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 for Use in Childcare (11–20)

A craft spinning top that 1-year-olds can enjoy!

Work No.038 “Spinning Top Making” [Handmade Toy by a Nursery Teacher]

A craft spinning top that 1-year-olds can enjoy!

Here’s an idea for making a spinning top that even infants can enjoy.

You’ll need a milk carton, a plastic bottle cap, and round stickers.

First, snip the four corners and open the milk carton into a cross shape.

From the edge of the square base, measure 11 cm and cut all four opened sides at that line.

Next, round off the corners and use a craft knife to make round holes near the top of each side.

Decorate with stickers, then glue a plastic bottle cap to the center, and you’re done! If it’s hard to spin using the cap, try hooking a finger through one of the side holes to spin it.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Colorful snowman with a sponge stencil

Let’s make a cute snowman using a stencil with a pouncing brush.

Stenciling is fun like stamping, and many children will get absorbed in the activity.

First, prepare by cutting out a snowman template.

Place the snowman on white cardstock and add color from above using the pouncing brush stencil.

Limiting the palette to two or three colors will help one-year-olds stay focused and enjoy the activity.

Remove the snowman template, then attach twig arms, a face, and a bucket hat to finish!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Fluffy, puffy sheep

Here’s a craft idea for making a sheep with cute, fluffy fur.

You’ll need a paper plate, cotton balls, construction paper, crayons, and glue.

First, use crayons in various colors to draw spirals on the construction paper.

Be careful not to let the colors blend.

Once you’ve drawn the circles, rub them with the cotton to transfer the color onto the cotton.

After making several cotton pieces in different colors, glue them onto the paper plate to cover it, and finally attach the sheep parts to finish.

It’s a lovely idea with soft, gentle colors.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Salt painting

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

Salt painting

How about trying sparkling and cute salt painting? It’s a unique craft that uses real salt, so it’s sure to capture children’s interest! First, draw a New Year–themed design on construction paper with white school glue, then sprinkle plenty of salt over it.

Be sure the teacher closely supervises this step.

After shaking off the excess salt, let the children enjoy painting with water-diluted watercolor.

Once it’s thoroughly dry, it’s finished.

Salt paintings have a great three-dimensional look and strong presence, making them perfect as a January wall display.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Gloves made with decalcomania

@hoiku.labo
[December Craft Recommendation♪] Let's make original gloves with decalcomania 🧤🎨#Childcare Crafting Nursery teacher / Childcare worker #Drawers of Childcare #NurseryTeacherInTraining #NurseryTeacherThings With children #paint Paint making Decalcomania
♪ Original Song – Craft Ideas for Childcare ♪ Hoiku Kyujin Labo – Hoiku Kyujin Labo | Nursery Teacher Job Changes and Helpful Information

Art projects using paint are popular even with one-year-olds.

For a paint decoupage (decalcomania) activity, drip paint onto construction paper and fold the paper.

Using about three colors of paint is the key.

Before it dries, fold and then unfold the paper to reveal the paint pattern.

Cut it into the shape of a glove, attach yarn with tape, and it’s complete.

The exciting part of decalcomania is not knowing what kind of pattern the paint will create.

Be sure to enjoy making it together with the children!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Just stick it on! Easy ramen

As a craft project full of winter vibes, let’s make ramen together with one-year-olds.

Prepare noodle and topping parts made from yarn and colored paper, and put double-sided tape on a backing sheet.

Then, choose toppings with your child and stick them on—before you know it, a colorful bowl of ramen is ready! You can also enjoy chatting by asking, “What’s this?” while looking at the colorful ingredients, or sharing reactions like, “It looks delicious!” Through making warm ramen that’s perfect for the cold season, it would be wonderful if children’s interest in and curiosity about food grow.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

[For 1-year-olds] Fun to make! A collection of winter craft activity ideas for childcare (21–30)

Christmas wreath made with tissue paper

[Christmas Wreath] Recommended for infants! A craft that also helps develop fine motor skills.

Christmas wreath made with tissue paper

Even just fluttering soft, colorful tissue paper delights one-year-olds, since the slow movement is easy for their eyes to follow.

For this tissue paper wreath, cut a circle out of construction paper and remove the center to make the wreath base.

Crumpling and tearing the tissue paper provide excellent stimulation for fine motor development.

Adding touches of red and yellow tissue paper gives it a cute, more Christmassy look.

When using tissue paper, be sure to keep a close eye on your child so they don’t put it in their mouth.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem