[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 Nursery School and Kindergarten (11–20)
Mittens made by threading yarn
Gloves are familiar, everyday items for three-year-olds that keep their hands warm on cold days.
They’re often told, “Let’s put them on before we go outside,” so they easily evoke a winter image.
In this activity, we make playful gloves using construction paper and yarn.
Threading yarn through holes is simple, and even just choosing colors is satisfying.
You can clearly see the pattern forming bit by bit, and if you line up everyone’s gloves and put them on the wall, the display becomes lively.
It’s a perfect winter wall decoration idea that sparks conversations like, “Whose is this?” as children look at the gloves lined up together.
Stained glass made with plastic bags
Let’s make stained glass while imagining a winter scene! Handmade stained glass might seem a bit challenging at first, but by using a plastic bag, even 4-year-olds can enjoy the activity.
First, cut black construction paper to create a frame, and tape a plastic bag to fit the frame.
Next, have the children draw any picture they like on the plastic bag with a permanent marker.
Finally, place crumpled aluminum foil behind it and secure it—and it’s done! When crumpling the aluminum foil to create texture, the trick is not to press too hard.
Everyone is sure to feel warmed by the children’s unique and charming creations!
Skeleton Shishimai (Lion Dance)
@haruharo_made TikTok document New Year’s Craft / [Skeleton Shishimai (Lion Dance)] Sparkly, colorful, and cute with a skeleton look ♡ [Materials] • Construction paper • Color film • Scissors • Glue • Crayons • Transparent filmCrafts for 4-year-olds Crafts for 5-year-olds#3-year-old crafts#2-year-old's craftCrafts for 1-year-oldsCrafts for 0-year-oldsProduction#Nursery schoolWall decoration#StayHomeTime#AtHomePlayProduction ideas#Nursery School CraftWinter Craft#KindergartenKindergarten craftNursery teacher / Childcare workerKindergarten Teacherwall surface #ChristmasTreeProduction for children under age (infants and toddlers) Simple craftMade in December # January productionMade in February New Year’s craft #Daruma making Tatsu Production#Mask making Mask#paint Sticker application Round stickerSticker-pasting craft Hanging ornamentdrawing paper #ConstructionPaperArt Paint making #Shishimai Shishimai (lion dance) Zodiac (Chinese zodiac) Dragon
♬ Gingerbread Lover – Ivoris & Chevy
Once you’ve cut the drawing paper into the shape of a shishimai (lion dance), start sticking colored film onto a clear sheet.
Using a variety of colors enhances the New Year atmosphere, so it’s highly recommended.
Attach the shishimai frame to the film, adjust the shape, and after trimming, add the lion dance face to finish.
You can also make items like that year’s zodiac animal, daruma dolls, or kadomatsu to enjoy creating New Year’s decorations while experiencing traditional Japanese culture.
Singing New Year’s songs or reading picture books can also be a good way to learn about the meanings behind Japan’s New Year traditions.
Fun to make! A paper-clay Christmas wreath
@rinmama_handmade♬ Cute heartwarming BGM(1490583) – sanusagi
I think many households decorate with wreaths at Christmas.
This time, I’d like to introduce a wreath made with paper clay—the making process is fun! Shape the paper clay into a ring like a wreath, then use a stick with a rounded tip to poke in small pieces of cut fabric or tissue paper.
The fewer gaps you leave, the nicer the wreath will look.
Once you’re done, add a ribbon to complete your lovely wreath.
Decorating it with beads or a big bell is also recommended to give it a festive Christmas feel.
After the clay has dried, hang it on the wall as a Christmas decoration and enjoy!
Ozoni made with construction paper
https://www.tiktok.com/@chooobo2/video/7313883202387496194Ozoni is a special dish eaten during the New Year, isn’t it? In this craft activity, the key point is making the mochi out of tissue paper.
Wrap and roll the tissue paper to form a three-dimensional mochi shape, then use crayons to add a toasted look.
It makes it look realistic and is highly recommended.
Create carrots, kamaboko, and other vegetables, and you’re done! Talking to children about the meanings behind the mochi and vegetable ingredients in ozoni can be a great opportunity to learn about traditional Japanese culture.
Let’s enjoy the New Year by making ozoni crafts while wishing for our family’s health and happiness!
Making karuta cards
Handmade karuta lets you write characters and draw pictures, fostering creativity and learning.
For this karuta-making activity, you first write a single character, then think about what kind of reading card to create from it and draw a picture.
Once the cards are finished, enjoy playing karuta! Listen for the reader’s call, find the matching character, and the person who collects the most cards wins.
Since the karuta is handmade, it’s also fun to see what characters and pictures your friends came up with.
Playing karuta can be a great way to deepen communication among children.
After you finish playing, it would be lovely to display the cards on the wall.
[For 4-year-olds] Winter Craft Ideas Enjoyable at Nursery Schools and Kindergartens (21–30)
Snowflakes Painted with Salt (Salt Painting)
Kids just love salt painting, don’t they? Draw a winter-themed picture on construction paper using glue, then sprinkle salt over it.
Shake off the excess salt.
Next, drop watercolor paint onto the picture you just drew.
It’s really fun to watch the paint bleed and spread through the salt.
Once you’re done, let the glue and paint dry, then display and enjoy your artwork.
Snowmen and snow bunnies are great motifs to try.
Have fun with salt painting!