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 them (111–120)

picture book

Made with 100-yen shop items! Felt picture book! Let’s play with a pop-up/interactive book♪ Use it as design inspiration!

picture book

How about making a cloth picture book for babies out of felt? You can find colorful felt at 100-yen shops and craft stores, so try cutting, pasting, and sewing it to match your vision.

You can recreate a picture book your child loves, or add interactive elements they can play with.

There are many kinds of mechanisms: for example, motifs that can be peeled off with hook-and-loop tape, parts that fasten with buttons, and classics like puzzles or matching games.

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jelly cup

We’d like to introduce a simple, well-spinning handmade top using jelly cups! If your kids love jelly and you end up with lots of empty cups you want to repurpose, this is an idea worth trying.

First, the trick is to choose jelly cups with a rounded bottom.

By combining this idea with plastic bottle caps, you can make four different kinds of tops.

They’re all very easy to make, so have fun making them together with your children.

For the finishing touch, decorating with washi tape or stickers can give your tops a unique, personal look.

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Rolling Aluminum Egg

[Can be done in 1 minute! Easy even for toddlers] Featured in Daiso’s craft corner☆ Rolling aluminum egg!

Rolling Aluminum Egg

Let’s make a rolling egg that moves in a mysterious and funny way! You’ll need aluminum foil, a marble, a container with a lid, cellophane tape, and a permanent marker.

First, cut the aluminum foil to 10 cm by 15 cm.

Draw any pattern you like on it with the permanent marker, then flip it over.

Place the marble in the center and fold the foil so that it overlaps by about 2 cm.

Lightly fold the left and right sides toward the center and secure with tape.

Put it in the container and shake—it’s done! When you roll it, you’ll see unpredictable movements that are sure to get kids excited! When shaking it in the container, be careful not to shake too hard, as it may tear.

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In conclusion

We introduced craft ideas that you can play with after making them. You can imagine the children’s eyes lighting up as they happily play. By using familiar scrap materials, it also gives children a chance to pay attention to the environment around them. Before throwing things away, they might have a spark of inspiration—“Maybe this could be used for something?”—and try reusing them, fostering a sense of valuing their belongings. Be sure to make them together and share a fun time.