Lovely childcare

[Nursery/Kindergarten] Crafts you can play with after making them

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.

At daycare centers and kindergartens, there are many opportunities to make toys using familiar recycled materials.

Making their own toys and playing with them lets children enjoy the process of creating, builds confidence, and gives them a sense of accomplishment—benefits that greatly support their development.

Let’s actively incorporate lots of these activities.

This time, we’re introducing craft ideas that kids can play with after making them.

Tops, pinwheels, puzzles—ideas that are sure to spark children’s curiosity!

Feel free to adapt them while incorporating the children’s ideas, and create one-of-a-kind toys bursting with originality!

They’ll surely grow attached to them, and the fun will double.

[Nursery/Kindergarten] Crafts You Can Play With After Making (71–80)

Handmade maracas

[Handmade Instruments] Make Maracas with Things at Home: A Fun Activity to Do with Your Kids

Handmade maracas

Here’s an introduction to easy, handmade maracas you can make with everyday materials.

Gather a capsule toy case, a toilet paper roll, a plastic bottle, beads or buttons, and vinyl tape, and let’s get started.

Cut off the neck portion of the plastic bottle, roll the toilet paper core to make a sturdy handle, and attach it securely with vinyl tape.

Put the buttons or beads inside the capsule toy case, fasten it firmly with vinyl tape, and close the lid.

Once it’s finished, shake your maracas, sing along, and have fun!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Toy stethoscope for playing doctor

When you want to play doctor, make a toy stethoscope and get into character! For this one, you’ll use a headband you can find at a 100-yen shop.

Cover the headband with a tube of sewn felt, so if it has any decorations, remove them first.

For the tubing, use a string or cord, and for the chest piece, cover a suitably sized cap or lid with felt.

Once you’ve connected everything, your stethoscope is ready! It might be even more fun if you also make items like a medicine bag or bandages.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

rattle

A rattle that could be called a baby’s very first toy.

Let’s try making one with an Anpanman motif.

Prepare something sturdy like a roll from plastic wrap or poster paper, then wrap it with construction paper or colored tape.

Attach the faces of Anpanman characters to the round openings.

Make the faces out of construction paper, and cover them with clear tape so the paper won’t get damaged and the toy will last longer.

Since the core is hollow, put bells or beads inside.

When a child holds and shakes it, it makes a sound and they’ll have fun!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Paku-Paku Bear

Pakupaku Kuma-san: a bear face sewn onto a large piece of felt with a zipper for its mouth.

Next to the bear, items like rice balls, bread, eggs, and vegetables are attached with snap buttons.

You can unfasten them and feed them to the bear—it’s a toy, right? The actions of unbuttoning and buttoning seem helpful for developing fine motor skills, and seeing the bear eagerly eat everything might spark children’s interest in food, making them think, “I want to try the same thing,” or “I wonder what it tastes like?”

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Fruit Concentration

These are felt cards you can use to play Concentration (Memory)! You can choose any motifs you like—fruits, vehicles, animals, anything is fine.

However, since Concentration is a game where you match pairs of identical cards, be sure to make two cards of each design.

Cut felt into card shapes and either glue or sew the motifs onto them.

If you’re making everything out of felt, it’s efficient to layer the same fabric and cut two identical pieces at once to save time.

If you want to keep things simple, you could also use store-bought appliqués and just stick them on.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Stretchy soap bubble

@eqkosodate
Rapidly growing soap bubblesSoap bubbles Soap bubbles #AtHomePlay Play with children Experimental Play Experimental Play
Rouge’s Message (Kiki’s Delivery Service) – Carl Orrje Piano Ensemble

Here’s an idea for stretchy soap bubbles that lets you enjoy a unique, one-of-a-kind texture.

First, prepare a straw and a wet wipe.

Wrap the wet wipe around the tip and secure it with a rubber band.

Next, make a bubble solution by mixing water and dish soap, and pour it into a container.

Then dip the tip into the container and slowly lift it up.

You should see a chain of tiny bubbles appear, connected together.

The slightly sticky, mysterious look is really fun.

If you investigate why this happens, it can turn into a learning experience too.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

train

Let me introduce an idea for a train made with a coin case.

When it comes to toy trains, “Plarail” is the classic choice, but this time let’s try making one with felt! Cut out a train base the same size as the coin case, along with parts like windows and lights, all from felt.

Sew them together, then slip the felt over a coin case wrapped with magnetic tape.

After sewing it closed, you’re done! This toy can connect with magnets, so try making trains in various colors and types.

It might be fun to make a playmat with tracks to go with it, too!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem