Lovely childcare

[Childcare] A roundup of craft ideas for 1-year-olds, perfect for summer

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

As summer arrives, it seems even the one-year-olds are gradually getting used to life at the daycare.

Since each one-year-old has their own pace, it’s important to enjoy creation in ways that suit each child.

Trying a variety of motifs and techniques helps ideas flow freely.

Themes related to summer—like the ocean, sunflowers, or fish—are also recommended.

By coloring, sticking stickers, and pressing with their hands, children can experience the fun of textures and colors.

With teachers’ support, please enjoy creating together! Because the children’s work is treated as “artworks,” the term used in the text is “seisaku” (制作).

[Childcare] A collection of summer-perfect craft ideas for 1-year-olds (1–10)

[scribbles] Tanabata decorations

Tanabata decorations where you can write wishes are perfect for a summer craft.

Try making them together with one-year-olds.

First, let them scribble with crayons on white construction paper, then decorate it with round stickers.

Cut it into the shape of Hikoboshi’s body, and paste another piece of paper on top where the wish will be written.

The key is to make the most of the lovely patterns the children create.

Prepare Orihime and Hikoboshi’s faces with construction paper, and let the children make the facial parts with stickers or draw them with crayons.

After that, just glue all the parts together.

You could also interview the parents to write down the children’s wishes.

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[Paper Plate] Turtle with a Vivid Shell

Let’s make turtles with colorful shells using the chigiri-e (torn paper) technique.

First, prepare several colors of origami paper for the turtle shells.

Let the children freely tear the origami paper.

Create an environment where they can focus on tearing, and provide a larger container so their pieces don’t get mixed up with their friends’.

Spread glue on a paper plate and start sticking the torn pieces onto it.

It’s okay if there are gaps or if the same colors overlap.

To finish, the teacher should attach the turtle’s face and legs.

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[Paints and Stickers] Watermelon Bag

With paint and round stickers, you can make a watermelon shoulder bag.

First, prepare a deep paper plate and paint it red.

Once the paint is dry, let the children freely stick on black round stickers.

Then the teacher finishes it up: cut the paper plate in half, overlap the rims, and secure them with green vinyl tape.

Punch holes at both ends and thread a vinyl cord through.

Since there are individual differences in body size among one-year-olds, adjust the cord length for each child.

This bag can be used in various situations, such as carrying toys inside or taking it along on walks.

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[Childcare] A collection of craft ideas perfect for summer for 1-year-olds (11–20)

Torn Paper Craft: Making a Watermelon

Indoor play for 0- and 1-year-olds: tearing paper play, at-home activities, summer craft—making watermelons, origami play

Torn Paper Craft: Making a Watermelon

Tearing paper not only captures the interest of one-year-olds but also has a positive effect on the development of their finger dexterity.

Be sure to include it in your summer craft time and let everyone make torn-paper watermelons together.

First, as preparation, cut out and glue a round watermelon and a half-circle watermelon from white drawing paper.

If you design the half-circle watermelon to show the red flesh, it will result in a brighter, more vivid finish.

Next, have the children tear black origami paper.

Set up the environment so they can focus on tearing, and supervise them as they work.

To finish, glue the longer torn pieces onto the round watermelon and the smaller, finely torn pieces onto the half-circle watermelon.

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Corn with stamps

How about using corn—something kids love—as a summer crafting motif? Both a stamp made with bubble wrap and one made with cardboard are great options.

Prepare the base corn and leaves ahead of time using colored construction paper.

Make one stamp by wrapping a small ball of cotton with bubble wrap and securing it with a rubber band, and another by rolling a strip of cardboard into a coil and taping it.

Use yellow paint as the “ink” for both, and enjoy freely dabbing and stamping away!

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Colorful fish with decalcomania

Decalcomania is a simple technique that even one-year-olds can try, yet it’s also a delightful way to enjoy color.

Let’s use decalcomania to create fish that swim smoothly.

First, have fun with decalcomania on construction paper.

It’s great if you can involve one-year-olds from the step of placing the paint.

Once the paint dries, cut the construction paper into fish shapes and use round stickers to make the eyes and mouth.

Finally, stick the fish onto another sheet of construction paper to represent the ocean, and you’re done! Give it a try and make these adorable fish swimming in the sea.

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[Sticker Activity] Shaved Ice Craft for the 1-Year-Old Class

Shaved Ice Craft for 1-Year-Olds: A Construction Activity Using Construction Paper for Childcare Workers

[Sticker Activity] Shaved Ice Craft for the 1-Year-Old Class

For a class of one-year-olds, we recommend an easy shaved-ice craft that uses stickers.

Please have the teacher cut construction paper into the shapes of shaved ice, a bowl, and a spoon, and assemble those parts in advance.

The children will then add the syrup and toppings by placing stickers on the shaved ice.

Use round stickers, or fruit-themed stickers as toppings, to complete the shaved ice.

Once finished, try using the shaved ice crafts as wall decorations.

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