[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 at Daycare and Kindergarten (1–10)
A lion dance puppet that can actually bite
The shishimai (lion dance) is a traditional Japanese performing art known for its colorful costumes and dynamic movements.
For this shishimai made with a milk carton, we’ll use a carton cut in half.
To create the base of the shishimai, cut the carton vertically in half.
Be careful not to cut in the wrong direction.
We’ll attach construction paper around it to build the shishimai.
For the hair, tie and fray some raffia (suzuran) tape.
For the body drape, color washi paper with paints.
Once it’s finished, make the milk carton chomp open and shut and have fun moving it around.
Kagami mochi made from paper clay
Kagami mochi is food offered to the deity welcomed during the New Year, right? We’ll make this kagami mochi using paper clay.
After dividing the paper clay into three equal parts, let’s create the mochi portions and the bitter orange (daidai).
For the daidai, the key is to mix in paint and knead it well until the color is thoroughly blended.
For the mochi, make two sizes: one large and one small.
Once they’re finished, stack them and let them dry in a well-ventilated place.
Make a stand for the kagami mochi out of origami, display it, and have a wonderful New Year.
A hagoita with my own face
Hagoita are traditional New Year decorations that carry the wish for girls’ healthy growth.
First, let’s fold the kimono and the shuttlecock feather using origami.
When folding the feather, align it with the center line to create a white diamond; folding along that center line is the key to shaping the feather and forming its base.
Cut drawing paper into the shape of a hagoita, paste on a face, draw your own features, then attach the kimono to finish! It’s a perfect craft for four-year-olds.
Give it a try and make your own original hagoita!
[For 4-Year-Olds] Winter Craft Ideas for Fun at Nursery School and Kindergarten (11–20)
Heart mobile
Perfect for Valentine’s decorations! Let’s make a heart mobile using construction paper and twine.
We’ll create two types of parts, so please prepare four heart-shaped pieces of construction paper and two red and two brown strips of construction paper.
First, take the heart pieces: fold all four in half, stack them, and glue them together.
Place the twine in the center, then glue the final edges together so it forms a sphere.
For the paper strips, overlap and glue the ends of the red and brown strips at a right angle.
Then bend the remaining ends to the back and attach them in the same way.
This creates a lattice pattern at the base of the heart.
Make two of these parts, and attach them back-to-back on the same twine as the first heart.
A cozy hat made with crayon-resist painting
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Winter Begins feat. Noriyuki Makihara – Every Little Thing
A warm knit hat is perfect for the cold winter, isn’t it? For this craft, draw patterns on a plain knit hat base using a white crayon.
When you paint over it with your favorite color of paint, the paint will resist the crayon and the patterns will appear.
For the pom-pom, cut origami paper vertically by hand and glue it on to finish.
If you add snowflakes or other decorations around the hat on construction paper, it will create an even cozier winter feel.
Give this a try for a winter craft and make your own warm, original knit hat.
Daruma wall decoration made with lacing
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♬ Mela! – Ryokuoushoku Shakai
Daruma dolls are believed to bring good fortune, such as prosperity in business and good health, and have long been cherished as lucky charms.
It is said that the wish associated with a Daruma also changes depending on its color.
To make a lucky Daruma, cut a round hole out of the center of a paper plate.
Use a craft punch to make holes along the inside of the circle, then thread yarn through the holes to create the Daruma.
Finally, thread the yarn so that it connects the punched holes together, and your Daruma is complete! Using red yarn is a nice touch.
Once your Daruma is finished, add the face and belly, and display it as a lucky decoration.
Let’s play with a handmade Fukuwarai
Let’s play fukuwarai with family and friends over the New Year holidays.
First, paste a piece of construction paper cut into a face shape onto a backing sheet, and draw the hair freely with crayons or pens.
Next, draw the facial features on a separate sheet and cut them out.
For small parts like the eyes, it’s a good idea to outline them with a border—this makes them easier to cut with scissors.
It’s fun to see how the expression of the face you drew changes depending on how you place the parts.
If you borrow a friend’s set of parts and mix them in, you’ll get a completely different expression, so you can keep playing again and again without getting bored and everyone will have a great time!
