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

Summer wall display using paints

Easy summer/July wall display craft! Add ○○ to paint to draw beautiful lines [Kindergarten/Preschool]

Summer wall display using paints

In summer, even if things get dirty, the laundry dries quickly, doesn’t it? Here are some summer wall art ideas using paint that are perfect for July.

Put paint on bubble wrap wrapped around a paper cup, and stamp it onto the center of a sunflower like a stamp.

The bubble wrap’s texture makes the sunflower look three-dimensional.

For the water yo-yos you often see at summer festival stalls, mix glue into the paint and gently flick the brush to add color.

You’ll get wonderfully accidental patterns.

You can display them however you like, but decorating them in a festival stall style for a summery feel is also recommended!

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T-shirt

Why not make some vibrant, summery T-shirts? If you turn it into an activity where you draw with colored ice, you can enjoy it together with children! First, cut white construction paper into the shape of a T-shirt.

Next, use colored ice to draw freely.

Using a variety of colors—red, blue, yellow, green, and more—will make for fun, expressive artwork.

Once you’ve finished drawing, let it dry.

When displaying them, we recommend hanging them on a string with clothespins to create a nice atmosphere.

You’ll end up with a lovely wall display that looks like laundry sparkling against the summer sky.

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Shaved ice in a scribble style

When it comes to drawing methods for children around ages 1 to 2, scribbling is the go-to.

This activity uses that scribbling to make shaved ice art.

First, have the children freely scribble with crayons on white construction paper.

Any colors and any number of colors are fine.

Cut the paper into the shape of ice, then stick it onto a bowl made from another sheet of construction paper to complete the shaved ice! The feel of the shaved ice changes depending on which part of the paper you cut out, so try to find the best section.

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Ice cream with bleeding painting technique

A magical wall decoration idea using coffee filters and water-based markers! Draw pictures on plain filters with ordinary water-based markers.

Then, when you trace over them with a brush dipped in water—like magic—the ink bleeds into a beautiful gradient! Cut the colored filters into circles, make the cone part as well, and you’ll have a finished bleeding-art ice cream decoration.

It’s exciting to see the kids’ drawings bleed and find out what color combinations their ice cream will turn into!

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Peta Peta Ice Candy

Let’s have children aged 0–1 try making ice cream toppings! Please prepare not only the base items—ice cream scoops, cones, and sticks—but also the materials for the toppings.

Recommended topping materials include small pieces of origami, various shapes made with craft punches, stickers, and felt balls.

Encourage the children to freely stick these on and enjoy decorating their ice cream.

Try making a one-of-a-kind, cute, and delicious ice cream!

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Crab handprint art

Let the kids join in to create a summery wall decoration! This unique idea was inspired by the silhouette that looks just like a crab when both hands are spread wide and the wrists are joined together.

Trace the children’s hands, cut them out, and arrange them symmetrically.

Stick on eyes near the center, add claws around the thumbs, and it’s done! The big round eyes are especially cute.

With the blazing sun and a refreshing breeze—you can almost picture a summer beach with this fresh, seasonal wall display!

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Stained-glass-style fish

These stained-glass-style fish shine as they reflect the light, making them a perfect craft to display in the classroom.

Cut construction paper into the shape of a fish, then cut out the center and stick OPP tape on the back.

Prepare several colors of cellophane cut into small pieces, and have the children stick them onto the OPP tape.

Attach the dorsal fin and tail, and it’s done! Choose a sunny spot in the classroom and hang them from the ceiling, and the room will transform into an aquarium! The children will surely find themselves gazing up, watching the fish swim overhead.

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