Lovely childcare

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

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 comes, flowers bloom and living creatures become more active.

Three-year-olds are probably discovering many signs of spring through outdoor activities, too.

So this time, we’ve put together craft ideas perfect for three-year-olds to try in spring.

We introduce many ideas that use fun techniques, a variety of materials, and even recycled items.

Please consider incorporating activities that let children experience satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.

Because we treat what children make as works of art, we refer to them as “seisaku” (productions) in the text.

[For 3-year-olds] A collection of craft ideas (61–70) to make with 3-year-olds featuring spring events and creatures

Kashiwa-mochi castanets

[Handmade Instruments] With Paper Clay! Kashiwa Mochi Castanets [Children’s Day Craft]

Kashiwa-mochi castanets

Let’s get crafting for Children’s Day! Here’s a fun idea for making Kashiwa Mochi castanets.

Many preschools and kindergartens probably sing children’s songs like “Koinobori” together during Children’s Day events, right? Let’s make Kashiwa Mochi castanets that will come in handy for those moments! You’ll need cardboard or a milk carton, green construction paper, white air-dry clay, buttons, colored pens, glue, craft adhesive, and scissors.

It’s a delightful, event-specific craft—give it a try!

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Koinobori Kendama

[Children’s Day Craft] How to Make a Paper Cup “Koinobori Kendama”

Koinobori Kendama

Recommended for Children’s Day events! Here’s an idea for a carp streamer kendama.

May brings Children’s Day, doesn’t it? Many of you may be celebrating at your preschool or at home.

Take this opportunity to make a carp streamer kendama.

You’ll need paper cups, twine, copy paper, washi tape, round stickers, clear tape, scissors, and glue.

The ease of gathering the materials is part of this idea’s appeal.

Try making and playing with this carp streamer kendama!

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Make a little snake and go for a spring walk

[Ages 1–2] Let’s go for a walk with the Wiggly Snake!

Make a little snake and go for a spring walk

Here’s a craft to make spring walks even more fun: a wiggly snake! Prepare construction paper, twine, scissors, crayons, glue, and stickers.

Draw on the construction paper with crayons, then add stickers or pieces of cut origami paper.

Using scissors, cut the paper into a spiral snake shape.

If you draw guide marks where you’ll cut, it will be easier.

Attach the twine to the head, and you’re done.

Take your freely wiggling snake for a walk—up, down, left, and right—and have fun!

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Sakura mobile made of origami

Hanging Sakura Decorations 🌸 Easy to make with origami ✨ Paper Craft DIY Cherry Blossoms

Sakura mobile made of origami

Here’s an introduction to making a hanging cherry blossom ornament with origami.

You fold it the same way as when making an origami star to create a five-petaled cherry blossom.

Make four blossoms with the same pattern, stack them, and glue them together at the center.

When you gently open it up, the cherry blossom becomes three-dimensional and looks adorable from every angle! The key is to make four identical pieces, so when you cut patterns into the petals, create a template and use it to make four matching petals.

Decorating with clear fishing line or spring-colored yarn will brighten up your room.

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Let’s look for spring! Making a magnifying glass

'Craft: Magnifying Glass' — Let’s make our own original magnifying glasses and go explore lots of springtime nature!

Let’s look for spring! Making a magnifying glass

Here’s how to make a magnifying glass that’s perfect for spring walks and bug hunts.

Prepare two pieces of thick paper with circular cutouts, construction paper, clear cellophane, tape, and colored pens.

Fold a strip of construction paper cut into a rectangle to add strength as you create the handle of the magnifying glass.

Attach the handle firmly to the bottom of one of the circular cutouts so it won’t come off.

Place the cellophane over the cutout area and trim any excess with scissors.

Finally, glue the second circular cutout on top, and your magnifying glass is complete.

Use colored pens to decorate it and make your own original magnifying glass.

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Strawberry cake made with paper cups

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

Strawberry cake made with paper cups

The strawberries look so real and delicious.

Let me show you how to make a strawberry cake using a paper cup.

Prepare a paper cup, paints, tissue paper, crayons, red and green construction paper, and glue.

Use the paper cup as the cake base and paint it.

While the paint dries, make the strawberries out of construction paper.

When drawing the center of the strawberries with crayons, I recommend coloring with pink first and then layering white crayon to give it a three-dimensional look.

After gluing the tissue paper onto the paper cup to look like whipped cream, stick the strawberries on top to finish.

It’s also fun to try different colors of tissue paper and paint.

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Strawberries made with cotton swab stamps

[Spring Craft] How to Make Strawberries with Cotton Swab Stamps! [Ages 2 and up] (ASMR-style video)

Strawberries made with cotton swab stamps

For a spring craft, let’s make bright red, delicious-looking strawberries.

Prepare construction paper, paint, cotton swabs, scissors, and glue.

Cut the construction paper into strawberry shapes, then dip a cotton swab in paint and stamp on the seeds.

If you use a slightly larger amount of paint and thin it well with water first, the seed color will transfer more easily.

Once you glue the calyx to the top of the strawberry, it’s complete.

Cutting origami to decorate around the strawberry or adding washi tape will make it look even more spring-like and festive.

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