Lovely childcare

[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 spring craft ideas (181–190)

Garland made with paper strips

Cute cherry blossom decorations made with paper strips (with voice commentary) — How to make cute cherry blossom flower decorations using paper and staples

Garland made with paper strips

Here’s a charming cherry blossom decoration made from paper strips.

You’ll need pink construction paper, a stapler, scissors, a pencil, a ruler, and thread.

Prepare one strip measuring 2 cm by 30 cm and another strip measuring 2 cm by 20 cm from the pink paper.

Fold the 20 cm strip in half, then fold each half again to form an M shape.

Fold the 30 cm strip in half as well, mark 5 cm from the loose/fluttering end, fold at the mark, then continue folding it into an accordion with 5 cm-wide sections.

Slightly fold the mountain-fold edges to shape them like cherry blossom petals, staple the ends together, and finally turn the loop inside out to finish.

Make lots of them and thread them onto a string to decorate!

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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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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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Wavy 3D butterfly with fluttering wings

[Craft / Making] “Wings-Wobbling 3D Butterfly” Wall Decoration Craft – Preschool/Childcare Craft, Elderly Care Recreation

Wavy 3D butterfly with fluttering wings

The wings sway gently and look so cute! Here’s how to make a 3D butterfly that’s perfect for spring.

First, dip a plastic bottle cap in paint and stamp it onto thin strips of colored construction paper.

You can use both sides of the cap for different effects.

Next, cut out the butterfly’s wings—which will also form its body—using scissors.

Stamp the wings as well, then fold them down the middle.

After that, bring the ends of the first stamped thin strip together to create a 3D wing shape.

Make two of these and attach them to the body wings with double-sided tape.

Finish by adding antennae with a pipe cleaner, and you’re done! These are great for wall decorations too, so try making them with the kids.

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Butterfly mobile in a field of rapeseed blossoms

[Spring Craft] A Butterfly Mobile for a Canola Flower Field That Delights Babies 🦋

Butterfly mobile in a field of rapeseed blossoms

This is a mobile of a canola flower field and fluttering butterflies, with an adorable look.

Cut around the middle of a plastic bottle and cover the cut edge with tape.

Attach a ribbon so it can be hung, and decorate it with origami cut into the shape of canola flowers.

Cut butterfly shapes from origami, attach separately made face and body parts, and fix thread to the back.

Finally, tape the threads to the plastic bottle, and you’ll have a gently swaying, spring-themed mobile.

Using children’s face photos for the butterflies’ faces would make it even cuter.

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Let’s make postcards from elephant dung

Making postcards from elephant dung: Hitachi Kamine Zoo

Let's make postcards from elephant dung

April 28 is Elephant Day.

It is said to originate from the occasion in 1729 when an elephant sent from Vietnam to Japan was presented to Emperor Nakamikado.

Elephants are among the largest land animals—truly enormous creatures! Let’s try making postcards using elephant dung from these big animals.

Put on gloves, then wash the elephant dung to extract the dietary fibers.

Using a blender, combine pulp from a milk carton with water and form it into postcard shapes.

Once it’s dry, it’s done.

Please be mindful of hygiene as you make them!

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Mobile of clouds and balloons

Feel the sky with the cute hanging decoration “Fluffy Cloud and Hot Air Balloon” ☁

Mobile of clouds and balloons

It spins around and looks so cute! Let me share an idea for a mobile with fluffy clouds and hot air balloons.

You’ll need scissors, glue, thread, beads, translucent origami paper, tissue paper, four rubber bands, craft adhesive, tape, and bamboo skewers.

Use the tissue paper and rubber bands to make fluffy clouds, and make the hot air balloons with the translucent origami paper and beads.

You’ll build a frame with the bamboo skewers and hang the pieces, so if you’re making this with children, be sure to work with safety in mind.

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