissue paper and crumple them into small balls.

Once they’ve made enough, place the balls on a sheet of plastic wrap and wrap them up while shaping them into a mushroom cap.

When it’s done, attach it to the construction paper stem to finish! If you like, draw a face on the stem for extra fun.

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SAKI

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Little Picture Book Author

The period from October 27 to November 9 is designated as Reading Week, right? So I’d like to introduce an idea related to reading called “Little Picture Book Authors.” This is a creative project with lots of freedom.

First, have the children draw whatever they like on construction paper designed to look like a picture-book page.

Then, to make it look as if they’re holding that page, attach a head, hands, and feet made from construction paper—and it’s done.

You can even use a photo for the face parts.

Adding a speech bubble to explain what they drew is a nice touch as well.

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yamamoto

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A squirrel holding grapes

Let’s make a cute squirrel holding grapes using a pom-pom stamp made from a plastic bottle! Have the kids do the stamping.

It’s easy and fun—just dip it in their favorite paint and stamp pom-pom onto construction paper.

You can prepare several colors of paint, or choose just one color for a cohesive look.

After stamping, cut the prints into grape shapes and add leaves.

Then simply attach them to the squirrel’s pre-made hands.

A lovely, autumn-themed craft is complete!

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sasashina

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Autumn foliage made with bubble-wrap stamps

https://www.tiktok.com/@hekimen_25/video/7282366758479006983

In autumn, leaves change in a gradient from yellow to red and orange—it’s so beautiful, isn’t it? For this craft, wrap bubble wrap around a toilet paper roll or a small plastic bottle and secure it with a rubber band.

Your pom-pom stamp is ready.

Using a pre-made tree, dip the pom-pom stamp in paint and create autumn foliage.

Try expressing it with a variety of colors.

For children aged three and up, it’s also recommended to let them start by cutting out the tree with scissors.

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mayumi

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Grapes with a perfectly round stamp

Grapes are a popular autumn fruit among children.

Let’s express grapes using construction paper and stamps made from lactic acid drink containers.

First, as prep, cut out the overall shape of a grape cluster from construction paper.

Also prepare plenty of purple circles.

Using a variety of purple shades will make the final result look beautiful.

Have the children freely glue the circles onto the grape cluster, then use the lactic acid drink containers to stamp round shapes on top.

The overlap of the paper circles and the stamped circles creates an artistic finish.

Hang them up with purple raffia (suzuran tape) for display.

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tsukada moe

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A colorful Halloween created by everyone

This is a Halloween wall display combining handprint ghosts from the 0-year-old class, footprint pumpkins from the 1-year-old class, and mummies from the 2-year-old class.

It brings together the infant classes’ works on a single wall.

Please pre-cut the ghosts, pumpkin vines and leaves, and mummies from construction paper.

For the white mummy strips, cut construction paper into long, thin pieces and have the 2-year-olds stick them on.

For the background, use rollers with the children to paint it purple and black to create atmosphere.

It’s also recommended to add a full moon, a castle, and bats alongside the artworks.

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sasashina

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