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)

Puzzle

Create an original from your child's drawing: easy handmade puzzle

Puzzle

Let’s turn your children’s one-of-a-kind drawings into a puzzle! Prepare a piece of cardboard slightly larger than the drawing paper, attach the drawing in the center, and trim around it.

Glue this frame-shaped cardboard onto another piece of cardboard that will serve as the puzzle base.

Next, use a craft knife to cut the drawing into puzzle-piece shapes, and fit the pieces into the base—your original puzzle is complete! It’s a wonderful toy that lets you admire your child’s artwork while playing together, even after you bring it home.

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Marble Drop

Marble Drop: A DIY Anpanman Plastic Bottle Toy That Even Babies Love!

Marble Drop

Why not try making a marble drop inspired by Anpanman? The base will be a plastic bottle.

First, cut it into three equal sections, then insert a piece of thick paper between the sections and reassemble them.

Punch marble-drop holes in the thick paper and decorate it to evoke Anpanman.

You could also make the thick paper look like Anpanman’s or Baikinman’s face.

Once you add the marbles, it’s complete.

Its cute appearance and the sound of the marbles dropping will captivate children.

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paper cup balloon

@sayacky_be.child
Here’s the list of materials ▼ (Follow @sayacky_be.child before you forget!)[Materials]- Small paper cup (you can cut it shorter)- BalloonHandy to have when making it:- Air pump- A cutter or scissors to make holesTips:- The balance between the amount of air and the weight of the paper cup seems important!- If the hole is too small, it will just drop down 😂- If the paper cup is too light, it will spin around 🌀- It seems best to have a cup with some weight and a relatively large hole ❣️- A regular-sized paper cup cut short might work too.- If you make it well, please share your tips in the comments 🫶🏻☺️- I’ll share easy tips for making it well in Stories 🥰Everyone, great job as always! Wishing you bright, cheerful days… 🎧𓈒𓏸Nice to meet you!I’m Sayacky, a nursery teacher and mom of two who loves play that lets adults become kids again 🥰I share play ideas that help adults and kids connect, brighten hearts, and grow ❣️Please follow me 💓@sayacky_be.child ▲ Check out my other posts ໒꒱#Sayakki-World Nursery teacher / Childcare worker #NurseryTeacherMom #HandmadeToys #Childcare Crafting Craft Play #Childcare topic #AtHomePlay #StayHomeTime Balloon Balloon Play #StayHomeTime
♪ Original Song – Sayakki | Preschool Crafts, Handmade Toys, Educational Play – Sayakki’s Play Atelier

Why not try making a hot air balloon using a balloon? It’s very simple: make a hole in the bottom of a paper cup, insert a balloon from the top, and pull its neck out through the hole at the bottom—that’s it.

If you inflate the balloon and let it go as is, you’ll see it fly in a fun way! The way it flies changes depending on the size of the hole and how much air is in the balloon, so try different variations.

Compared to trains or airplanes, hot air balloons might not be very familiar to children, but we’d be delighted if this activity sparks their interest and curiosity.

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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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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.