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 bulletin board display ideas you can use in childcare (31–40)

Colorful spinning tops

Let’s make colorful, vibrant spinning tops perfect for New Year’s using paper plates and origami.

First, fold a paper plate in half and cut it to create the shape of a top.

Then freely color it with crayons or colored pencils in your favorite colors.

Next, paste small torn pieces of origami paper on top to add patterns, like a torn-paper collage.

You can use plain origami, patterned paper, or chiyogami to give it a festive New Year’s look.

Finally, attach the spindle piece made from colored construction paper, and you’re done.

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A torn-paper collage wreath and an origami Santa

By the time children are three years old, they can tear and paste while thinking about their own color and pattern placement.

Why not make a wreath that makes use of that growing ability to think? For preparation, lightly sketch the shape of a wreath with a pencil on white construction paper.

Let the children freely tear origami paper and paste it with glue, using the wreath outline as a guide.

It’s a good idea to provide patterned origami so the wreath turns out lively.

Finally, glue a ribbon on top of the wreath and add a Santa made from origami to finish.

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Henshin Mitten

[Handmade Toy] Easy! Transforming Mitten 🧤✨ [Winter Craft]

Henshin Mitten

If you play outside in winter, gloves are a must, right? Many two-year-olds probably have mittens that are easy for them to put on by themselves.

These transforming mittens are a craft that lets you enjoy different patterns on the front and back.

On one side, stick on small pieces of cut origami paper; on the other side, draw a face with round stickers and crayons, and decorate with masking tape.

Teachers should pre-cut the mitten bases and glue them together in advance.

Glue them so the inside is hollow and size the base to the children’s hands so they can actually wear them and have fun.

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wobbling daruma

[Nursery/Kindergarten] Wobbly Daruma Craft with Paper Plates! [New Year]

wobbling daruma

Let’s make a wobbling daruma that’s perfect for winter decorations! First, cut a circle out of construction paper and create the outline and facial features of the daruma.

If you have a circle cutter, it’ll help you cut smoothly—highly recommended.

Add decorations to the daruma’s face and body, then attach a paper plate folded in half to the back of the daruma to finish.

When placed on a table or the floor, the daruma gently rocks from side to side and looks super cute.

It’s a craft that’s fun to make and fun to play with.

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Tree made using natural materials

Let’s make a tree using natural materials like acorns and fallen leaves! You can turn collecting the materials into a childcare activity by picking them up during a walk or outdoor play.

Be sure to prevent bugs by thoroughly drying or boiling the collected items.

Once the materials are ready, simply glue them onto a triangular piece of cardboard.

To give it a Christmas feel, it’s a good idea to prepare red berries and star motifs as well.

Let’s watch over the children as they work and see what kinds of creations they come up with.

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[For 3-year-olds] Winter craft activities and wall decoration ideas useful for childcare (41–50)

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 #OilPastel crayon New 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!

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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.

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