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 (91–100)

chain drop

[Handmade Toys] [Daycare, Kindergarten] I tried making three types of toys you can play with using chains.

chain drop

Let’s make a toy called a “chain dropper” using a milk powder can! It’s very easy to make.

Attach the parts of Anpanman’s face to the lid of the can, then cut out the mouth area with a utility knife.

After that, secure the lid with tape so it won’t come off, and just put the chain inside! Little kids love putting things into small holes like this—and they love pulling them out, too! It’s a simple toy, but it’s a classic favorite among children.

Give it a try!

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felt ball

[Handmade Toy] How to Make Anpanman Felt Balls

felt ball

Felt balls, which can be played with in many ways, are also recommended.

First, download a pentagon template from the internet and use it to cut cardboard.

Next, cut felt to match the pentagons you’ve made and embroider the characters on them.

Once you have 12 pieces, assemble them, stuff them with filling, and you’re done.

I hope you’ll play freely—roll it to see which character shows up or toss it in the air.

You can also put a bell inside to enjoy the sound.

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playmat

[Using 100-yen shop felt] How to make a car play mat (100-yen handmade toy) / 100-yen DIY / Making toys to play with at home

playmat

Here’s an idea for a road play mat that you’ll want to make for a child who loves toy cars.

Sew roads made from gray felt onto a base of felt in your favorite color.

Then, add and sew on whatever you like—houses, trees, a police box, a hospital, bus stops, and more.

If you don’t have a sewing machine, you can skip the stitching and use glue to attach everything instead.

With a little creativity, you can make all kinds of play mats, so let your imagination run wild as you create.

Making a construction site where kids can play with work vehicles sounds fun, too!

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plastic bottle cap

Let's make a spinning top with a cap: We'll show you how to make a spinning top using a plastic bottle cap ♪ #Shorts

plastic bottle cap

The spinning top made by connecting plastic bottle caps with string has a unique wind-catching shape and a colorful look that really stands out.

Make a hole in the center of each cap, connect them with string to form a ring, and adjust the angles as you shape it into a circle.

Once it’s neat and round, attach round pieces of thick paper to the top and bottom center, make holes in them, and add the axle to finish.

If it’s too small and hard to spin, try increasing the number of connected caps or making the axle larger for an easier grip.

Also pay attention to which direction it spins more easily, and aim for a more stable rotation.

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Button practice toy

[Anpanman] Handmade Toy Button Practice (Tetsu Craft, Occupational Therapy, Fine Motor Training)

Button practice toy

Here’s a toy idea that lets kids practice buttoning using Anpanman’s facial parts.

It’s made with felt.

First, stack two circular felt pieces to create the base of Anpanman’s face.

Embroider the eyebrows, nose, cheeks, and mouth outline on it, then sew buttons onto the eyes, nose, and cheeks.

After that, sew the corresponding attachable parts that fasten onto the buttons, and you’re done! You can use either snap buttons or regular buttons with holes—choose whichever seems more fun for your child.

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