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 (41–50) for making with three-year-olds: spring events and living creatures

[Handprint/Footprint] Piyo-piyo Chick

[Rainbow Art] Introducing 3 Types of March Handprint Crafts!! ~For 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-Year-Olds~ [Nursery School/Kindergarten]

[Handprint/Footprint] Piyo-piyo Chick

At the start of a new school term, it’s a lovely idea to record children’s growth each year with handprint crafts.

In this piece, it’s unique how the handprints are attached to look like flower leaves and chick wings.

The rainbow painted with paint and a sponge is colorful and beautiful, too.

First, squeeze out paint in a length that fits the sponge, then apply it to a lightly moistened sponge.

Press the sponge onto the drawing paper and slide it sideways to paint the rainbow.

After the paint dries, attach colored paper cut into flower and bird shapes along with the handprints to finish.

Using handprints to represent something else can spark children’s imagination about different shapes.

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My one-piece dress

[Kindergartens/Daycare] May theme based on a popular picture book! “My Dress” painting and craft

My one-piece dress

Why not have fun trying a painting activity inspired by the popular children’s picture book “My Dress”? You will need rabbit parts, a triangle-shaped piece of paper, bottle caps with felt attached, paint, glue, and a pen.

First, stick felt in any shape you like onto a plastic bottle cap.

Dip the felt in paint and stamp patterns onto the triangle paper.

Once the paint is dry, glue on the face and hands.

Draw the face, add decorations around it, and you’re done! Make it colorful with your favorite colors.

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cucumber

How about an idea for folding a cucumber out of origami to spark more interest in vegetables? This one uses a simple method that even toddlers can enjoy! Prepare a sheet of green origami paper cut in half.

Place the half sheet with the short side at the top, then fold it in half vertically.

Even at this stage it looks like a long, rectangular cucumber, but if you slightly fold all four corners inward to round them, it will look even more like a real cucumber! You can draw prickles with crayons, and adding eyes and a mouth makes it cute, too.

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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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Tulips Painted with the Wet-on-Wet Technique

@pro.group
Children’s creations ✨Pro-Aid #ExcitedKidsMinami-Zao Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture Small-Scale Nursery School New fiscal year April #Production Video Tulip
♬ I wonder – Da-iCE

Let me introduce tulips made with a bleeding-painting technique that lets you enjoy how colors blend.

Prepare a coffee filter, water-based color pens, a spray bottle, construction paper, glue, and scissors.

Draw on the coffee filter with the color pens.

When you spray water over it, the water-based ink will bleed and blend.

Once it’s dry, cut it into a tulip shape and glue it onto a backing sheet to finish.

If you like, adding eyes made from round stickers to the tulip could be cute too!

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Chick and Four-Leaf Clover

Let each child’s individuality shine! Here are some ideas featuring chicks and four-leaf clovers.

Clover motifs are beloved as symbols that bring good luck and make wishes come true.

Let’s express the hopes of moving up to a new grade through a craft activity.

You will need construction paper, crayons, white drawing paper, paint, and glue or double-sided tape.

Use hand painting with paint to make four-leaf clovers, and draw chicks and ladybugs with crayons.

Each piece will turn out as a unique, special creation!

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Sticky Felt Balloon

Here’s an idea for making balloons that takes advantage of felt’s soft, fluffy texture.

First, cut light blue construction paper into the shape of a balloon.

Next, cut three colors of felt into triangles and squares.

Finally, use wood glue to stick the felt onto the balloon, and make a handle with yarn to finish.

It’s also cute to display the balloon as if an animal or character is holding it.

Try incorporating the cutting and scissor work according to children’s ages and interests.

Not just felt—you can also attach various materials like ribbons and beads to the balloon.

Give it a try for inspiration!

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