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)

Paper-cup carp streamer

[Nursery/Kindergarten] Koinobori Craft: Easy How-To [For 3-, 4-, and 5-Year-Olds]

Paper-cup carp streamer

Tango no Sekku, said to have begun in samurai households during the Edo period, is a celebration praying for boys’ healthy growth, and koinobori carp streamers are an essential item! How about making easy koinobori using everyday materials that even children can craft? Cut strips of colored construction paper and trim them into triangles for scales, and draw black dots on round stickers to make the eyes.

Attach these to a paper cup, then fix more paper cut into strips to create streamer-like tails, and the koinobori body is complete! You can add personality by making the scales with torn paper or by cutting round stickers in half—it could be fun.

If you attach it to a straw with pipe cleaners or tape, you’ll have a koinobori that’s cute to display and fun to carry around and play with!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Paper Cup Cherry Tree

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

Paper Cup Cherry Tree

A cherry tree in full bloom made with paper cups is also great for a spring craft.

You’ll need two paper cups, brown and pink construction paper, tissue paper, a cherry blossom–shaped craft punch, tape, double-sided tape, glue, scissors, a pencil, and so on.

If you don’t have a craft punch, you can simply cut flower shapes out of construction paper.

Kids love tearing the pink tissue paper (to look like cherry blossoms) into pieces and crumpling them into small balls.

Make plenty, stick them on, and create a gorgeous cherry tree in full bloom!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Swaying Koinobori with Paper Plates

[Nursery/Kindergarten] How to Make a Paper Plate Koinobori Table Decoration ♪ [Craft Idea for Early Childhood]

Swaying Koinobori with Paper Plates

Let’s make a wobbly, rocking ornament inspired by a koi-nobori using paper plates.

Koi-nobori, often displayed on Children’s Day, are imbued with wishes for children’s growth and are considered lucky symbols of spring and early summer.

First, fold a paper plate in half, then cut both ends with one side in mind as the face and the other as the tail.

After cutting the tail side into a zigzag, add facial parts and decorations so it’s recognizable as a koi-nobori.

Adding borders to both ends and attaching scales will make it clear and easy to understand.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Easter Bunny Made from Paper Plates

Easy-to-make Easter bunnies using household items: Easy Easter crafts with paper plates

Easter Bunny Made from Paper Plates

Although it’s not often highlighted in Japan, Easter is a major spring event overseas, and the rabbit is an essential motif for the holiday.

To celebrate Easter, let’s make a rabbit out of a paper plate.

Use the paper plate as the rabbit’s face and simply attach parts like facial features and whiskers.

The size of the rabbit’s ears is the key point: cut another paper plate of the same size in half and round the edges to create large ears.

It might also be fun to skip the facial parts, cut out the center, and turn it into a rabbit mask.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

In conclusion

We introduced craft ideas related to spring.

These are craft activities that children who are excited and a little nervous about a new class can enjoy, and that let them feel the start of a new season while learning about the activities of flowers and insects.

It would be great if these crafts spark their interest in many different things.