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.

[Age 3] A collection of craft ideas (1–10) to make with three-year-olds, featuring spring events and creatures

Connect the loops to make a ring caterpillar

[Spring Craft] Easy as linking paper loops! A handmade caterpillar toy 🐛

Connect the loops to make a ring caterpillar

Here’s a craft idea for making a caterpillar using classic loop chains, often used as birthday decorations.

Cut construction paper into long strips, form a loop and glue it; then thread the next strip through that loop, form another loop, and glue it the same way.

Repeat to create the caterpillar’s body.

Draw a face on a circle cut from construction paper, and attach antennae made by wrapping pipe cleaners around a pom-pom.

Once you fix the face to the body with double-sided tape, it’s complete! If you connect a stick with a tied string, you might be able to take it for a little walk around the room.

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Colorful Strawberry

[Spring Craft] Cute Bubble Wrap Stamps! Colorful Strawberries [Daycare/Kindergarten]

Colorful Strawberry

If you’re looking to incorporate lots of spring vibes into your crafts, this is a must-see.

Here’s a cute, colorful strawberry craft.

First, cut red construction paper into the shape of a strawberry.

Next, use about three paint colors of your choice to paint a bubble wrap sheet.

Finally, place the painted bubble wrap on top of the strawberry-shaped paper to stamp the pattern, then glue on a strawberry calyx made from green construction paper—and you’re done.

You’ll end up with plenty of colorful strawberries full of personality that feel just like kids’ creations.

It’s easy to make, so give it a try!

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Cute Footprint! How to Make a Caterpillar

A craft that can be fondly looked back on as a wonderful memory when your child grows up: a Very Hungry Caterpillar made using footprints.

Paint the soles of the feet with paint and make four footprints on construction paper.

Once dry, cut them out and stick them onto a backing sheet along with a caterpillar face made from construction paper, and you’re done.

Decorating with round stickers as you like makes it extra cute.

Preserving those tiny footprints that exist only now will be a lovely memory for your child, as well as for caregivers and parents.

It’s also delightful to feel how much they’ve grown when you look back on it later.

Be sure to try making it together with your child.

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[Age 3] A collection of craft ideas (11–20) for things you’ll want to make with three-year-olds, featuring spring events and creatures

Stamp play is fun! Cute flowers

Here’s a craft idea that uses a stamp made from bubble wrap to depict cherry blossoms.

Lightly sketch the outline of a cherry blossom on pale pink construction paper, and have the children stamp inside the outline.

It’s fine if they go over the lines—unneeded parts will be cut off later! Encourage them to enjoy expressing themselves as they recall cherry blossoms.

The cutting step can be left to the children as good scissor practice.

If you display the cherry blossoms everyone made on the wall, it’ll feel like you can have a cherry-blossom viewing party right in the room!

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Let’s decorate with cardboard! Making dandelions that feel like spring

@anko_insta
We did an easy spring activity with cardboard! Kids really love dandelions, right? ✨ There were so many in bloom, and they looked super happy! It’s also great for little finger play.work #dandelion #GoldenWeek Spring Play
Seventeen – YOASOBI

Here’s a spring craft idea where you pick real dandelions and arrange them in a cardboard vase.

Cut the cardboard to a size that’s easy for children to hold, and draw a vase on the lower half.

Punch several holes in the upper half.

Take this piece of cardboard on a walk, pick the dandelions blooming along the roadside, and insert the stems into the holes.

Once you’ve filled all the holes with dandelions, secure them from the back so they don’t slip out.

Find lots of dandelions and fill your vase with spring!

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Bubble wrap beehive making

https://www.tiktok.com/@hoiku_ratty/video/7477493714974248212

Bees can be scary, but kids are fascinated by beehives! So let’s make a beehive using bubble wrap, which is often used as cushioning material.

First, paint the bumpy side of the bubble wrap with paint.

Yellow and orange are recommended.

Once the paint is applied all over, stamp it onto white construction paper to transfer the pattern.

After the paint dries, cut the paper into multiple hexagons and paste them onto black construction paper to form a beehive.

Finally, stick on a bee made from construction paper—and it’s complete!

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Giant dandelion made from construction paper

[Spring Craft] Super Big! Giant Dandelion Made from Construction Paper

Giant dandelion made from construction paper

Let’s make a big, exciting dandelion using A4-size construction paper! Prepare three colors of paper for the petals, stem, and leaves.

First, fold the petal paper in half lengthwise.

Leaving about 2 cm at the top, make fine vertical cuts from the fold.

After cutting, roll it up tightly from one end and secure it, then gently spread open the cut fringes from the outside.

For the stem, roll the construction paper from a corner to form a rod.

For the leaves, cut them out from the paper with the characteristic jagged shape in mind.

Combine the three parts, and you’re done!

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