[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 to Enjoy at Nursery School or Kindergarten (41–50)
Easy! Snowflake Paper Cutouts
When you look at snowflakes up close, they have such delicate shapes, don’t they? Let’s make snowflakes that capture that delicacy using origami paper and aluminum foil.
Fold the origami paper, then make cuts with scissors.
When you unfold it, you’ll have a unique, intricate pattern like a snowflake.
It’s fun how the pattern changes depending on how you cut it.
Let the children cut it however they like.
Once the pattern is made, glue some crumpled aluminum foil to the back of the origami, and you’re done.
The aluminum foil will create the sparkle of a glittering snowflake.
Let’s tear and make it! Shishimai-kun
Don’t children also have chances to see the lion dance during the New Year? Some kindergartens and nursery schools put on lion dance performances, too.
Some kids even get scared and cry.
But if you make a lion dancer using torn origami, you’ll end up with a cute little lion-dance friend.
Cut origami paper into strips and tear them by hand.
These torn pieces will be the lion’s body.
Paste the torn pieces and the lion’s face onto a backing sheet, and it’s done.
It’s also fun to draw pictures around your little lion dancer.
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.
A hat with a resist painting
This is a piece created using crayons and watercolor paints, depicting items like hats and gloves.
It’s a resist painting technique: you draw with oily crayons and then paint over it with watercolors.
The paint repels the crayon areas, allowing you to color while leaving the crayon lines clear.
In January, many places experience true winter cold.
Even then, many children still energetically play outside.
This artwork features warm items—like hats and gloves—worn for outdoor play on chilly days.
By changing the crayon patterns and designs, as well as the watercolor colors, you can create a variety of different designs.
Fluffy Snow Bunny Wall Decor
Why not try making a cute snow-bunny wall decoration? The round, pure white bunny will bring a wintry touch to your room.
First, layer and roll up tissues to create the bunny’s body.
Next, attach red eyes made from round stickers and ears made from green origami paper.
Glue the bunny onto a colored cardstock base, then decorate the empty spaces with snowflakes punched out using a craft punch and flower accents created by combining round stickers.
You’ll have a lovely decoration that evokes winter memories just by placing it on display.
Make it with straw stamps! Snowman craft
Let’s make a snowman wall art with straw stamps.
First, an adult draws large and small circles on construction paper.
Using a plate as a guide is fun, too.
Then, draw a snowman’s hat on colored construction paper or origami paper.
Have the child cut it out.
Glue the cut-out pieces onto a darker-colored construction paper.
Once they’re glued, draw the snowman’s face with crayons.
For the straw stamp, cut slits into the end of a straw and spread them out so it forms a flower shape.
Dip it in white paint and dab it on—this creates lovely snowflake-like prints.
Let’s try playing Fukuwarai!
Why not try making a fukuwarai using crayons, scissors, and construction paper? Fukuwarai is a traditional Japanese game said to date back to the mid-Edo period.
First, draw parts like eyes, nose, and mouth on construction paper and cut around each piece.
Then make a base.
For the base, you can either cut pale orange construction paper into a face shape and glue it down, or draw the face with crayons.
Once everything is ready, start arranging the parts.
You can express different emotions—like a smiling face or a sad face—depending on how you place the pieces.
It’s also fun to arrange the parts while blindfolded.