Lovely childcare

[For 4-year-olds] Winter craft ideas to enjoy at daycare and kindergarten

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.

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.

[For 4-year-olds] Winter craft ideas (31–40) that can be enjoyed at daycare or kindergarten

Warm oden made with yarn

Winter Oden Shop Pretend Play 🍢 – Handmade Yarn Toys [Nursery/Kindergarten]

Warm oden made with yarn

When winter comes, it’s the perfect season for oden.

For the daikon in this oden, wrap yarn around a cut paper cup to make it.

If you wind the yarn a little loosely, it gives the daikon a nice plump look—highly recommended.

Dab on some paint with a sponge, and your delicious-looking daikon is done.

To make shirataki, wind yarn around four fingers, then tie the middle—done! Cut a toilet paper roll lengthwise and glue on felt in different colors, and it transforms into a chikuwa that looks just like the real thing.

Make your favorite oden ingredients and enjoy playing winter oden shop!

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Make It with Resist Painting! Gloves and Hat

Crayon Resist Painting: Winter Craft for Ages 3 and Up

Make It with Resist Painting! Gloves and Hat

Are you familiar with the crayon-resist technique? It’s a method where you paint watercolor over a drawing made with white crayon, and the paint is repelled by the crayon so the drawing emerges.

Because you can barely see what you’ve drawn in white crayon, applying the paint can lead to surprisingly delightful results.

Try drawing on colored construction paper cut into winter-themed shapes like scarves, hats, and gloves.

If you plan to display the artwork, you can mount it on a backing board afterward.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Make a stylish snowman!

[Winter Bulletin Board] Stylish Snowman Craft by Preschool Teachers (for 4-year-olds)

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.

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Snowman puppet

[Craft Play] Adorable winter project: Let’s make a chomping snowman puppet!

Snowman puppet

When we think of winter, we picture harsher cold and falling snow.

A snowman is a motif that conveys fun and cuteness even in that snowy setting.

This craft is a paper puppet inspired by a snowman, featuring a comical mechanism where the mouth opens and closes.

Fold the facial parts in an accordion style, and color the inner folded area a different shade to clearly represent the inside of the mouth.

Then attach separately made facial features and body parts to finish.

By making use of the mechanism, you can use it in various ways—such as in puppet shows or arranged like a pop-up book.

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A cute kotatsu you can make with 100-yen shop items!

http://www.lemon8-app.com

The kotatsu makes its appearance when winter comes and temperatures drop.

The only downside is that once you get in, it’s hard to get out—but that gentle, enveloping warmth makes you feel so happy, doesn’t it? A kotatsu also makes a perfect motif for winter craft ideas.

Here, two ideas are introduced: one kotatsu made by placing a circular piece of fabric over a doll-sized table, and another made by cutting and shaping a square box.

There’s also a tutorial for making mandarins using decorative pom-poms and pipe cleaners, so feel free to use it as a reference and give it a try.

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[For 4-year-olds] Winter Craft Ideas to Enjoy at Nursery School or Kindergarten (41–50)

Cute! How to make mandarin oranges

@yuumaama2022
How to Make Mikan (Mandarin Oranges)Translation child Childcare #mikan #Child'sToy
♪ Original song – Yuumaaama – Yuumaaama

One of the classic winter fruits, mikan (mandarins), can also be made using familiar materials.

Crumple up some newspaper and wrap it with two or three sheets of orange tissue paper.

Put the tissue-wrapped newspaper into a small plastic bag, add a leaf, and you’re done.

Even four-year-olds with their small hands should be able to crumple the newspaper and wrap it with tissue to make a mikan.

They’ll probably enjoy squeezing and crumpling the newspaper tightly.

With a slight change of shape and color, you could even turn it into a strawberry.

It also sounds fun to try making various fruits by changing the tissue paper colors and more.

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A fun igloo with stamp play

https://www.tiktok.com/@hekimen_25/video/7474953127922322696

Let’s try a fun winter craft with stamping.

First, apply white paint to a square sponge and stamp it all over a sheet of blue construction paper.

After the paint dries, cut the paper into the shape of an igloo.

Cut out the entrance of the igloo, a kotatsu, and the face and hands from construction paper, then glue them onto the igloo to finish.

Draw expressions on the face parts with crayons, and add any pattern you like to the kotatsu.

You can also use stamps or stickers to add patterns.

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