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 as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is 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 craft ideas perfect for summer for 1-year-olds (11–20)

[Transparent Origami] Sparkling Lantern

Lanterns made with transparent origami are perfect for summer events like pretend festivals.

First, prepare two clear plastic cups.

Have the children stuff them with transparent origami paper.

The finished result looks prettier with a variety of colors, so create an environment where they can freely choose the paper.

Align the rims of the two cups and secure them with tape.

Let the children stick star stickers around the outside.

For the finishing touch, the teacher can attach black construction paper bands to the top and bottom—and it’s complete! You can display it as is or hang it from a high place to enjoy.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Yo-yo with a marble run

[Summer Wall Art] Tried making yo-yos with marble paint (for 2- and 3-year-olds)

Yo-yo with a marble run

How about making festival-favorite yo-yos using marble painting? First, cut construction paper into circles.

For infant classes, the teacher should do the cutting; from preschool age up, let the children cut them themselves.

Next, prepare the paints.

Use a container that can hold several colors, such as a palette or an empty egg carton.

Dip a marble in the paint color of your choice and roll it across the paper circle.

To keep the colors from mixing, use a separate marble for each color.

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

Using stickers of various colors and sizes makes it look much more like a traditional yo-yo.

It’s a perfect craft for summer.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Drawing with colored ice

[Summer Craft] Painting with Colored Ice! [For 1-Year-Olds]

Drawing with colored ice

Here’s a drawing activity using colored ice that even a one-year-old can enjoy.

You’ll need red, yellow, and blue food coloring, water, wooden sticks, a white crayon, drawing paper, and an ice tray.

How to make it: First, use the white crayon to draw ocean-themed pictures—like fish and octopuses—on the paper.

Next, put food coloring and water into the ice tray.

Insert the wooden sticks and freeze.

Once the colored ice is frozen, draw on the paper by letting the ice melt little by little as you move it around.

The pictures you drew with the white crayon will appear as the color spreads, making it a fun activity to enjoy with children.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

[Finger Stamp] 3D Watermelon

[Nursery/Kindergarten] 39 Summer Craft Ideas [July & August]

[Finger Stamp] 3D Watermelon

Let’s make a watermelon craft while having fun with finger stamping with the children.

First, prepare construction paper in colors that resemble watermelon flesh, such as yellow or red.

Have the children make finger stamps with black paint.

Since these represent watermelon seeds, it’s best to have them stamp a lot.

Once the paint dries, cut the paper into a circle and paste it onto green construction paper cut slightly larger.

Lightly fold it in half with the flesh side facing out, and you’ll have a stand-up watermelon decoration.

It’s an easy, approachable idea.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

(Footprint) Swimming Goldfish and Goldfish Bowl

Footprint Craft Vol. 1! August/Summer Craft Book “Refreshing Goldfish Bowl” – For Infants 0–1 Year Old – [Nursery/Kindergarten]

(Footprint) Swimming Goldfish and Goldfish Bowl

Making a goldfish bowl with swimming goldfish creates a cool, refreshing look—perfect for a summer craft.

Since it uses footprints, it also becomes a sweet keepsake of a child’s growth.

First, the teacher sticks a paper goldfish bowl and water plants onto construction paper.

Next, take footprints of the one-year-olds on a separate sheet.

Using solid red is fine, or leave the toes white for a cute finish.

Once the footprints dry, cut them out, put double-sided tape on the back, and attach the goldfish fins.

Let the children “swim” their footprint goldfish by sticking them wherever they like.

Add white round stickers to represent bubbles.

To finish, the teacher should attach tissue paper as the goldfish tails.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Salt painting

Sparkling fun! How to make salt paintings [Nursery/Kindergarten]

Salt painting

Many preschools actively incorporate sensory play in the summer.

So let’s try salt painting, an activity even one-year-olds can enjoy.

First, prepare construction paper.

Let the children draw freely.

The key is to have them draw using glue or paste.

Since one-year-olds still find it hard to control their strength, work together with an adult.

Once the drawing is done, sprinkle plenty of salt to make it stick, then shake off the excess.

Finally, use paint to add color to the salty lines.

It will be a wonderful craft full of discoveries for one-year-olds.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

[Childcare] A roundup of craft ideas perfect for summer for 1-year-olds (21–30)

Whale Shark Sticker Activity

[Sea Creatures Craft ②] Whale shark sticker activity 🦈🌊 #preschoolcrafts #nurseryteacher #teachingideas #withkids #easycraft #constructionpaper #stickerplay #shorts

Whale Shark Sticker Activity

Speaking of popular creatures at aquariums, whale sharks are a top favorite! Watching them glide leisurely in a huge tank really gives you a sense of the ocean’s vastness.

Let’s make a whale shark while having fun with stickers.

First, create the whale shark’s parts out of construction paper and glue them together.

Color the mouth area white, draw the face, then add patterns by sticking on white round stickers.

And that’s it—your whale shark is complete! You can also switch up the sticker colors to add your own personal touch.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem