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)

Shaved ice stamping with sponges and bubble wrap

This is a shaved ice craft where you add color with stamps to ice made from construction paper.

If the teacher prepares the shaved ice and the bowl, the children only need to stamp, so even infants can enjoy it.

Using various materials for the stamps—such as sponges or bubble wrap—lets kids appreciate different shapes and textures.

Prepare several paint colors and let the children choose their favorites.

After making them, they’ll also be perfect as wall decorations in the classroom.

Give it a try!

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Fireworks with toilet paper rolls

Let’s make a fireworks picture that even one-year-olds will love using a toilet paper roll.

Cut slits into one end of the roll and flare them out to form petal shapes.

Dip the cut end in paint and stamp it onto paper—cute little fireworks will appear.

You can layer different colors, or use origami paper and stickers to create more dynamic fireworks.

The process itself is exciting, so it’ll be fun to see how the children react.

Prepare plenty of stamps so the kids can enjoy stamping freely.

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[Childcare] A roundup of craft ideas perfect for summer for 1-year-olds (31–40)

Tropical Juice with Finger Paint

A colorful tropical drink made with finger painting.

Even a one-year-old can enjoy the cool, smooth feel of the paint—perfect for summer! The key is to mix a little hand soap or body soap into the paint.

It helps the paint spread more easily and makes it simpler to wash off skin afterward.

Prepare vibrant fruit toppings, as well as straws and spoons, to create that exciting “Which one should we use?” feeling!

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Finger-painted ice cream

How about making ice cream art with mess-free finger painting? Put a sheet of drawing paper with paint on it into a zip-top bag, then trace over it from the outside to finger paint! Since clothes won’t get dirty, it lightens the load for parents, too.

Once you’ve created patterns with the paint and let it dry, just cut the paper into ice cream shapes and stick them onto cones.

Imagining the flavors of ice cream with all those mixed colors is half the fun.

Enjoy creating your delicious ice cream art!

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A rainbow fish made with handprints

How about making colorful fish with handprint stamps that will make you feel happy just by looking at them? Paint different colors on the children’s palms to create a rainbow effect.

Then simply press their hands onto drawing paper, cut out a fish shape, and add eyes and a mouth to finish.

If you stick the fish onto a background decorated with light blue raffia (suzuran) tape, you can create an even cooler, breezier atmosphere.

The cool sensation of the paint on their palms will likely boost the kids’ excitement! If painting the hands is difficult, try making an original ink pad using a cleaning cloth (duster) and put it to use!

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footprint-shaped watermelon

Why not make a cute watermelon using footprints? Stamp both feet in bright red on construction paper to represent the watermelon’s flesh.

Add the rind and seeds with green and black, and you’re done! The footprints also make a wonderful keepsake to record growth.

Summer is a time when children grow especially fast, so create a lovely piece that lets families celebrate that growth together.

Display the finished pieces side by side and enjoy a quiz-style game with the children: “Whose feet are these?” It’s sure to become a memorable page of your summer.

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Fluffy jellyfish

Nursery craft: Summer creatures! Cute and fluffy jellyfish (using tissue paper)

Fluffy jellyfish

This is a fluffy jellyfish craft that even small children can enjoy making! It’s appealing because it uses easy-to-find materials from 100-yen shops, like drain nets and tissue paper.

The step where you crumple the tissue paper into balls lets kids enjoy the texture of the materials.

You make it by stuffing the crumpled tissue paper into a drain net and tying it tightly with thread to finish.

If you thread string through the top of the jellyfish, you can also hang it as a decoration! Try filling it with tissue paper in various colors to create your very own original jellyfish.

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