[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 Enjoyable at Nursery Schools and Kindergartens (21–30)
Picture-book-style heart message card
This is a heart-shaped message card made with origami.
It has multiple surfaces to write messages on, so you can flip through them and enjoy it like a picture book.
The method is very simple: fold the origami paper into a triangle three times, then cut it into a heart shape with scissors.
Open the paper and, following the crease lines, alternate mountain folds and valley folds to collapse it.
When folding, place the colored side of the origami facing up before folding into a triangle.
Also, when cutting the triangle into a heart shape, you’ll trim off two corners, but be careful not to cut the corner that is the center of the origami.
Snowman Marionette
It’s a fun idea where the snowman dances when you move the disposable chopsticks.
Make the snowman by gluing two paper plates vertically to form the base and attaching facial parts.
For the snowman’s hands, use long, thin ribbons and add gloves made from construction paper.
Next, fix two chopsticks together at their centers by wrapping a rubber band, then open them into a cross.
Tie the snowman’s hands to two points on the chopstick cross with string.
Attach the ribbon “arms” to the sides of a vertically positioned tissue box.
Glue the paper-plate snowman to the front of the box, connect the center of the chopsticks to the box, and you’ve got a cheerful marionette!
[For 4-year-olds] Winter craft ideas (31–40) that can be enjoyed at daycare or kindergarten
Snowman Fashion Show
Here’s a craft idea where kids can freely create snowmen using circle, triangle, and square pieces.
First, stick a large round piece onto a backing sheet to make the base of the snowman.
Then glue on a scarf made by wrapping yarn around a piece of thick paper cut into a rectangle, and you’re all set! From here, let the kids freely express their snowmen using the circle, triangle, and square pieces.
Some children might use circular pieces for the eyes, while others might use triangular pieces.
It’ll be fun to see how their unique sensibilities come through in their creations!
Fluffy yarn snowman
A fluffy yarn snowman is a simple winter craft that even three-year-olds can enjoy.
Just draw a snowman shape on construction paper and thread yarn through the holes you’ve made! Because it uses fine motor skills, it also helps develop dexterity and concentration.
For the eyes and nose, simply make your favorite parts from origami paper and stick them on—super easy.
Decorate freely with an origami scarf and hat to create a one-of-a-kind snowman! Make a craft full of seasonal charm and enjoy winter together with your child.
Perfect for February! Easy snowman
@shokaaijien We’ll be making snowmen in February. ⛄️ You can use your favorite colors to make your own snowman, so be sure to give it a try!TsunashimaShohana Nursery School#Nursery schoolNursery teacher / Childcare worker#IWantToConnectWithChildcareWorkersAspiring childcare worker#NurseryTeacherInTrainingNursery school teacherProductiontranslation#Production VideoMade in FebruaryFebruarySnowman3 years oldWinterWinter ProductionThe cutest ever#SuperTokimekiPromotionClub
The most supremely cute! – Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu
This is a fun snowman craft where the paint bleeds into patterns! Brush water onto the surface of a snowman-shaped piece of construction paper, then dab on your favorite colors of paint.
Once the paint dries, draw the snowman’s face and glue on a paper bucket to finish.
Prepare paints and construction paper in various colors so children can enjoy choosing their colors.
The way the paint bleeds changes depending on how much water you mix with it, so be sure to observe the differences.
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.
Make a stylish snowman!
We usually imagine snowmen as pure white, but let’s get creative and turn them into stylish art.
First, fold a sheet of white origami paper and make several cuts.
The key is to cut it so that when you unfold the paper, it forms a round shape.
You’ll get a circular shape with beautiful patterns.
Children will be excited to see how the snowman’s pattern changes depending on where they cut.
Use the patterned cutouts to make the snowman.
If you stick it onto black cardstock, you’ll have a lovely winter craft.
