[Childcare] Perfect for October! Autumn crafts to enjoy with 5-year-olds
October is packed with events like sports day, field trips, and Halloween.
Some five-year-olds will also be celebrating Shichi-Go-San.
How about making some lovely crafts to help children enjoy October even more? We’ve gathered ideas themed around these events, as well as ones kids can use on the day itself.
We’ve also included craft ideas with slightly more complex steps that five-year-olds can handle.
It would be great if they could take a few days and work on them until they’re satisfied.
Since items made by children are treated as works, we use the term “seisaku” (production) in the text.
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[Childcare] Perfect for October! Autumn crafts to enjoy with 5-year-olds (21–30)
Wobbly fun! Paper-cup bagworm
Hang these on the wall to meet lots of colorful, fun bagworms! First, prepare two sheets of origami paper in your favorite colors, then tear each one vertically into roughly four strips.
Next, apply glue to one end of a torn strip and randomly stick it onto the side of a paper cup near the bottom.
You can alternate the two colors or group the same color together—either is fine! At this point, also attach the bagworms’ eyes made from construction paper or origami.
Finally, use an awl to make a hole in the bottom of the paper cup, thread through some kite string for hanging, and secure it—that’s it! Please make sure that a kindergarten or nursery teacher, or a guardian, handles the hole-punching with the awl.
Make a cute bagworm with kraft paper and washi tape!
I’ll show you how to easily make a bagworm using kraft paper, yarn, and masking tape! First, roll up the kraft paper to form the body.
Wrap yarn around it and stick pieces of masking tape on randomly.
Next, draw a face on the face parts you made from colored construction paper, then attach it to the body with double-sided tape.
Finally, tape a string to the back of the face with clear tape, and you’re done! If children will be handling it, twine is recommended.
It looks super cute if you also make a tree branch out of cardboard and hang it, so give it a try!
[Childcare] Perfect for October! Autumn crafts to enjoy with 5-year-olds (31–40)
How to fold realistic autumn leaves
Let’s make a realistic maple leaf using a single sheet of origami.
Fold the paper into a triangle twice, squash the pocketed section into a square, then add creases and squash it into a diamond.
Up to this point, it’s the same process as making a crane.
With the side where the corners are not split at the top, fold down the top layer on the front, then flip the paper top-to-bottom and turn it over.
Crease the two-pronged corner, open it up, and squash this part into a small diamond.
Make a cut in the bottom corner to split it into two prongs as well, squash it into a diamond the same way, then fold the tips to create small leaves.
Turn the paper over, fold the left and right corners of the remaining section inward, and make a step fold on the bottom corner.
Finally, fold the left and right corners once more, and you’re done.
Make and Play! Bagworm Kendama
How about turning a kendama—where you balance the ball on the top or on the side cup—into a bagworm (minomushi) version? First, crumple up some newspaper into a ball and shape it with vinyl tape to make the kendama ball.
At this time, attach one end of a piece of kite string (both ends tied in firm knots) to the ball as you tape.
Next, tape the other end of the string to the outside bottom of a paper cup.
Then cut out eyes and a fallen-leaf-like body for the bagworm from construction or origami paper, and stick them around the cup—and you’re done! The ball is easier to catch than with a regular kendama, so kids can have lots of fun playing with it.
One sheet of origami! Cute mushroom
First, fold the origami paper in half into a square twice, then fold both corners toward the center to make triangles.
Flip it over, fold the unfolded section up toward the middle, and flip it over again.
Fold both sides toward the center crease, then fold the top corner down and open it to make a crease.
Using this crease as a guide, fold upward in stepped layers, then fold the corners of the folded-up section and open them.
Finally, fold each corner to round the shape, draw mushroom patterns as you like, and you’re done! Make lots of them and enjoy them as an autumn display!
Cosmos wreath you can make with origami
Use four 7.5 cm origami sheets for the cosmos and four 15 cm sheets for the base.
First, fold a 7.5 cm sheet into a triangle, then cross the left and right corners inward and fold so they overlap neatly.
Fold the folded sections back to align with the outer edges, crease well, then open those parts and squash-fold them flat.
Tuck both corners of the squashed section to the back, and cut small triangular notches into the three top corners—this completes one petal piece.
Glue four pieces together to make the cosmos, and place a round sticker in the center.
For the base, fold the top and bottom corners to the center of the paper, then fold the whole thing in half by overlapping top and bottom.
Aligning with the top left and right corners, fold the bottom edge up on each side; once creased, squash-fold those sections.
Make four of these, glue them into a circle, and attach the cosmos to finish the wreath.
Making the cosmos in different colors will look bright and festive.
Yarn Winding! Bagworm Ornament
Let’s try making a bagworm craft that also lets you have fun with yarn.
First, glue colored construction paper onto white construction paper and cut it into an egg shape.
Make small slits around the edge, then wind the yarn around and around, tucking it into the slits as you go.
Wrap gently so the paper doesn’t warp, but firmly enough that the yarn doesn’t loosen and come off.
Once you’ve finished wrapping the yarn, decorate the case with round stickers, draw the face with a pen, add a touch of pink to the cheeks with blush, and you’re done!