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.
- [April Crafts] Useful for childcare! Spring craft ideas for 1-year-olds
- [For 5-year-olds] Let's make it in April! A collection of craft ideas using recycled and natural materials
- [For 1-year-olds] Let’s Learn About May! A Collection of Recommended Craft Ideas
- Fun spring craft ideas using origami to make with your one-year-old!
- Recommended for 1-year-olds! Craft play ideas and fun crafting techniques
- Even 1-year-olds will be captivated! A collection of craft ideas to enjoy the art-filled autumn
- [For 2-year-olds] Feel the warm spring! Fun April craft ideas collection
- [For 1-year-olds] Craft ideas to enjoy in June | Various expressive play activities
- [Childcare] Spring craft ideas to enjoy with 2-year-olds! Techniques and materials included
- For three-year-olds: A collection of craft ideas featuring spring events and creatures that you’ll want to make with your three-year-old
- [For Age 3] Let’s make it in April! A collection of craft ideas to feel spring events and nature
- [For 4-Year-Olds] Feel the Spring Up Close! Fun and Easy Craft Ideas You’ll Love
- For 5-Year-Olds: Let’s Make It! A Collection of Craft Ideas to Feel the Spring
[For 1-year-olds] Craft ideas to enjoy in spring: flowers and koinobori (41–50)
A strawberry you can make with a basic folding method

Enjoy the different shapes that appear with different folding methods! Here are some strawberry ideas you can make with basic folds.
What you’ll need: two sheets of red origami paper, a backing sheet of construction paper, glue or double-sided tape, and crayons or colored pencils.
Origami is fascinating because you can use various folding techniques to create detailed, delicate pieces.
But even those delicate works start with the basics! This idea is recommended because it lets you learn basic triangular and square folds.
It also seems like good practice for matching your folds to the features of the motif you want to create!
Craft ideas to enjoy in spring for 1-year-olds: Flowers and koinobori (51–60)
Dandelion Drum
@picoton_craft Welcome spring with an easy craft: a dandelion × den-den daiko (Japanese pellet drum) made from paper plates!#HandmadeToysSimple craftTranslation#dandelion#handcraftideas
♬ Cute – Aurel Surya Lie
Dandelions transform into adorable instruments! Here’s an idea for making a dandelion den-den daiko (hand drum) with paper plates.
You’ll need two paper plates with a rim, a wooden chopstick, green masking tape, ribbon, and beads.
Wrap the chopstick all the way around with green masking tape so it’s safe to use.
Draw dandelions on the outside of the two paper plates, then treat the chopstick wrapped in green tape as the stem and attach it to the inside.
Next, attach ribbons to the left and right sides, and tie beads to the ends of the ribbons on the outside.
Stack and fasten the two paper plates together, and you’re done.
When you spin it, the beads hit the plates and make a sound!
Easter wreath
Here’s how to make an Easter wreath using a paper plate.
Prepare a paper plate, yarn, glue, scissors, round stickers, and construction paper.
Cut out the center of the paper plate to create the wreath base.
Cut construction paper into egg shapes and glue them onto the plate to form the wreath.
Using colorful egg cutouts will give it a stronger Easter feel.
Attach chicks and bunnies to the yarn and add a loop for hanging, and you’re done.
Making an Easter wreath is a great way to liven up April festivities.
Dandelion fluff made from raffia tape (Suzuran tape)
It looks like the fluffy seeds could float away! Here’s an idea for making dandelion fluff with raffia tape.
You’ll need white raffia tape, scissors, and vinyl tape.
After wrapping the raffia tape, bundle it together, split it finely with your fingertips, and secure it with vinyl tape—this simple method is the charm of the idea.
The more finely you split the tape, the fluffier it turns out, which is really fun! Be sure to try it for a spring craft project.
Koinobori made with stamps
Let’s make use of scrap materials we’d usually throw away! Here’s an idea for making koi-shaped streamers using stamps.
What you’ll need: construction paper cut into a koi streamer shape, brushes, a palette, paints, koi streamer parts made from construction paper, glue, rubber bands, an empty lactic-acid drink bottle, and bubble wrap.
Bubble wrap makes a fun “pop-pop!” sound when you press it with your fingers, but this time, let’s use it for crafting without popping it! Attach a piece of cut bubble wrap to the empty drink bottle with a rubber band to make a stamp.
Dab your favorite paint colors onto the construction paper and have fun! You’ll get patterns that look just like scales on a koi streamer.
Dandelion made from a straw stamp
Let’s make lots of tiny, cute dandelions using a straw stamp! Once you have your straw, snip small slits into the end with scissors.
The length of the cuts will change the size of the flowers, so try different lengths.
Then dip it in yellow paint and stamp it onto paper to make a bunch of adorable dandelions bloom! You can draw stems and leaves with crayons, and using paper cups, origami paper, or wrapping paper to create vases or bouquets would also look lovely.
How about decorating your room with these simple and super cute dandelions?
Dandelion sponge stamp
@hoiku.labo For toddler classes♪ Let’s make dandelions bloom with sponge stamping 🌼ChildcareNursery teacher / Childcare workerKindergarten TeacherChildcare job openingsChildcare Column#NurseryTeacherThings#IWantToConnectWithChildcareWorkers#Nursery School Craft#DaycarePreparationNursery School PracticumChildcare studentAspiring childcare workerChildcare Job LabNursery teacher skillsJob change activities#JobChange#nursery_teacher_job_changeNursery teacher employmentProduction#CraftworkProduction#Sponge stampSponge Stamp CraftSponge Stamp Production
♪ Original song – Craft ideas for childcare ♪ Nursery Job Labo – Nursery Job Lab | Preschool teachers’ career changes and useful information
Here’s a dandelion craft made with a sponge stamp.
The process is the same as making a traditional tampo stamp, but since you use a sponge, it seems easy to make.
Wrap a sponge around the tip of a disposable chopstick and secure it with a rubber band—your stamp is ready.
Then stamp orange paint onto a yellow piece of construction paper cut into a dandelion shape, and it’s complete.
You can display it on the wall as is, or add a stem and leaves to make it look even more like a dandelion.
When infants are making it, wrapping the chopstick with colored tape or vinyl tape can make it safer to use!



