Lovely childcare

[For 4-Year-Olds] Feel the Spring Up Close! Fun and Easy Craft Ideas You’ll Love

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.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

Spring is when colorful flowers bloom and insects begin to move about energetically.

Many teachers may be thinking, “I want children to feel the charms of spring!”

So this time, we’ve gathered spring-themed craft ideas recommended for four-year-olds.

Packed with fun projects that incorporate spring motifs familiar to children—like cherry blossoms, dandelions, butterflies, and ladybugs!

These ideas focus on enjoying self-expression while expanding their imaginations, as well as experiencing a variety of techniques and materials, so be sure to check them out.

Because the children’s creations are treated as artworks, the term used in the text is “制作” (seisaku), meaning “art/craft production.”

[For 4-year-olds] Feel the spring up close! Fun recommended craft ideas to make (131–140)

3D bento

How about making a realistic, three-dimensional bento box? In this idea, you fill a lunch container with various “ingredients.” For example, spaghetti made from orange yarn, rolled tamagoyaki made from yellow felt, and rice balls made by crumpling newspaper and wrapping it in a plastic bag.

You can recreate foods you usually eat, or have fun making your dream bento.

By the way, for the bento container, we recommend plastic ones sold at 100-yen shops.

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Three-dimensional strawberry decoration

[Origami Craft] Spring Project: 3D Strawberry Decoration – Easy Craft, Wall Decor (For Childcare Workers and Caregivers) | Origami strawberry cute easy

Three-dimensional strawberry decoration

Let’s make it with origami! Here are some ideas for a three-dimensional strawberry decoration.

You’ll need origami paper, crayons, scissors, and glue.

Let’s easily create the strawberry’s plump, distinctive shape with origami.

Since you’ll use origami paper cut in half, the preparation is simple—that’s part of the appeal.

When cutting green origami paper to make the calyx (leafy top), children’s individuality is sure to shine.

Because scissors are used, be sure to work in an environment where parents or teachers can watch over the activity safely.

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Paper Cup Cherry Tree

[Graduation Ceremony & Entrance Ceremony] Recreating Cherry Blossoms! Paper Cup Tree [Spring Craft]

Paper Cup Cherry Tree

This is a cherry blossom tree made with paper cups, a toilet paper roll, and tissue paper.

Cover the outside of two paper cups with brown construction paper and glue their bottoms together to form the trunk.

Next, cut several slits into the side of one paper cup, open them out, and attach cherry blossom pieces made by crumpling pink tissue paper.

Finally, secure the toilet paper roll—covered with brown construction paper—inside the paper cup, cut slits in it the same way, and attach the blossom pieces.

You’ll have a fully bloomed cherry blossom tree you can display!

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Easter eggs made with paper plates

More and more people in Japan are enjoying Easter.

Here are some craft ideas inspired by Easter eggs.

First, prepare a paper plate cut in half.

Place it with the cut side facing up to represent a bird’s nest.

Next, arrange characters made from construction paper and some Easter eggs, and you’re done.

The charm of this craft is that you can draw any colors and patterns you like on the Easter eggs.

Once you’ve finished, you can have fun showing them to your friends and comparing your creations.

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No-sew felt cherry blossoms

[No Sewing!] Handmade Sakura Garland with Felt / No Pattern Needed / Easy / 100-Yen Shop DIY / felt / handmade / craft / cherry blossoms

No-sew felt cherry blossoms

When a room is decorated with pink cherry blossoms, it feels so festive and exciting, doesn’t it? Here’s an idea for making cherry blossoms out of felt—and you can do it without any sewing! Prepare a piece of pink felt measuring 4 cm by 20 cm.

Mark it at 4 cm intervals along the length to make four sections, then make vertical cuts at each mark, cutting about two-thirds of the way down.

Round the edges of the five frilly sections into gentle arches, then fold each arch in half and cut it diagonally to form petal shapes.

Apply glue to the base of the petal on the side without slits, and glue the ends together as well to finish.

You can customize it however you like, so try adapting the basic shape to create all kinds of variations!

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