Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Spring craft ideas to enjoy with 2-year-olds! Techniques and materials included

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

When spring arrives and insects and flowers come to life, outdoor activities become more enjoyable, don’t they?

Two-year-olds are sure to make new discoveries every day.

Why not bring that sense of excitement into your craft activities as well?

Among spring-themed motifs, there may be some that children are already familiar with.

This time, we’ve gathered craft ideas perfect for two-year-olds to try in spring.

We’re introducing ideas that use a variety of materials, so please use them as inspiration for your craft projects.

Translation

[Childcare] Spring Craft Ideas to Enjoy with 2-Year-Olds! Techniques and Materials Introduced (61–70)

horsetail

[Origami] How to Fold a 'Horsetail' <Yoshimoto Comedians>

horsetail

When spring arrives, horsetail shoots pop up above the ground.

Horsetail is one of the plants that signal the coming of spring.

When you go out for a walk, try looking for them along riverbanks and embankments.

Let’s make this familiar plant, horsetail, with origami! There are quite a few slightly complicated steps, so be sure to fold along with an adult or a teacher.

Horsetail often grows in clusters, so make lots of them and decorate! If you display them together with spring creatures like butterflies and ladybugs, it’s a fun idea that will let you feel spring indoors, too.

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Spring snack making

[Kindergarten/Preschool] Spring Craft / Easy / How to Make a Strawberry Cake ♡

Spring snack making

Here’s a spring snack-making craft activity.

Prepare construction paper, paint, tissue paper, pastel crayons, and paper cups to make a delicious-looking strawberry cake.

Paint the paper cup to use it as the cake base.

Tear, crumple, and glue the tissue paper to look like cream.

Add strawberries made from construction paper to finish! Gluing the tissue paper with some volume gives it a three-dimensional look, making it resemble a real cake.

Cutting and gluing can also be good practice for using glue and scissors!

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wriggly caterpillar

Here’s a perfect craft for two-year-olds: a wiggly caterpillar made with tissue paper.

Prepare construction paper, thick cardstock, tissue paper, double-sided tape, and round stickers.

Cut one circle from construction paper and five circles of the same size from cardstock.

Have the children crumple the tissue paper and stick it onto the cardstock circles.

Mixing different tissue paper colors before crumpling and attaching them will look cute, too.

Connect the tissue-covered cardstock circles in the color order they like, then attach the circle of construction paper with the caterpillar’s face drawn on it at the front—and it’s done! The color order and facial expression will showcase their individuality and make for adorable caterpillars.

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Dandelion Drum

@picoton_craft
Welcome spring with an easy craft: a dandelion × den-den daiko (Japanese pellet drum) made from paper plates!#HandmadeToys Simple craft Translation #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!

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Papercut of a dandelion

Let’s make it with scissors! Here are some cut-paper dandelion ideas.

You’ll need yellow origami paper, glue or double-sided tape, scissors, and a compass.

Using the yellow origami paper, cut out three sizes of dandelions—large, medium, and small.

Layering the three sizes will give the petals a three-dimensional look and create a gorgeous finish.

If you also cut green origami paper to make the stem and leaves, it ties everything together beautifully.

Give it a try!

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Butterflies made with torn paper collage

Here’s how to make butterflies flying around a flower field.

Cut construction paper into the shapes of butterfly wings and a body to create the base.

If you layer two sheets of construction paper for the base, it will be sturdier.

Tear pieces of origami paper and glue them onto the wings.

Using patterned origami will make it look more festive and give it a spring-like feel.

For the body, add round stickers to distinguish it from the wings.

Draw facial expressions, and your butterfly is complete.

Tearing the origami by hand lets you enjoy differences in shapes and sizes.

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Ladybugs and dandelions

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.

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