[Childcare] Perfect for 3-year-olds! October craft ideas
October brings a stretch of autumn-like weather.
Many preschools and kindergartens are likely planning events such as field trips and sports days.
Children grow in both mind and body as they gain a variety of experiences.
Here are some craft ideas perfect for October.
You can create activities that connect seamlessly with everyday care, using seasonal materials or motifs from seasonal events.
Let’s watch over the children so they can stay focused and enjoy their time.
Because the children’s creations are treated as works of art, we use the term “制作” (seisaku: creation/production) in the text.
- [October] Craft ideas for fall you can use in childcare
- [November] Enjoy with 3-year-olds! Craft activity ideas recommended for autumn
- [Childcare] Recommended for 3-year-olds! Craft activity ideas
- [Preschool] Recommended for 3-year-olds! Easy-to-make fall origami craft ideas
- Preschool: Autumn-Themed Craft Ideas Recommended for November
- [Crafts for 3-Year-Olds] A Collection of Fun Ideas for Autumn! Let's Incorporate Seasonal Motifs
- Craft ideas for 2-year-olds! A cute collection of creations to enjoy October events
- List of Reggae Festivals Nationwide [2026]
- [Childcare] Ideas inspired by October events: Activities you can use in everyday childcare
- [Childcare] Fun for October! Craft ideas recommended for 4-year-olds
- [For 3-year-olds] Perfect for September! A Collection of Craft Ideas to Enjoy Autumn Nature
- In October childcare, kids will be captivated! A collection of play ideas to fully enjoy autumn
- Make October Even More Fun for Preschoolers! A Collection of Origami Ideas
[Childcare] Perfect for 3-year-olds! October Craft Ideas (1–10)
Halloween wand
Why not try making a super impactful, fun, and cute Halloween wand together with kids who can’t wait for the holiday? Prepare six sheets of origami folded in an accordion style, secure each with tape, and fold them up.
Staple one end and wrap construction paper around it.
Next, attach yarn to both the origami and the construction paper to create the mechanism! The teacher can handle the mechanism, and the children can decorate with stickers, stamps, and sparkly tape.
With different color combinations, cuts, and Halloween motifs, you’re sure to end up with a uniquely original creation.
Acorn pouch
As an activity to enjoy with children during the autumn season, making an “acorn pochette” is highly recommended.
First, cut an empty tissue box and paint it in your favorite colors.
Next, make acorns out of origami and use a craft punch to add your own original patterns.
Finally, thread a string through the tissue box to complete it! Through this craft, children can build concentration and feel a sense of accomplishment when they finish.
Plus, if you take the pochettes you made with the teacher to the park for an acorn hunt, the children will be able to fully enjoy the autumn nature!
Halloween ghost decoration
This is a perfect craft for Halloween wall decorations or hanging ornaments! First, stick the eyes and tongue of a ghost, along with a hat folded from origami, onto a paper cup.
Next, attach yarn to Halloween motifs made from construction paper and connect and secure them to the paper cup.
The origami hat might be a bit complicated for three-year-olds, so teachers can prepare them in advance.
You can also have fun customizing the motifs—pumpkins, ghosts, witches, and more.
Through this activity, why not make Halloween even more exciting together with the children?
[Childcare] Perfect for 3-year-olds! October Craft Ideas (11–20)
A wreath made with nuts and berries
Here’s a cute wreath-making idea using nuts and pinecones.
Cut a circle out of cardboard to make the base.
Cut several chenille stems (pipe cleaners) into short pieces with scissors.
Once the pipe cleaners are ready, decorate the base with them and the natural materials.
First, glue the nuts and pinecones at equal intervals, then fill the gaps by sprinkling in the pipe cleaners for a neat look.
Finally, punch a hole at the top of the base, thread a ribbon through so it can hang on the wall, and you’re done.
Let adults handle making the base, and have the children cut the pipe cleaners and do the decorating.
Since nuts and pinecones can harbor insects, be sure to sanitize them by boiling or similar methods before use.
Bagworm Kendama with Paper Cups
A fun cup-and-ball toy you can keep playing with after making it: a bagworm-themed kendama using paper cups! Have the children stick pre-cut origami or construction paper leaves—prepared by the teacher—onto the paper cups to create the bagworm.
You can also let the kids tear origami themselves and paste the pieces onto the cups for a creative twist.
Next, crumple some newspaper into a ball, wrap and secure it with vinyl tape, then connect the ball to the paper cup with kite string—and it’s done! Since making a kendama involves several steps, encourage three-year-olds to try the parts they can manage.
Acorn Rolling
Here’s a craft idea for making an “acorn roller” after you’ve collected acorns.
Attach construction paper to a piece of cardboard and create a path for the acorns to roll down.
At the end of the course, attach a cup to catch the acorns.
Finish by decorating the surroundings with squirrels, mushrooms, and leaves made from construction paper.
Any kind of course is fine, so it could be fun to use a classroom wall to create a big course together with the children.
If the acorns don’t roll well, discuss it together and try adjusting the course’s position.
Ghost wreath
Perfect for Halloween! Let’s make a “Ghost Wreath.” Cut out the center of a paper plate to create the wreath base.
Tear aluminum foil into long strips and wrap them around the plate, then color it with pens or draw patterns.
Using white construction paper, make the ghost’s body and hands, draw the face, and attach them to the back of the base.
Finally, punch two holes at the top of the base and thread a ribbon through to finish.
An adult can also prepare the cut-out ghost parts in advance.