[For 3-year-olds] Winter craft activities and bulletin board decoration ideas for use in childcare
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.
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[Age 3] Winter craft activities and bulletin board decoration ideas you can use in childcare (21–30)
Valentine’s chocolate wall decoration
February brings Valentine’s Day, a time to share your feelings with someone special.
So this time, we’re introducing an idea for a “Valentine’s Chocolate Wall Decoration.” All you need are heart-shaped construction paper, white stickers, and crayons.
The time spent drawing on the heart-shaped paper is a moment when individual feelings tend to come through.
Some may draw spirals, others may use lots of favorite colors—each heart turns out differently.
Add a white sticker and write the name of the person you want to give it to, and it becomes a one-of-a-kind piece.
The time spent thinking, “Who should I choose?” is heartwarming, and this idea naturally invites Valentine-like exchanges.
Mittens made by threading yarn
Gloves are familiar, everyday items for three-year-olds that keep their hands warm on cold days.
They’re often told, “Let’s put them on before we go outside,” so they easily evoke a winter image.
In this activity, we make playful gloves using construction paper and yarn.
Threading yarn through holes is simple, and even just choosing colors is satisfying.
You can clearly see the pattern forming bit by bit, and if you line up everyone’s gloves and put them on the wall, the display becomes lively.
It’s a perfect winter wall decoration idea that sparks conversations like, “Whose is this?” as children look at the gloves lined up together.
[For 3-year-olds] Winter craft activities and bulletin board display ideas you can use in childcare (31–40)
Origami snow rabbit
This is a craft for making a snow bunny with a cute, rounded white shape and tiny leaves.
You’ll need one sheet of white origami paper, two small pieces of green origami paper, a red dot sticker, and a crayon.
Fold the white origami into a triangle, then tuck the corners inward to form the snow bunny’s round body.
The shape becomes clear quickly, so even three-year-olds can feel, “It’s coming together!” Add a little touch of color to the wintry look by attaching small folded green-paper leaves to the head.
Use the sticker for the eyes and draw the mouth with a crayon.
It’s also fun to talk together about what kind of face to make.
With only a few steps, this idea lets kids fully enjoy the fun of creating.
Crayon Shimenawa
@sakurakusako_a I made a shimenawa with crayons for New Year! It's pretty fast, so you might want to save it.#oilpastel#OilPastelcrayonNew Year#NewYearDecorations
♬ NEW KAWAII – So, shall we update? ver. – FRUITS ZIPPER
Let’s make a New Year’s decoration using a drawn shimenawa rope and ornaments! All the parts are flat, but by incorporating shading into the drawings, they’ll look three-dimensional.
First, draw the base shimenawa on white drawing paper.
Start by drawing a large circle, then place teardrop shapes along that line.
Next, fill the inside of each teardrop with a light green.
Once filled, add shading with dark green and white, then rub with a cotton swab to blend the crayon.
You’ll create the decorative parts in the same way, so draw your favorite motifs, such as plum blossoms or a Japanese-style ribbon.
Attach the parts to the shimenawa, punch a hole, thread a string through, and it’s complete!
Daruma-chan with decalcomania
This is a creative activity packed with depth and fun that uses the technique of pressing paint to transfer patterns.
Simply folding the paper in half and opening it encourages thinking about symmetry and helps develop spatial imagination.
Plus, because children can experience the flow of prediction, experimentation, and results, it nurtures a curiosity that makes them want to try again and again.
For infants, making a decollage in a single red color and then adding facial parts afterward can look adorable, making it enjoyable at different developmental stages.
Although it looks simple, it’s full of learning—perfect for a winter craft: a little Daruma.
Twisted paper streamer made of decorative tissue paper
@hoiku.labo Perfect for New Year’s: a twisted shimenawa made with flower paper 🎶 ⭐️Detailed steps and tips are in the comments⭐️ChildcareNursery teacher / Childcare workerKindergarten TeacherCertified Childcare and Education Teacher#Nursery school#Kindergarten#Kodomoen#NurseryTeacherThings#IWantToConnectWithChildcareWorkersLife with childrenJanuary#Shimenawa#ShimenawaDecorationNew YearNew Yeartissue paperNew Year’s craft
♬ Are You Ready – Deejay Meddy
A perfect New Year’s craft activity where you can make an authentic shimenawa just by twisting tissue paper.
The steps are simple: roll two colors of tissue paper into thin strands, twist them together, make two of the same, and form a ring.
The twisting process is great fine-motor practice as kids learn to control their strength, and they’ll also enjoy choosing the colors.
Showing a real shimenawa or a photo beforehand helps them visualize the result and complete the project smoothly.
Add New Year-themed decorations like pine or snakes at the end to instantly create a festive, eye-catching shimenawa.
It’s easy yet full of seasonal charm—highly recommended for parents and children to enjoy together over the New Year.
Fluffy extra-large kagami mochi!
A festive wall decoration perfect for New Year’s that you can easily make with tissue paper.
Stack white tissue paper in circles to create a fluffy, oversized kagami mochi that instantly brings New Year vibes to your room.
You can also get creative by making a mandarin with tissue paper and adding decorative parts with origami or craft paper.
All you need are simple materials—scissors, glue, adhesive, a pen, double-sided tape, plus tissue paper and poster paper you can pick up at a 100-yen shop—so it’s easy to tackle even during a busy season.