Lovely childcare

[For 4-year-olds] Winter craft ideas to enjoy at daycare and kindergarten

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.

Children who attend kindergarten and nursery school are likely looking forward to celebrating Christmas and winter events together with their friends and teachers.

In the chilly winter, some people may be looking for events that can be enjoyed not only outdoors but also indoors.

In this article, we’ve compiled a collection of recommended winter craft ideas for four-year-olds in childcare settings.

We’re also introducing activities that involve using their hands and thinking about what to make as they work, which can help nurture concentration and thinking skills through play.

Try making these items that are fun to create and fun to play with!

Because the children’s creations are treated as works, we refer to them as “seisaku” (制作, craft/creation) in the text.

[For 4-year-olds] Winter Craft Ideas Enjoyable at Daycare and Kindergarten (71–80)

[Origami] Snowman

Origami: Snowman with a hat and scarf from a single sheet [Origami] Snowman with hat and scarf (using only one sheet)

[Origami] Snowman

This origami snowman is perfect for December, when it’s also the season of snow.

A snowman is made by placing one snowball on top of another, right? With a clever folding method, you can express the two stacked snowballs using just a single sheet of origami paper.

You can also make a scarf around the snowman’s neck.

If you use polka-dot or patterned paper, the pattern becomes the scarf, making it extra cute.

You can draw the eyes and mouth yourself, so each snowman has its own personality.

You can stick them on a wreath or a calendar, so try arranging them in different ways to expand the range of your creations.

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Cute and easy Santa boots

https://www.tiktok.com/@hoiku.labo/video/7310107669031931138

Fold the origami in half by bringing the top and bottom edges together to make a crease.

Open it up, place the colored side facing up, and fold the right edge inward by about 1 cm.

Flip the paper over again, then fold the top and bottom edges to meet the center crease.

Place it with the white side facing up, and fold the bottom edge up to align with the lower line of the white area.

Fold the paper in half by bringing the left and right edges together, then pinch the inside section and pull it outward 90 degrees.

Fold the pulled-out section upward on the front and the back to form a boot shape.

Finally, fold the tip of the boot to round it off, and you’re done!

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Just two folds! An easy wreath

Easy wreath with just two folds in origami [simple wreath], with variations too ♪ How to make an Origami Easy Wreath.

Just two folds! An easy wreath

A wreath made by connecting folded origami pieces is a perfect origami activity for older kindergarteners in December.

Prepare eight sheets of origami paper cut into quarters.

Fold each piece into a triangle, then fold one of the corners upward.

Make eight pieces using the same folding method, then insert the tip of one piece into the pocket of another to connect them and form a circular wreath.

Mixing colors will create a bright and cute wreath.

Decorating it with stickers or pom-poms is also recommended.

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Easy and cute! Snow bunny

“Childcare Ideas: Winter Origami” Fold in 4 + 5 Steps! Snow Rabbit Origami (Kids Can Make It Themselves!) · Origami Snow Rabbit Easy

Easy and cute! Snow bunny

Snow bunnies have long been considered lucky and have been loved for generations.

The origami snow bunny is simple to fold, making it a great project for older children.

Prepare one sheet of white origami paper and two pieces of green origami paper cut into quarters.

First, make the bunny’s body with the white paper.

Fold the paper in half, then fold the left and right corners—one a bit larger and the other a bit smaller.

Fold the top triangular portion downward to form the snow bunny’s body.

For the ears, fold the green paper into a triangle and open it, then fold both sides toward the center crease.

Fold the top section in the same way to complete the bunny ears.

Attach the body and ears, and create your own original snow bunny.

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Recommended for winter! Cute snowman

“Preschool Craft Ideas: Winter Origami” Snowman! An easy origami you can fold in 7 + 4 steps (kids can make it!) · Origami snowman easy

Recommended for winter! Cute snowman

Here’s an origami idea for a snowman wearing a hat.

You can make the hat with just 4 folds and the snowman with 7 folds.

Let’s start by making the snowman with a larger sheet of origami paper.

Fold the paper in half into a square to make a crease, then open it and fold the bottom edge up to meet the crease.

Fold the top edge down so it sits about 1 cm above the crease.

Fold the left and right edges inward so they meet at the center, then fold all four corners into triangles, and the snowman is done.

Next, let’s make the hat with a smaller sheet of origami paper.

Fold the paper into a triangle, then fold the top corner down to meet the base.

Fold the left and right edges up to align with the top edge, and the hat is complete.

Draw a face on the snowman and place the hat on top to finish.

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Let’s make a snowman with a single sheet of origami!

[Origami] Winter Origami | Easy one-sheet snowman folding tutorial! With a hat for December Christmas decorations

Let's make a snowman with a single sheet of origami!

Many kids want to make snowmen in winter, don’t they? Here’s an idea for an origami snowman.

First, fold the top corner of the origami paper into a small triangle and fold it down about 1 cm.

This will be the pom-pom on top of the hat.

Next, tightly roll-fold the right corner twice to create the hat’s white brim.

Fold the paper in half by matching the left and right edges, then fold the brim section back outward to match the width of the rolled folds.

Align the top and bottom to make the paper a square, then lift the top-left corner (two layers) and fold it to the opposite corner.

With the pom-pom at the top, turn the paper over, and fold the lower left and right edges toward the center line.

Open the pocket on the right side and squash-fold it, shaping it into a snowman.

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Snow Fairy! How to Fold a Long-tailed Tit (Shima-enaga)

[Origami] Easy and Cute Animal: Long-tailed Tit Folding Method / Bird, Snow Fairy, Winter Decoration — Origami Long-tailed Tit

Snow Fairy! How to Fold a Long-tailed Tit (Shima-enaga)

Let’s make a long-tailed tit using a single sheet of origami paper.

Fold the paper into a triangle, then fold both corners up to meet the top corner.

Fold the left and right corners inward to form a triangle, then rotate the paper to swap top and bottom.

Align with the top corners of the left and right triangles, and fold the two bottom corners outward to open them—these will be the wings.

Turn the paper over, squash-fold the triangular wings into squares, then fold the bottom corner up to meet the top corner and change the wings to black.

Tuck in the left and right corners of the black section to refine the shape, and flip the paper over.

Round out the remaining white area in the center, and you’re done.

Draw the face to finish it cutely.

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