[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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[For 3-year-olds] Winter craft activities and wall decoration ideas useful for childcare (41–50)
Fluffy snowman made by threading yarn
While enjoying lacing, let’s make a snowman perfect for winter.
In this idea, you punch holes into a circular frame cut from white construction paper and thread yarn through the holes.
Once you’ve threaded yarn through all the holes, the snowman’s body is complete.
Then cut a slightly smaller circle from construction paper and glue it on as the head.
Finish by attaching a scarf, hat, arms, and facial features.
Some yarns come in colorful multicolors, so using one of those will give it a bright, festive look.
A Daruma mask made from a paper plate
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Paper plate Daruma dolls and zodiac masks that you can easily make with kids are sure to liven up New Year’s celebrations.
Get a paper plate, paint, chopsticks, and scissors ready, and let’s start.
Cut out the eye holes in the paper plate with scissors.
For the handle, glue a pair of chopsticks together.
Paint the entire paper plate, then add patterns and decorations to the body or face area, and you’re done.
Try poking your eyes through the cutouts and taking photos for fun.
It might also be fun to make them using pipe cleaners or yarn.
Daruma origami that even 3-year-olds can make!
Let me introduce an origami daruma that even a three-year-old can make.
It’s great as a New Year’s decoration, and carefully following the folding steps is beneficial for brain development, so I highly recommend it.
First, fold a red sheet of origami paper into a triangle.
Unfold it, then fold the corner on the creased side twice, and slightly fold the left and right sides.
Next, fold three corners toward the center.
Of those three corners, fold the middle edge upward, then flip the paper over and fold both corners into triangles.
Turn it face up, draw the daruma’s face on the white area, and you’re done.
How to make cute Seven Lucky Gods daruma dolls!
Perfect for wall decorations! Let’s make some cute Seven Lucky Daruma.
You’ll need construction paper cut to 6×15 cm and white paper for the face base.
First, create a glue tab along one of the short edges, then fold the construction paper in half to make a crease.
Next, align the crease with the glue tab fold and fold the paper again, then cut slits from the folded side with scissors.
The slit section becomes the body, and the remaining section is the head.
Glue the tab at the boundary between the body and head, draw a face on the white paper, cut it into an oval, and attach it.
Finally, fold in the corners of the construction paper to round them off, and you’re done! Make seven of them inspired by the Seven Lucky Gods and display them.
Make It with Resist Painting! Gloves and Hat
Are you familiar with the crayon-resist technique? It’s a method where you paint watercolor over a drawing made with white crayon, and the paint is repelled by the crayon so the drawing emerges.
Because you can barely see what you’ve drawn in white crayon, applying the paint can lead to surprisingly delightful results.
Try drawing on colored construction paper cut into winter-themed shapes like scarves, hats, and gloves.
If you plan to display the artwork, you can mount it on a backing board afterward.
Daruma doll made from a toilet paper roll core
The Daruma doll, which gets back up no matter how many times it falls, is displayed at New Year’s to pray for a year of health, safety, and good fortune.
This Daruma, perfect for the New Year, can be easily made from a toilet paper roll.
Cut the roll in half, then trim the four corners with scissors to round the shape.
Cover it with origami paper from the top, and snip the corners to fold them inward as you go.
Make the eyes, mouth, and patterns with origami paper and stick them on—using round stickers is also recommended.
Display your finished Daruma and welcome a wonderful New Year!
Winter origami! Cute kotatsu
Here is an introduction to making a kotatsu out of origami.
First, fold a sheet of origami paper in half in the color you like.
Since it’s a kotatsu, a patterned paper might be cuter.
Then fold back about one-third.
After folding, unfold it, fold it to half that width, and return it.
On the back side, fold back one-third as well.
Next, fold the back diagonally to create the kotatsu’s slope, and the main body is complete.
Now make the tabletop for the kotatsu.
Use a quarter-size sheet of origami paper for this.
Next, make the mandarin orange, which is essential for a kotatsu.
This one is very small, so have an adult help you.