[Childcare] Fun to Make! Recommended Craft Ideas for Spring

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.

In spring, with new admissions and moving up to the next class, you can see children in all sorts of states—excited, nervous, and everything in between.

Many teachers are probably hoping that the children will come to enjoy their days at the preschool/kindergarten.

So this time, we’re sharing craft ideas perfect for spring.

We’ve gathered plenty of motifs that evoke the season—like cherry blossoms, tulips, and ladybugs—as well as ideas you can use for events such as Easter and Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day).

Decorate various areas to wrap your room in a spring atmosphere, and the children are sure to feel cozy and smile!

Give them a try.

Note: Since the things the children make are treated as “artworks,” we refer to them as “seisaku (制作)” in the text.

[Childcare] Fun to make! Recommended craft ideas for spring (121–130)

A bag made with yarn and paper plates

https://www.tiktok.com/@n.annlee321/video/7339453715717410050

Let’s make an original bag where you can enjoy your favorite design! I’ll introduce an idea for a bag made with yarn and paper plates.

Prepare two deep, sturdy paper plates, spring-colored yarn, double-sided fabric tape, fabric glue, decorative parts like ribbons, pipe cleaners, bead parts, a stapler, and an awl.

It’s an idea that stimulates children’s creativity, isn’t it? By arranging the colors of the yarn and the decorative parts, each child’s individuality will shine! Enjoy that sense of excitement and give it a try.

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A bed for Little Broad Bean made of cotton

The picture book Sora Mame-kun’s Bed is hugely popular even among two-year-olds.

Here’s a craft activity using that book as a theme: making Sora Mame-kun’s bed out of cotton.

Prepare green construction paper, cotton, glue, and a piece of construction paper cut into the shape of Sora Mame-kun.

Cut the green construction paper into the shape of a pod to create the base.

Apply glue to the pod, then attach the cotton so it has a nice, fluffy volume all over.

Have the children draw Sora Mame-kun’s facial expression with crayons and stick him onto the cotton bed to finish.

It’s best to adjust the amount of glue together with the teacher as you go.

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Rapeseed blossoms made with cotton swab stamps

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[Easy Spring Craft for Kids] Make Rapeseed Blossoms with Cotton Swab Stamps 🌼Childcare Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Kindergarten Teacher Childcare job openings Childcare Column #NurseryTeacherThings #IWantToConnectWithChildcareWorkers #Nursery School Craft #DaycarePreparation Nursery School Practicum Childcare student Aspiring childcare worker Childcare Job Lab Nursery teacher skills Job change activities #JobChange #nursery_teacher_job_change Nursery teacher employment Production #Craft work Production drawing paper #ConstructionPaperCrafts #Wall Creation
♬ Give Love – AKMU (악뮤)

Speaking of spring, the bright yellow fields of canola flowers are so beautiful, aren’t they? Here’s a craft featuring canola blossoms that even one-year-olds can enjoy.

Prepare construction paper, paint, and five cotton swabs, and let’s get started.

First, make the base for the canola blossoms and stems using construction paper.

Bundle the five cotton swabs with a rubber band to create a stamp for the flower portion.

Dip the bundled swabs, thinned with a little water, into yellow paint and stamp the flower area.

The slightly raised paint texture looks so delicate and really brings out the canola-flower feel.

It’s also fun to change the paint and paper colors to create your own original canola blossoms.

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Butterflies made by dyeing with colored water

Let me show you how to make butterflies dyed with colored water.

Prepare kitchen paper towels, construction paper, pipe cleaners, tape, scissors, paint, and empty containers.

Cut the paper towels into four equal pieces, stack them, and tie the center with a pipe cleaner.

Round off both ends of the paper towels with scissors, then unfold them to form the butterfly’s wings.

Dissolve the paint to make colored water in your favorite shades, and dip the paper-towel butterfly in to add color—your spring-like butterfly is complete.

Add a face made from construction paper to create your own cute, original butterfly!

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mayumi

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[Childcare] Fun to Make! Recommended Craft Ideas for Spring (131–140)

Butterflies drawn with colored ice water

Also great as a sensory play activity! Here’s an idea for painting butterflies using ice made from colored water.

It’s a highly recommended sensory play activity! The chill of the ice combined with the vivid colors will engage children’s senses, making the creative process fun.

As they watch the ice melt, they can enjoy the way the colors spread, making it a fulfilling activity.

It’s also nice to do on warm days out on the terrace or in the playground.

A wonderful idea to enjoy both coolness and art!

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Dandelions made from tissue paper

Soft and gentle vibes that are so cute! Here’s an idea for making dandelions with tissue paper.

You’ll need yellow tissue paper cut into quarter-size pieces, a round backing sheet, a stapler, and scissors.

First, accordion-fold the tissue paper and staple it in the middle.

Next, make three snips on both sides with scissors, then gently open up the tissue paper.

If you cut a bit deeper, it looks even cuter! Finally, glue the tissue paper onto the round backing to finish.

Try combining it with leaves and a stem made from construction paper.

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Sticker Bento (Make-your-own lunchbox with stickers)

Here’s a craft activity where you make a lunchbox by sticking pieces together.

Prepare a construction paper lunchbox, side dishes, children, round stickers, crayons, glue, and scissors, and let’s get started.

Recommended side dishes include broccoli, hamburger steak, rolled omelet, and strawberries.

Hand out the lunchboxes, have the children choose their favorite side dishes, and stick them into their lunchboxes.

It’ll be fun to see what they pick.

Once the lunchboxes are finished, it’s also a great idea to have everyone present what kind of lunch they made! You’re sure to end up with a uniquely different lunchbox for each child!

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mayumi

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