[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 You Can Use in Childcare (41–50)

[Finger Paint] Snow Bunny

Here’s a snow rabbit craft idea that makes using your fingertips fun.

First, make the base snow rabbit out of construction paper, then let the children add color with finger painting.

I hope they’ll enjoy the squishy feel of the paint and the process of seeing the color appear as they touch it.

You can use regular paints, but pastel colors are also recommended.

Their soft hues evoke the winter atmosphere and the delicate nature of snow rabbits.

You can find what you need at 100-yen shops and the like, so give it a try!

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[For 1-year-olds] Fun to make! A collection of winter craft activity ideas for childcare (51–60)

Ehomaki made by rolling it up and up

Ehomaki are known as a lucky food for celebrating Setsubun and making wishes.

How about making three-dimensional Ehomaki with the kids? Prepare origami seaweed along with ingredients like egg, cucumber, and lettuce, then roll them up in order.

Wrap bubble wrap over the ingredients, roll it with the seaweed, and your Ehomaki is complete.

Because it’s a simple paper-rolling activity, even one-year-old children can enjoy taking part.

It’s an origami idea themed around Setsubun, a hallmark of winter.

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Electric Shock Demon

When it comes to origami crafts recommended for one-year-olds using origami paper and crayons, “Torn-Paper Oni” is a great pick.

How about making oni-themed origami for Setsubun season? Tear origami paper into small pieces and glue them onto a backing sheet, then draw the hair with crayons.

Add horns and facial parts made from construction paper, and finally stamp beans using cotton swabs to finish.

Tearing paper and drawing freely with crayons provide great fine-motor stimulation.

It’s a winter craft idea that encourages children’s free expression.

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Tree made with finger painting

A Christmas tree made with finger painting that you can create without getting your hands dirty.

Let’s make a tree together with a one-year-old; the illustration changes each time you make it.

Squeeze colorful paint—mostly green—onto construction paper.

Cover it with plastic wrap, then spread the paint and cut it into the shape of a tree.

After decorating the tree’s base and the star, finish by adding pom-poms.

It’s a craft idea that lets children enjoy choosing paint colors and the tactile feel of covering and pressing the plastic wrap.

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Christmas art with handprints and footprints

Creating Christmas art with handprints and footprints is a fun idea you can enjoy with children before the holiday! It’s suitable even for infants from 0 years old, so please feel free to use it as a reference.

Green handprints can become Christmas trees, red footprints can turn into Santa’s outfit, and brown footprints can transform into reindeer! The decorating step—sticking on round stickers and more—is enjoyable even for little ones.

Christmas art that children help make themselves will surely become a cherished memory.

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Torn-Paper Origami Lion Dance

Would you like to try making torn-origami shishimai (lion dance) crafts that 1-year-olds can enjoy, along with ema-themed origami decorations for New Year’s? On a backing sheet cut into the shape of an ema plaque, have the children glue on pieces of origami paper they’ve torn, and create the shishimai’s face.

Finally, punch a hole with a hole punch, tie it off with tape or string, and it’s done.

This is an origami idea where kids can have fun tearing paper and sticking it on.

Give this Japanese-style decoration a try—you can hang it on doors or walls, too.

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Snowman wreath

How about a snowman wreath as a winter craft to brighten up your walls? It’s a fun idea that even one-year-olds can enjoy! First, cut thick paper into a wreath shape and glue on a paper doily.

Next, stick crumpled tissue paper onto areas with double-sided tape.

Decorating with cut origami paper, round stickers, and washi tape will make it even more festive! Finish by adding a snowman made from construction paper, and it’s complete.

Feel free to adapt the activity—like using glue or scissors—according to the children’s interests and abilities, and enjoy creating together!

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miyabi

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