[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 for Fun in Nursery School and Kindergarten (111–120)
A spinning top made from a milk carton
One traditional New Year’s pastime is playing with spinning tops.
Here’s how to make a top using a milk carton.
First, cut straight across the four corners with scissors, then trim them to about the same shorter length.
Cutting off the corners makes it safer.
You can do this step in advance.
Draw your favorite designs, then attach a plastic bottle cap with tape to the center of both sides, and you’re done.
It’s fun to see how the patterns the children drew look as the top spins.
You’ll have a blast having contests with friends to see whose top can spin the longest!
Daruma made from construction paper
Daruma dolls are lucky decorations for the New Year.
This time, I’ll show you an easy way to make one using a paper plate.
If the children don’t know what a daruma is, it’s good to explain it first before starting.
First, fold a small, round-cut paper plate in half.
Next, glue together two red construction paper circles.
Draw the face on the upper half of a white paper circle, then cut out patterns from origami paper and stick them on.
Using gold gives it a festive New Year’s feel.
Display the cute, wobbly daruma and enjoy a fun New Year!
3D Christmas ornament
As a craft activity for Christmas, how about making a 3D Christmas ornament? The steps are simple, so it should be easy for four-year-olds to try.
First, draw Christmas-themed pictures—like Santa, a reindeer, or a snowman—on two pieces of construction paper cut into rectangles.
For Santa, for example, you might draw the face on the first piece and Santa’s outfit on the second.
Next, roll each piece into a loop to make a ring and glue the ends together.
Finally, attach the two rings to each other, and it’s done! Enjoy decorating a big Christmas tree with your creations!
3D Christmas tree made from paper cups
Let’s try making a three-dimensional Christmas tree using materials you can find around you! First, make two paper cups with slits cut into them, then stack them.
Just like that, they transform into a 3D Christmas tree! If you add more slits, the tree will take on a different look, so give that a try too.
For decorations, feel free to use sparkly pipe cleaners, pom-poms, sequins, beads, and more to enjoy decorating freely.
Painting the paper cups with paint is cute, but using techniques like torn-paper collage can offer a different kind of expression as well.
Christmas decorations made with paper chains
These Christmas chain decorations made from paper loops are perfect for preschools, kindergartens, and at-home crafts! By using Christmas-colored origami paper for the loops, you’ll get decorations that are just right for the season.
The method is simple: cut origami paper into strips, form loops, and connect them.
Add a Santa hat or beard to the top loop to complete a Santa loop garland.
Use white paper for a snowman, brown paper for a reindeer—have fun with different variations! You can also change the length or thread ribbon or chenille stems through the loops to make them look even more festive.
Snowflake ornament
Here’s how to make snowflake ornaments that are perfect for Christmas trees and winter decorations.
This craft uses pipe cleaners and beads, so kids can enjoy fine motor play while creating—be sure to include it in your winter activities! The method is simple: combine three pipe cleaners and thread beads onto each arm.
To make it easier for children, we recommend using beads with larger holes.
Of course, you can also create super-cute snowflakes just by combining the pipe cleaners without beads! Adjust the project to suit the children’s ages and interests, and have fun making them together.
Nodding Santa Claus
I think many preschools include Santa Claus crafts in December.
If you want to make a Santa that moves, how about trying this bobblehead Santa? Turn a paper cup upside down, make a hole in the bottom with an awl or similar tool, insert a chenille stem (pipe cleaner) that you’ve wrapped around a pen to make a spring, and tape it in place.
Wrap the paper cup with red construction paper, then attach Santa’s face to the pipe-cleaner spring, and you’re done.
When you tap Santa’s face, it wobbles cutely.
You can adapt this to make a reindeer or various other bobblehead figures, too.
