Lovely childcare

[For 3-year-olds] Winter craft activities and bulletin board decoration 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.

In winter, there are many ways to have fun with children—big events like Christmas, New Year’s, and Setsubun, as well as chances to experience the changing climate and nature through snow and ice.

Many teachers may be thinking about incorporating that wintry feeling into their art and craft activities as well.

So this time, we’re introducing craft ideas to make in winter with three-year-olds.

We’ve gathered a wide range of ideas, from those related to winter events to themes unique to the season—like snowmen and mittens.

We’ve selected activities that will spark children’s interest and curiosity, so please try using them in your childcare setting.

Because the children’s creations are treated as works, we use the term “制作” (seisaku, ‘creation/work’) in the text.

[For 3-year-olds] Winter craft activities and wall display ideas usable in childcare (131–140)

Oni made from toilet paper rolls

Crafting with toilet paper rolls ★ Easy! Setsubun ★ How to make a stylish and cute Red Oni! ~Red Oni Edition~ Perfect for Setsubun decorations ♪ Oni out~ ♪ Fortune in~ ♪ Let’s do bean throwing ★ reuse.recycle ★

Oni made from toilet paper rolls

You can easily make this with a toilet paper roll! Here’s a craft perfect for 3-year-olds.

First, cut a toilet paper roll in half.

Make the ogre’s pants with yellow origami paper.

Make a crease mark slightly above the center of the paper, then fold up both side edges to meet the mark.

Draw a pattern on the pants with a pen, apply glue, and stick them onto the toilet paper roll.

Next, make the ogre’s face with origami paper in your favorite color.

Make a crease mark where it will slightly overlap the pants, cut along the mark, and glue it to the top part of the toilet paper roll.

Draw the face with a pen and add any decorations you like, such as hair and horns, and you’re done!

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Cupcakes made of yarn

Pretend play with handmade cupcakes 🍰 #shorts #playingStore #pretendPlay #crafts

Cupcakes made of yarn

You can make it with a plastic bottle cap and yarn! Here’s how to create a super cute cupcake.

Stick your favorite washi tape around a plastic bottle cap, then put some wood glue on the bottom of the cap and stuff it with tissue paper to look like cream.

Next, apply wood glue around the tissue paper and wrap yarn around it.

Finally, decorate it with pom-poms, glitter, or anything you like, and your cupcake is complete! Adding a magnet to turn it into a gift is also recommended.

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Snowman photo frame

Making a snowman DIY picture frame winter theme!

Snowman photo frame

This is an adorable photo frame with a snowman motif that conveys the fun of winter.

The paper plate represents the snowman’s belly, and you decorate it by adding parts like the face and hands.

Place the photo in the center of the belly; it’s also recommended to cut the photo into a circle to match the overall round shape.

Another lovely idea is to cut out the center of the paper plate and attach the photo to the back so it shows through.

By freely choosing the colors for the snowman’s expression and decorations, you’ll create a photo frame brimming with happy winter memories!

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Oni masks made with various materials and techniques

Many preschools and kindergartens probably make oni (ogre) masks for Setsubun, don’t they? If you use the same method every year, both the children and the teachers can get bored.

So here are some oni mask ideas that use a variety of materials and techniques.

First, a simple mask with the face made from red-painted construction paper and the hair represented with yarn.

Let the children cut and glue the yarn themselves.

Next, a mask that uses a kitchen-paper bleeding/blur painting technique to represent the hair; the vibrant colors really stand out.

You can also depict the face with torn-paper collage instead of paint.

Try combining different ideas!

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Ramen made with wax-resist painting

Piping hot ramen is something you especially want to enjoy in winter, isn’t it? Let’s make such appetite-stimulating ramen with a resist painting technique.

For the toppings like nori, green onions, and egg, use scissors and glue, and create them together with the children.

Next, draw the noodles with crayons in the soup area of the ramen bowl.

If you paint soup-colored watercolor over the crayon, it will instantly turn into a splendid bowl of ramen! Once the paint dries, add the toppings.

If you also draw steam with a white crayon on the background paper, it will enhance the atmosphere even more.

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In conclusion

We’ve introduced winter craft ideas recommended for three-year-olds.

It would be great to actively incorporate a variety of materials and new techniques, and to guide the process while allowing children to enjoy free expression.

Display the pieces where the children can see them to deepen their awareness of the changing seasons in daily life.

Spend time with the children exploring lots of different materials, and enjoy winter together.