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 (31–40)

[Craft Play] Where the Dinosaurs Are

[Practical Guide] Where the Dinosaurs Are (Younger Class, May – Classroom Environment)

[Craft Play] Where the Dinosaurs Are

April 17 is known as Dinosaur Day, commemorating the date when American zoologist Roy Chapman Andrews, who helped spark dinosaur research, set out for the Gobi Desert.

To celebrate Dinosaur Day, here’s a craft project that lets you enjoy dinosaur motifs using cardboard, paper, and paint.

Imagine creating a space where dinosaurs live: make the dinosaurs three-dimensional out of cardboard, and paint their backgrounds on paper.

Use picture books and other references to imagine and build a place where your cardboard dinosaurs can live happily.

It’s also fun to have each person think about how to create the background and which dinosaurs to arrange.

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Walk Card

[2-year-olds] Let's take our walk cards and head out!

Walk Card

Spring brings lovely weather and is perfect for going on walks, isn’t it? Try taking a fun stroll around the preschool with a “walk card.” It’s a great idea to draw pictures of spring flowers and insects that bloom or appear around the school on the card.

Before setting out, hand out the cards and check what kinds of plants and insects are drawn—this will make the walk even more enjoyable.

When children find a flower or insect, they can put a sticker on it and talk about what they discovered.

When walking with the card, it’s easy for their gaze to tilt downward, so please be extra careful about cars and other hazards as you enjoy your walk.

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What we can learn about the global environment from picking up litter

– Happiness 0–3 Montessori nursery – litter picking

What we can learn about the global environment from picking up litter

April 22 is International Earth Day, a time to think about our planet and take action.

Many events are held across Japan, and litter-picking is a great option that’s easy for children to join! As you pick up trash along your usual walking route, you’ll start to see the familiar path in a new light.

Using picture books or panel theater to explain concretely how trash affects the Earth can also give children a chance to think about the environment.

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Let’s head out with a field guide!

[For 5-year-olds] Let’s take a picture book and go find spring!

Let's head out with a field guide!

Why not head out for a walk with a field guide in hand? In spring, you can spot things like flowers in full bloom and insects becoming more active.

Take your field guide along and look up the flowers and insects you find along the way.

Discover daisies in the flowerbeds and ladybugs on trees for a delightful time.

Children can show each other the bugs they catch, pick flowers, and find natural treasures unique to spring, helping them feel the season.

With so many flowers and insects to discover, the kids are sure to be thrilled.

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Let’s try growing vegetables

[Age 4] Start here! Let’s try growing vegetables! | Certified Kodomoen Sendan Kindergarten

Let's try growing vegetables

Nurture life and learn the importance of food! Here are some ideas for trying your hand at growing vegetables.

It’s a wonderful way to show children how fascinating nature is and why food matters.

By growing vegetables like eggplant, cucumbers, tomatoes, and bell peppers, they can watch the thrilling process as seeds sprout and leaves grow larger.

Harvesting and eating the vegetables they raised themselves brings joy and fosters gratitude for food.

With their hands in the soil, it becomes a lovely learning time that helps them feel connected to nature.

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[Childcare] Fun Spring Activities: Ideas for Nature, Physical Play, and Crafts (41–50)

Rag-wiping race

Wiping cloth duty 2/12 (2)

Rag-wiping race

The Osaka Towel Wholesale Trade Association designated April 29 as Towel Day.

It’s said that people use towels most frequently from early spring to early summer.

Children are very familiar with towels too, using them for wiping floors and tables, but wringing them out by hand after washing can take a lot of strength for kids.

When wringing a towel, the vertical wring is recommended.

By keeping the elbows close to the body and rotating the wrists, you can use the strength of your arms and wring more tightly.

Wringing towels also helps build grip strength, so try practicing it with your children!

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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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