[For 4-year-olds] Winter craft ideas to enjoy at daycare and kindergarten
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.
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[For 4-year-olds] Winter craft ideas to enjoy at daycare and kindergarten (91–100)
Scratch art Christmas tree
Would you like to make a Christmas tree with the kids using a technique called scratch art? Scratch art is a method where you layer black over a colored base and then scratch the surface to reveal the colors underneath.
First, have them freely color a sheet of paper with brightly colored crayons, then cover the entire surface with black crayon.
Next, use a skewer or a toothpick to scratch and draw the design, and finally cut it into a triangle—that’s it! It feels different from regular drawing, so kids may find it fresh and engaging.
Kagami mochi made from toilet paper rolls
Let’s welcome the New Year by making an easy, good-luck kagami mochi decoration.
Prepare two toilet paper rolls; shorten one of them.
Make a slit from the edge and cut all the way around.
For the base decoration, fold gold or silver origami paper into small squares and cut them with scissors.
Let children work at their own pace here—no need to rush.
Cut out the bitter orange (daidai) and glue it onto the backing, and you’re done.
You often see kagami mochi with two tiers, but in some regions there are three, so feel free to add another roll!
[For 4-Year-Olds] Winter Craft Ideas for Enjoyment at Nursery Schools and Kindergartens (101–110)
Snowy world of friendly penguins
Here’s an introduction to a craft where you create an icy world for penguins using colored construction paper.
Fold the penguins carefully in the correct order with origami.
In contrast, for the icebergs, tear origami paper however you like and paste the pieces together—combining two different techniques makes for a fun idea.
Fold the penguins in any colors you like.
For the icebergs, tear the origami by hand and randomly paste pieces of various sizes and shapes.
Add decorations like snowflakes, and you’ll have a finished icy world for friendly penguins.
Winter Pop-up Card
Pop-up cards that spring to life can excite anyone! Here, we’ll show you an easy winter pop-up card you can make without a template.
First, prepare the card base using thick paper.
Next, take a strip of colored paper, fold it into a triangle three times from one end, and cut.
Using the same method, make three parts in large, medium, and small sizes.
Finally, align them along the center of the card base and glue them from top to bottom in the order of small, medium, then large—done! Add stickers or washi tape to make the card even more festive.
winter hat
Let’s make a hat that will also help keep you warm during the cold winter! Prepare two sheets of construction paper in your preferred colors, sized to fit the children’s heads, and use a hole punch to make holes around the edges.
Then thread yarn in your favorite color through the holes as if you were stitching fabric together.
Add a yarn pom-pom on the top of the hat and a small drawing on the surface as a finishing touch, and it’s complete! You can make the yarn pom-pom by wrapping yarn around your fingers, but you could also ask the children in advance for their favorite colors and have the teacher prepare them ahead of time.
Perfect for wall decorations too! A perfectly round snowman.
Let’s make a cute, perfectly round snowman using a paper plate and a paper cup.
Cut a few centimeters off the bottom of the paper cup.
Glue the cut paper cup to the center of the paper plate.
Cut a circle out of white construction paper, draw the snowman’s face on it, and glue it onto the paper cup.
Finish by attaching the snowman’s arms made from pipe cleaners and adding round stickers to the paper plate.
This round, adorable, and three-dimensional snowman also makes a charming wall decoration.
Decorate your wall with a variety of uniquely styled snowmen!
Christmas wreath made with twigs
Introducing an easy Christmas wreath you can make with twigs! You can even use twigs you picked up on a walk.
Why not include this as a craft activity in the lead-up to Christmas? First, arrange the twigs into a pentagon and secure the overlapping parts with pipe cleaners.
Next, wrap yarn or pipe cleaners around the branches to decorate them as you like.
Adding pinecones or ribbons will make it even more festive! Finally, tie on a string for hanging, and you’re done.
It’s a craft that lets kids showcase their individuality, so give it a try!