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 (41–50)

Let’s make it together as a parent and child! A rocking horse craft

[Parent-Child Craft] When summer vacation comes, let’s make a wooden rocking horse!

Let's make it together as a parent and child! A rocking horse craft

Let’s make a wooden hobbyhorse that toddlers can play with.

You’ll need two 1-meter pieces of wood and one 50-centimeter piece.

First, cross the two 1-meter pieces and fasten them together with screws.

Next, attach the 50-centimeter piece horizontally near the bottom of the crossed pieces to serve as a footrest.

That’s all for the steps, so as long as you have the tools, even beginners can make it.

When you cross the wood, adjust the lengths so that the intersection is about shoulder height for the rider.

Also, make sure the ends of the crossed wood do not extend beyond the rider’s shoulders.

The higher the footrest is, the harder it will be to mount, so it’s recommended to attach it at a low position.

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voice-changing microphone

https://www.tiktok.com/@miigomama_chiiku/video/7308329275525057810

Let me show you how to make a fun voice-changing microphone using just two paper cups and aluminum foil.

First, cut a round hole in the bottom of both cups.

Next, cover the mouth (rim) of one cup with aluminum foil, then stack the other cup over it—done! Now try speaking through the holes you made… Huh!? Your usual voice transforms into an alien voice! It’s a simple build, but kids will absolutely love it, so teachers, please try making it together with them! Adults will surely find themselves saying, “We come in peace,” in a wobbly alien voice!

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Musical Instrument Crafting: Guitar

[Instrument Craft] How to Make a Simple Guitar (Rubber Bands, Paper Cups) [Handmade Instrument, Playable Toy, Playable Craft] Upcycling Play – For Preschoolers and Lower Elementary Students

Musical Instrument Crafting: Guitar

We’d like to introduce a DIY musical-instrument craft: a guitar you can play once it’s finished.

Prepare four paper cups, three rubber bands, a felt-tip pen, tape, and scissors.

First, place the bottoms of two paper cups together and secure them with tape so they don’t shift.

Next, make three slits in the rim of each of the remaining two paper cups.

Insert these slit cups onto the taped-together cups, and hook the three rubber bands onto the slits so they don’t cross over like an X.

Finally, pluck the rubber bands to check that they make sound—that’s it! The steps are simple, so give it a try!

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Fun educational game

https://www.tiktok.com/@soramame.sensei/video/7254149835400416514

This is a simple indoor game where you gently stack colorful cardboard pieces—cut into shapes of foods kids love—onto a toilet paper roll using chopsticks or your hands.

Because it requires careful control of force, it helps develop fine motor skills, concentration, and recognition of colors and shapes.

You can use everyday materials! Even if pieces fall, it’s still fun, so children naturally experience cooperation and a sense of accomplishment as they play.

Kids with and without disabilities can enjoy it together, and you can adjust the difficulty with a bit of creativity.

It’s a gentle, handmade activity that even adults can get absorbed in.

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Handmade triangle puzzle

[1-Minute Therapy] [Handmade Learning Toy] Triangle Puzzle – Autism Support, After-School Day Service (Therapy A-3-2)

Handmade triangle puzzle

This is an indoor activity where you use colorful construction paper to make triangles of various sizes and combine them to complete pictures and shapes.

Children can work at their own pace and freely, which helps them enjoyably develop concentration, spatial awareness, and creativity.

Because there are few chances to fail and it’s easy to experience success, it’s also effective for boosting self-esteem.

The materials are simple and you can start right away, which is a big plus.

With a little ingenuity, kids can create their favorite animals, vehicles, or even story worlds—so adults, too, should dive in and enjoy it together!

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