Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Fun Spring Activities: Ideas for Nature, Movement, and Crafts

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, when the warm sunlight feels pleasant, colorful grasses and flowers bloom and insects become active, giving children more chances to go outdoors and connect with nature.

So this time, we’re introducing fun play ideas that are perfect for spring.

We’ve gathered lots of engaging ideas that spark children’s curiosity—from nature-based activities unique to spring to fingerplays, eurhythmics, and crafts.

As a new school term begins, let’s incorporate plenty of play so children can spend each day freely and joyfully.

Let’s enjoy spring to the fullest!

Please note: In this text, items made by the children are treated as “works,” so we refer to them as “seisaku (制作).”

[Childcare] Fun Spring Activities: Ideas for Nature, Physical Play, and Crafts (21–30)

Eurhythmics play

[May Rhythmic Class: Let’s Play with Our Bodies!] For ages 3–5. Get moving with hoop play! Perfect for kids with extra energy ✨ Great for relieving children’s stress ✨ Music play, rhythm play—also usable in childcare settings.

Eurhythmics play

Let’s have fun moving our bodies with hula hoops! Here are some ideas for Eurhythmics (music and movement) activities.

Since children can showcase their daily activities at sports days or performance showcases, both parents and kids will be delighted! How about organizing a Eurhythmics recital using the familiar activities you practice regularly? By moving joyfully with hula hoops, children can not only develop a sense of rhythm but also improve their concentration and stamina.

Learning through play can help nurture a positive attitude toward music and physical activity!

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Movable dandelion doll

[Movable] Hello♪ Tanpopo-san 🌻 #diy #easycraft #April #Daiso #handmade #craft #handmade #nurseryteacher #shorts #play #communication

Movable dandelion doll

Let’s make something with familiar materials! I’ll show you an idea for a movable dandelion doll.

You’ll need a straw, two yellow food cups, a craft paper cup, decorative materials like stickers, craft glue, felt, and round stickers or construction paper.

First, punch a hole in a food cup and insert a straw with slits cut into its tip.

Draw a face on a round sticker or a piece of construction paper and stick it in the center of the flower.

Decorate the craft paper cup, make a hole, and insert the straw—then it’s done.

Adding felt leaves makes it even cuter.

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[Childcare] Fun Spring Activities: Ideas for Nature, Physical Play, and Crafts (31–40)

Spring flowers made with blow painting

Blow painting with straws! Spring craft flower drawings

Spring flowers made with blow painting

We’ll introduce a spring-themed craft using blow painting to create spring flowers.

Prepare drawing paper, crayons, paint, brushes, and water.

Draw the leaves and stems of the flowers on the paper, and decide where the flowers will go.

Drop some paint for the flower color slightly above the crayon-drawn stems, then blow through a straw to spread the paint.

The paint will scatter around, forming petal-like shapes and delightful, unexpected patterns.

When blowing through the straw, keep it a little distance from the paint and blow with some force—this is the key.

Give this a try for your spring art project!

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Tissue Paper Flower Crafts

@hoikushisatomi
[Montessori-Style] Tissue Paper Play Roundup!!Kids will love it Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Life with children #OuchiMonte Translation #EducationalPlay Educational
Oria – niKu

Play expands with your ideas! Let me share some fun ways to play with tissue paper flowers.

All you need to prepare is tissue paper in your favorite colors.

Tissue paper is light, soft, and comes in attractive, vibrant colors.

Some preschools and families may use it for crafts, but this time let’s try using it for activities.

You can throw it, tear it, crumple it, and play dynamically, or put it in a container, add water, and make a sensory bottle for a calm, soothing time.

It could also be fun to decide on the activities together with the children.

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sparkling teru-teru-bōzu

Let’s make colorful teru-teru bozu and display them by the window.

Prepare several types of cellophane pre-cut to suitable sizes, and stick the colored cellophane onto a clear file.

Next, create the outline of the teru-teru bozu’s body with construction paper, paste it on top, and cut along the body’s outline.

Finally, attach the teru-teru bozu’s face.

If you have the children draw the faces or make them with stickers, each one will have its own personality.

If you decorate with these lovely light-transmitting teru-teru bozu, the weather just might clear up.

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Papercut of a dandelion

Let’s make it with scissors! Here are some cut-paper dandelion ideas.

You’ll need yellow origami paper, glue or double-sided tape, scissors, and a compass.

Using the yellow origami paper, cut out three sizes of dandelions—large, medium, and small.

Layering the three sizes will give the petals a three-dimensional look and create a gorgeous finish.

If you also cut green origami paper to make the stem and leaves, it ties everything together beautifully.

Give it a try!

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Puchi-puchi butterfly

As spring arrives, we see more butterflies in the garden, don’t we? Let’s make butterflies using bubble wrap, the cushioning material, to welcome spring! We’ll use the bubble wrap to create the wings.

Cut the bubble wrap into rectangles and draw butterfly patterns on it with a permanent marker.

It’s fun to draw on either the bumpy side or the flat underside.

Pinch the center tightly with a chenille stem (pipe cleaner) to form the body, then make the butterfly’s torso and face from colored construction paper and glue them on to finish.

You can also use the pipe cleaner to create the antennae.

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