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 (21–30)

puppet

[Self-Introduction] Become super popular with kids!! [Milk Carton Handcrafted Puppet] [Nursery School/Kindergarten]

puppet

This is a puppet you can make by reusing a milk carton, a familiar material.

Cut the top part of the milk carton, leaving a little bit attached.

You can draw any animal you like! Attach the drawing so it lines up with a corner of the carton, and you’re done.

It would be fun to have children introduce themselves and play using the puppets they made.

You could also get creative by making paper versions of favorite snacks or fruits and putting them in a pocket attached to the puppet.

Give it a try for inspiration!

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New Year’s fun with traditional games! A milk carton bamboo-copter (taketombo)

[Handmade Toys] Let’s enjoy New Year’s with traditional games 🎍 Let’s make an easy bamboo-copter (taketombo) using a milk carton ^_^

New Year’s fun with traditional games! A milk carton bamboo-copter (taketombo)

Watch “New Year’s fun with traditional games! A milk carton bamboo-copter (taketombo)” on YouTube

A bamboo-copter is tricky to fly at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s lots of fun.

Here’s an idea for making one using a milk carton and a straw.

First, cut out one side of the milk carton, then cut it into a strip that’s about one-third the width.

Next, fold the strip in half, and about 5 mm from the valley fold, make mountain folds on both sides.

This completes the wing.

Then, cut a slit into one end of the straw and attach it to the wing as a handle.

If you color the white side of the milk carton with markers, it will look pretty when you fly it.

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Let’s make a horse head out of newspaper!

Let's make a horse head out of newspaper [with Kid Teachers] #StoryPark

Let's make a horse head out of newspaper!

Here’s a 3D horse craft idea using newspaper! You’ll need three sheets of newspaper, scissors, and cellophane tape.

Use newspaper you have at home to make items that transform you into a horse.

With the three sheets, you’ll create a hat, a horse face, and a horse mane.

There are key points to watch out for in each step, so follow along carefully with the video as you make it.

Once you tape the three parts together, it’s complete.

You can also make reins to expand the ways you can play!

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Make and Play! New Year Hagoita (Battledore)

[7th New Year Hagoita] Make-and-play for parents and kids! Easy craft!

Make and Play! New Year Hagoita (Battledore)

Hagoita paddles that can be simply made with paper plates are easy for kids to create.

Prepare paper plates, wooden chopsticks, cellophane tape, and origami, and let’s get started.

Fold the left and right sides of the paper plate so they form an even shape.

Insert a chopstick inside to make a handle, then secure everything in place by taping it all around with cellophane tape.

Make sure to fasten it firmly so it doesn’t come apart easily.

Once you stick flower decorations on the surface, it’s complete.

Playing with a hagoita you made yourself can be fun and full of discoveries and new insights.

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Play with the wind! A colorful carousel

[Paper Plate Carousel] A colorful merry-go-round that spins in the wind! Super easy! [Elementary School Craft] [Dollar Store Craft]

Play with the wind! A colorful carousel

Let’s make a merry-go-round that you can spin and play with.

First, make a hole in the center of the base of one paper plate and the bottom of a paper cup.

Next, cut a 12 mm straw to 2 cm, then snip one end into fine fringes and flare them outward to make a stopper.

Thread the paper plate and the paper cup (with the bottom facing up) onto the uncut end of the straw, and tape the stopper part to the paper plate to secure it.

After attaching the 2 cm straw you just made as a stopper right above the paper cup, punch a hole in one end of an 8 mm straw.

Pass a short piece of 6 mm straw through that hole, place a paper plate shaped like an umbrella over it, and glue it in place.

Hang horse illustrations from the inside of the umbrella, insert the 8 mm straw into the 12 mm base straw, and it’s complete.

If preschoolers are making it, prepare the 8 mm straws with holes in advance.

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