[Childcare] Fun Spring Activities: Ideas for Nature, Movement, and Crafts
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).”
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[Childcare] Fun Spring Activities: Ideas for Nature, Physical Play, and Crafts (41–50)
Dandelions made with stamps
Easy yet wonderfully eye-catching! Let’s make dandelion flowers using a stamp! The process is very simple.
Prepare a toilet paper roll and make lots of slits on one end.
Add many fine cuts while imagining dandelion petals.
Fold the cut sections outward, and your stamp is ready! Draw the dandelion stems and leaves on a sheet of construction paper as the base, then dip the toilet paper roll stamp in yellow paint and start stamping on top.
The toilet paper roll stamp is large and easy to grip, so even very young children can enjoy it.
It’s a great craft that uses familiar recycled materials, so give it a try!
[Childcare] Fun Spring Activities: Ideas for Nature, Physical Play, and Crafts (51–60)
Dandelion Play
These are dandelion-themed activities that bloom in the warm spring season.
They’re fun in places like the playground or on field trips, too.
The first is a ring-toss game where you throw loops made from vines or ropes toward dandelions.
It’s also great to boost the game aspect by competing to see how many dandelions land inside the rings.
The second is an activity where you make a waterwheel using dandelions.
Cut slits into both ends of a dandelion stem and place it in water.
When the slit parts start to open, thread a twig or similar through the stem and let water flow over it.
These are spring activities that create opportunities to connect with rich nature.
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.
Hand play ‘The Flower Smiled’
How about enjoying a hand-play activity to the spring-perfect children’s song “Ohanaga Waratta,” which is often used for kindergarten entrance ceremonies? The choreography is very simple and cute—make a flower with your hands, then open them wide with a pop.
Playing together with children who may be nervous in a new environment, or having teachers perform it, might help ease their tension a little.
It could also convey that kindergarten or nursery school is a fun place.
Please consider it as a performance option.
Let’s look for spring! Making a magnifying glass
Here’s how to make a magnifying glass that’s perfect for spring walks and bug hunting.
Prepare two pieces of thick paper with circular cutouts, construction paper, clear cellophane, tape, and colored pens.
Fold a rectangular piece of construction paper to add strength and shape it into the handle of the magnifying glass.
Attach the handle firmly to the bottom of one of the circular cutouts so it won’t come off.
Place the cellophane over the cutout and stick it down, then trim off any excess with scissors.
Finally, glue the second circular cutout on top, and your magnifying glass is complete.
Use colored pens to decorate it and make your own original magnifying glass!
Pill Bug Made with Paper Plates
The pill bug is one of the insects that kids love.
Its habit of curling up into a little ball when touched is one of the charms that fascinates them.
Let’s make a pill bug out of a paper plate.
First, draw patterns on the paper plate with crayons, then paint over it with black paint.
Enjoy how the crayon resists the paint.
Next, cut the paper plate into six equal parts, stack all the small triangles together, punch a hole at the tip, and insert a split pin (paper fastener).
Finally, add a face and legs, and you’re done.
It even reproduces the pill bug’s distinctive movements, so kids are sure to be captivated.
Give it a try!
Broad beans you make by sticking (pieces) on
Broad beans, which are said to be in season from April to June, are perfect for spring crafts.
This time, we’ll introduce a project that uses these broad beans.
Prepare by pre-cutting the pod and bean shapes out of construction paper.
If the children are old enough and comfortable using scissors, it’s also great to let them cut the pieces themselves.
Glue the pod and beans onto a base sheet of construction paper, draw faces on the beans, and you’re done.
The steps are very simple, so even younger children can enjoy making this.
The vivid green of the broad beans is sure to energize the kids even more.
Give it a try!