[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)
Stamp lease
It’s a Christmas wreath you can enjoy making by stamping lots of dots.
Beforehand, the teacher should draw a circle on a square sheet of colored construction paper.
First, fold an origami Santa.
Fold it into a triangle and unfold, then fold both sides to meet the center.
Next, fold the bottom part up and adjust the left and right sides.
Draw the face with a pen or use round stickers.
Then make stampers by cutting the tip off a straw or rolling up newspaper, and start adding color to the base.
Finally, add red dots with finger stamping to make it even more vibrant.
Stick the Santa and a ribbon in the center with double-sided tape, and your festive wreath is complete!
[For 4-year-olds] Winter Craft Ideas Enjoyable at Daycare and Kindergarten (121–130)
Snowman made with a plastic bag
A cute snowman you can easily make with a plastic bag is also great for a pre-Christmas craft activity.
First, stuff cotton into a plastic bag.
Tie the handles, then tie a red string slightly above the middle of the whole bag.
Next, attach eyes and a nose made from colored construction paper or origami using glue or paste.
You can use round stickers for the buttons on its clothes.
Add a paper-cup hat and arms made from wire, and your charming snowman is complete.
Its soft, fluffy feel will warm your heart, too.
Christmas wreath made from paper towel/toilet paper rolls
This is a Christmas wreath you can make using familiar scrap materials: the cardboard cores from toilet paper rolls.
First, wrap the rolls with origami paper in Christmas colors like green and red.
Secure with tape, and fold any excess paper at the ends into the inside of the roll.
Cut each wrapped roll in half.
Thread yarn through the pieces and connect them in a circle to form the base of the wreath.
For decorating, prepare plenty of stickers, ribbons, acorns and other nuts, cotton, and so on—you can enjoy freely arranging the decorations however you like!
Handmade karuta
We’d like to introduce a handmade karuta set that’s perfect for New Year’s craft time! Kids can learn hiragana and other characters, and by drawing pictures that match the chosen characters, they can develop their thinking and imagination too.
It’s also fine to let children pick their favorite characters.
The method is very simple: use colored construction paper with the characters on it, then cut out and paste on the pictures the children have drawn.
You can also come up with the clue cards’ sentences together with the kids to make playing this karuta even more enjoyable.
Battledore made from a milk carton
As New Year approaches, many preschools and kindergartens incorporate crafts and games related to the holiday.
A great activity for that time is making a battledore (hagoita) out of a milk carton.
First, cut open the milk carton and cut out the shape of a battledore.
Next, take two pairs of chopsticks wrapped with vinyl tape and combine them with another pair that’s been split, then tape them to the milk carton with duct tape.
Finally, close the milk carton so it sandwiches the chopsticks and secure it in place—done! Decorating it with that year’s zodiac animal would make it even cuter.
Children can have fun while learning about Japan’s traditional New Year games.
Fukuwarai (a traditional Japanese “lucky laugh” face-making game)
Let’s make a homemade Fukuwarai, perfect for New Year’s playtime, and enjoy it together with the kids! First, use construction paper to create the base face, such as an Okame or Hyottoko.
Then make the facial parts like eyes, nose, and mouth to match.
Children who can use scissors can try cutting the construction paper themselves! To play Fukuwarai, you blindfold the player and have them place the facial parts onto the face.
It’s a craft activity that will have both the children and the teacher smiling as they see what kind of face is created!
Cup-and-ball toy made with paper cups
As a winter craft idea that lets kids enjoy both play and learning, I recommend making a cup-and-ball toy (kendama) out of paper cups.
Using familiar materials like paper cups and kite string, this kendama is easy for 4-year-olds to enjoy.
Letting children draw freely on the cups also stimulates their expressive and creative abilities.
When they complete their very own kendama, they’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and attachment, making them even more engaged in play! It’s perfect for New Year’s holiday fun, so give it a try.