Lovely childcare

[For 1-year-olds] Fun to make! A collection of winter craft activity ideas for use in childcare

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.

Winter is full of exciting events for children, like Christmas, New Year’s, Setsubun, and Valentine’s Day.

Many teachers are probably looking to enjoy winter-themed crafts together with their children.

In this article, we’ll introduce winter craft ideas for one-year-olds.

Along with ideas tied to seasonal events and holidays, we also feature motifs unique to winter—like snowmen and mittens—that are rich in seasonal atmosphere.

We’ve gathered craft ideas that use unique techniques to keep one-year-olds fully engaged, so we hope you enjoy creating together this winter.

Since the children’s creations are treated as works, we refer to them as “seisaku” (productions/crafts) in the main text.

[For 1-year-olds] Fun to make! A collection of winter craft activity ideas useful for childcare (61–70)

Ogre Pants Made with a Marble Run

Let’s make ogre pants to celebrate Setsubun.

Using the marble-rolling technique, even one-year-olds can create cute patterns.

First, choose a sheet of construction paper in your favorite color and enjoy rolling marbles.

Lightly secure the paper inside a box with raised edges, then roll marbles coated with paint—red, blue, green, and so on.

Since there’s a chance children might put marbles in their mouths, be sure to manage the marbles carefully.

Once the paper is covered with lots of patterns, let the paint dry.

Finally, cut the paper into a pants shape, and you’re done.

We recommend making pants in various colors and shapes and hanging them up as decorations!

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A 3D tree with marble rolling and sticker pasting

Let’s use the marble-rolling technique to make a cute Christmas tree.

First, prepare green construction paper and have fun rolling marbles with paint.

We recommend using bright, festive colors for Christmas.

Once the paint is dry, the teacher can fold it into a tree shape.

After it becomes a 3D tree, let the children add more decorations with round stickers.

Next, fasten two plastic bottle caps together and wrap them with brown construction paper to make a flowerpot for the tree.

Glue the tree onto the caps, and it’s done! Don’t forget to put a star on top of the tree.

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Oni made with finger paint

Let’s try sensory play along with a craft activity using a finger-painting technique! First, place paint in the color you want for the ogre’s face onto drawing paper.

Choosing bright, pop colors will make a cute ogre.

Cover the paint with plastic wrap, then have the children spread it with their fingers.

Let them fully enjoy the unique, curious texture.

After removing the wrap and letting the paint dry, cut it into the shape of the ogre’s face.

Glue on the pre-made hair and horns, draw the facial features, and it’s done! Adjust which parts the children handle based on how they’re doing, and have fun creating together.

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Shishimai (lion dance) with handprints and cardboard stamps

Try making a festive New Year’s shishimai (lion dance) using handprints! You can also enjoy stamp play.

First, make a handprint with green paint on construction paper.

If you spread your fingers wide, it will look more like a shishimai.

Next, use a rolled-up piece of cardboard as a stamp to dab red paint and create the costume’s pattern.

The teacher should prepare the lion’s facial parts in advance, and then work together with the children to glue them on and draw the expressions.

A lively, dynamic shishimai will boost the New Year spirit!

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Valentine’s chocolates made with paint and stickers

Why not try making a cute heart-themed craft for Valentine’s Day? First, prepare two kinds of hearts: one pink and one white.

The key is to make the sizes slightly different so that, when layered, the white one forms a border.

Have the children paint on the hearts with brown paint.

Once the paint is dry, add stickers to decorate the hearts even more.

Next, make a pastry chef holding a heart.

Prepare facial parts in advance and let the children glue them on freely.

Once the teacher arranges it so the pastry chef is holding the heart, it’s complete!

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Penguin made by tearing tissue paper

Why not make a penguin while enjoying the texture by tearing and pasting tissue paper? For prep, get the penguin’s body, the white belly piece, and the flippers ready.

Cut them out of construction paper in advance.

Have the children tear white tissue paper and glue it onto the belly piece.

This represents the fluffiness of the fur, so it’s nice to add some prompts or comments that highlight that idea.

Glue the belly onto the body, add facial features with round stickers, and it’s done.

It’s a simple craft, so feel free to add your own twists.

Have fun making a cute penguin!

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An ogre made by tearing pieces and rolling them into balls

[Ages 1+] Make an Oni! Just tear, roll, and stick—so easy!

An ogre made by tearing pieces and rolling them into balls

Why not try making a cute-faced oni (Japanese ogre) using tissue paper? Crumpling the tissue paper into little balls is great finger exercise, so it’s highly recommended.

First, prepare construction paper to represent the oni’s hair and apply double-sided tape to it.

Have the children stick the crumpled tissue paper onto the taped area.

Using tissue paper in various colors will create bright, colorful hair that looks beautiful.

Next, glue the facial features onto a piece of construction paper that will serve as the face.

Letting the children do the gluing results in wonderfully expressive faces.

Finally, add horns to the top of the head.

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