Lovely childcare

[October] Craft ideas for fall you can use in childcare

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.

October is when you can feel autumn even more strongly, thanks to changes in nature and the climate.

This is a must-read for teachers who are thinking, “I want to enjoy autumn-specific crafts with the children!”

Here we introduce craft ideas perfect for October.

You’ll find a wide range of ideas: themes inspired by Halloween such as ghosts and pumpkins; and themes that feature autumn-only natural items and seasonal tastes like fallen leaves, acorns, mushrooms, and grapes.

We also introduce techniques that stimulate children’s five senses and curiosity, as well as fun ways to use materials that greatly expand their imaginative world—please use them for inspiration.

Because we focus on ideas for creating works that allow children to freely express their individuality, we use the term “制作 (seisaku)” as “creation” or “craft” in the text.

[October] Useful for childcare! Introducing autumn craft ideas (41–50)

Yarn Winding! Bagworm Ornament

[Autumn Craft] Yarn-Wrapped Bagworm Ornament

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!

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Autumn wall display! Mushrooms and bagworms

[Autumn Wall Decorations] A Preschool Teacher Explains Mushrooms and Bagworms! (For Ages 3–5)

Autumn wall display! Mushrooms and bagworms

This is a wall decoration of mushrooms and bagworms that’s fun to stick on with glue.

First, make the parts.

Using construction paper in your favorite colors, cut out mushrooms in various shapes.

If you’re working with small children, please cut them in advance.

After cutting slits in the mushrooms, cut separate pieces of construction paper to serve as the stems.

Next, make the bagworms.

Have the children help with what they can, like drawing the eyes.

Now for the assembly.

Tear pieces of construction paper and glue them onto a background sheet to form the bagworm’s body.

Add the eyes and a little hat, too.

Finally, overlap the mushroom pieces at the slits and glue them so they become three-dimensional—that’s it, you’re done.

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Autumn Origami Wreath

November Origami: Autumn Grove, Squirrel, and Acorn

Autumn Origami Wreath

Here’s an idea for a wreath you can make entirely from origami—from the base to all the parts.

You’ll be making three parts: the base, a squirrel, and a tree.

Since you’ll need several of each, try spreading the work over a few days.

For the base, fold four pieces the way you would when making a traditional “trick boat” (damashibune), creating parts where two boats overlap, then join the four pieces into a circle.

For the squirrel, first fold the left and right edges to meet at the center, then the top and bottom in the same way.

Next, fold up both corners of the top edge to make the ears, and cut along the crease at the lower right to form the tail.

For the tree, fold it four times so it approaches a triangular shape, and it’s done.

Take this chance to try creating a lovely autumn-themed piece!

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Autumn fruit! Persimmon with origami

[Preschool Crafts] Autumn Fruits: Persimmon with Origami | Origami Persimmon

Autumn fruit! Persimmon with origami

Fold the orange origami paper in half twice to make a small square, crease well, and open it.

With the colored side facing up, fold the bottom edge up to meet the center crease.

On the white section you folded up, stick a piece of green origami paper of the same size.

Rotate the paper top-to-bottom, then flip it over, and fold the top left and right edges in to meet the vertical center line.

Flip the paper over and fold the top green triangle downward.

Flip the paper over again, open the green pocket into a triangle, and flatten it.

Fold the bottom left and right corners up to match the shape of the orange triangle above, then fold the left and right corners inward to round the shape like a persimmon.

Flip the paper over and fold down the two triangles sticking out at the top to finish.

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Fall foliage viewing in your room!

@hanamikoto8
Leaf-peeping in the room 🍁Origami #Autumn leaves Maple leaves Maple How to make #Production Video #SeniorActivities #100-yen-shop Handmade #hanamikotoHere’s an easy way to make maple leaves with origami. Gradient origami paper from the 100-yen shop is also recommended! They look beautiful as hanging decorations. You can enjoy autumn foliage indoors for a long time. Please feel free to use this at senior facilities, daycare centers, kindergartens, event venues, and many other places.
♬ Stylish cafe-style BGM – Hiro Hattori

Cut a sheet of origami paper into four equal strips (tanzaku) with scissors and separate them.

You’ll use only three, so set one aside for another craft.

Fold each of the three pieces in half vertically, then in half horizontally, in that order.

For just one of the three pieces, cut along the crease made by the horizontal fold to split it in two.

Take one of these halves, fold it so its length is halved, and round off the corner on the side where the layers are not connected.

Insert the remaining uncut piece between the others, and make a matching curved cut slightly above the first curve.

Cut the remaining two pieces in the same way, staple them together at the base, and then fan open the layers—the shape will look like a maple leaf.

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