Craft ideas for 1-year-olds to enjoy in spring: flowers and koinobori (carp streamers)
Curious and eager to go and try things, one-year-olds often have a strong desire to explore.
They also show interest in making things, and their motivation to “give it a try” grows.
For those wondering what kinds of projects to enjoy with one-year-olds, here are some spring recommendations.
We’ve gathered ideas for creating fun motifs like flowers, animals, and carp streamers (koinobori) using a variety of materials and techniques.
These activities will make craft time exciting for the children, so please use them as a reference.
Because we treat children’s creations as works of art, we use the term “seisaku (制作)” to mean “art/craft projects” throughout the text.
[For 1-year-olds] Craft ideas to enjoy in spring: flowers and koinobori (1–10)
Fluttering butterfly
Don’t you see yellow and white butterflies in the spring? Children chasing the gently fluttering butterflies are so adorable, aren’t they? This craft project is all about those cute butterflies.
Teachers can prepare butterfly-shaped templates by cutting them out, and let the children freely enjoy decorating them with stickers.
They can make them while recalling the butterflies they met outside, or by looking at picture books and field guides—it sounds fun either way! Once finished, you can display the butterflies on the wall, or attach clear thread and hang them so they look like they’re flying around the room.
The children are sure to love it.
Cherry tree made with stamps
Cherry blossoms blooming in the schoolyard and outdoors—their delicate pale pink color is so beautiful, isn’t it? Let’s try making them easily with paint stamping.
Once you’ve prepared drawing paper with branches and a trunk drawn on it, have the children use pink paint to stamp the blossoms.
They can go bold using their fingers or palms, but stamping with the bottom of a plastic bottle is fun too! Depending on the bottle’s shape, the stamp can look like a flower, so it might be interesting to try different bottles and wait for the children to notice the patterns themselves.
Cherry blossoms made with newspaper stamps
https://www.tiktok.com/@hoiku.labo/video/7337511024360213768Let’s make use of familiar materials! I’ll show you an idea for creating cherry blossoms using newspaper stamps.
You’ll need drawing paper, crayons, newspaper, paint, and a paper plate.
First, use the crayon to draw the cherry tree trunk on the drawing paper.
Next, put some paint on the paper plate.
A single color looks nice, but I recommend using two colors so you can enjoy how they blend.
Finally, pick up paint with a crumpled piece of newspaper and dab it onto the paper—stamp, stamp—and you’ll have a tree in full bloom!
Let’s decorate with springtime natural items!
https://www.tiktok.com/@hoikushisatomi/video/7230039986727423234Let’s decorate with springtime treasures! Here’s a perfect spring craft you can make by collecting fallen flowers and wild grasses on a walk.
First, place a sheet of cooking paper (parchment paper) down and put a frame-shaped piece of construction paper on top.
Apply OPP tape (clear packaging tape) over the opening.
Peel the tape, flip it sticky-side up, and arrange the flowers you picked.
Seal it with another layer of OPP tape and trim off the excess—done! It will keep for about two to three weeks, so if you want it to last longer, it’s best to press the flowers first and then make it.
Decorating the paper frame is super cute, too, so give it a try!
wriggly caterpillar
https://www.instagram.com/p/C4Xq3hHPAlE/How about making a cute, three-dimensional wiggly caterpillar? You’ll need colored construction paper, thick paper/cardboard, tissue paper, small black round stickers, double-sided tape, and scissors.
Cut the thick paper into circles, then have the children crumple tissue paper in their favorite colors and stick it on.
Be sure to apply double-sided tape to the thick paper beforehand.
Once you’ve made as many segments as you like, add the caterpillar’s eyes with the black round stickers to finish.
Arrange the segments freely to create and display your caterpillar’s shape.
Crumpling the fluffy tissue paper offers both visual and tactile stimulation that’s great for kids.
Ladybugs and dandelions
https://www.instagram.com/p/C4iHO2FpDbq/We’re introducing how to make cute spring dandelions and round little ladybugs.
Please prepare the bases for the dandelions and the ladybugs ahead of time, teachers.
Stick double-sided tape on the dandelion flower area, and have the children attach torn, crumpled pieces of yellow tissue paper there.
For the ladybug’s spots, use black paint and make finger stamps; if using fingers is tricky, cotton swabs also make adorable stamps! Finally, attach the facial parts of the ladybug to finish.
They look very cute whether you mount them on a backing sheet or display them as they are.
Tulips made with sensory play
https://www.instagram.com/p/Co4icfVpA7_/Let’s make tulips through a magical painting and sensory play activity! Prepare a sheet of white drawing paper sized to fit inside a storage bag, then place paint directly onto the paper.
If you use a generous amount of paint, it will spread more smoothly—so squeeze out a little extra.
Seal the edges of the bag tightly, and the children’s sensory play begins.
Enjoy the squishy feel, the way the paint spreads when pressed, and the blended colors as the paints mix—take your time and savor the process.
After playing, let the paper dry, cut it into tulip shapes, and paste them onto a backing sheet to finish.
Making handprint butterflies to paste alongside is a lovely touch, too.