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 to Enjoy at Nursery School or Kindergarten (41–50)

Handmade crafts for New Year’s games

@hoiku.labo
[Playable Craft!] New Year’s games with milk cartons 🥛✨ ⭐️Detailed steps and tips are in the comments⭐️Childcare Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Kindergarten Teacher #Nursery school #Kindergarten #Kodomoen #NurseryTeacherThings #IWantToConnectWithChildcareWorkers Life with children New Year New Year With wings Battledore Traditional children's games Traditional games Childcare Job Lab
♬ FEEL THE GROOVE – Queens Road, Fabian Graetz

Let me show you how to make a battledore and shuttlecock for the classic New Year’s game hanetsuki.

You’ll make the battledore from a milk carton and a pair of chopsticks, and the shuttlecock from tissue paper and aluminum foil.

First, cut off the bottom of the milk carton to make it a rectangle, then cut a strip about 2 cm wide along the side near the former bottom.

Using the creases on both sides, fold the milk carton flat and secure it with tape.

Trim off both corners on the drinking-spout side to create the striking surface.

Next, fold the 2 cm strip you cut earlier in half, sandwich the chopsticks inside, and attach it as a handle.

For the shuttlecock, stack several sheets of tissue paper, shape them into a rectangle, twist one end to form the base, and shape the rest into feathers.

Make three of these, then wrap the twisted bases together with aluminum foil to finish.

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[For 4-year-olds] Winter craft ideas (51–60) that can be enjoyed at daycare or kindergarten

For New Year decorations! Mini kadomatsu

@soramame.sensei
Childcare Let's play at home Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Production Translation New Year’s decoration for January New Year #New Year's card Winter Break #WinterBreakProject　#StayHomeTime Translation #diy
♬ Oshogatsu Pico Pico Chiptune Version(1376601) – STUDIO incho3

Let me share a handmade idea for a mini kadomatsu you can make with simple steps.

In this idea, you’ll make a kadomatsu, a folding fan, plum blossoms, and red-and-white gohei from origami or construction paper, attach them to bamboo skewers, and create decorative parts.

Then place floral foam in a cup of your choice, insert the skewers, and arrange the parts for good balance.

Finally, fill any gaps with crumpled flower cores to finish.

If the bamboo skewers are too long, it’s best to cut them; however, they’re hard to cut with scissors, so prepare skewers that have been cut to an appropriate length in advance.

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Let’s make it with cardboard stamps! Cute shishimai (lion dance)

@chooobo2
Shishimai making 🎍#Childcare Crafting #Nursery School Craft # January production New Year’s craft
♬ NEW LOOK – MISAMO

If you roll a strip of cardboard into a spiral and dab it in paint, then press it onto paper, it makes the pattern for a shishimai (lion dance) costume! Using that pattern, let’s make a hanging shishimai decoration.

First, take a green sheet of construction paper cut into a rectangle and stamp any pattern you like.

Next, sprinkle on small pieces of gold origami paper to add a festive touch.

Finally, attach a shishimai face made from construction paper to one corner, add a string to the back, and you’re done! A plain backing works fine, but if you stick washi masking tape along the top and bottom, it will look like a hanging scroll and be extra lovely.

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Fun for childcare! Indoor winter activities

[For 2-Year-Olds] Winter Asobi-Comi

Fun for childcare! Indoor winter activities

Let me introduce some winter indoor activities that include crafts.

You can roll up cotton to look like fake snow, or put it into a plastic kiddie pool and play dynamically as if it were a bubble bath.

Use stamps on black construction paper to represent snowflakes, then glue origami penguins on top to create a winter-themed wall display.

A glowing tunnel made by sticking phosphorescent stickers onto cardboard is a space where kids will want to stay forever.

Why not fully enjoy winter indoors while incorporating children’s free ideas along the way?

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Newspaper Rip-Rip! Eurhythmics with a Snow Song

[January Eurhythmics: Tearing Newspaper + Snow Song Eurhythmics] 🎵 A eurhythmics session that includes a snow-themed craft set, all doable while seated ✨ Parent–child eurhythmics and rhythm play

Newspaper Rip-Rip! Eurhythmics with a Snow Song

Here’s a eurhythmics activity that starts with a newspaper play element.

Give each child a sheet of newspaper and, at the cue of “1, 2, 3,” have them tear it into pieces.

Once it’s torn into small bits, pretend they’re snow and have fun letting it fall from above to the tune of the children’s song “Yuki” (Snow).

After the eurhythmics session, pack the used newspaper pieces into a clear bag to make a snowman.

It’s a winter-themed idea from start to finish, so please enjoy it with the children.

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Origami for New Year’s that you can also use on walls!

[New Year/January] Origami instructions you can also use for wall displays [Daycare/Kindergarten]

Origami for New Year’s that you can also use on walls!

Ornaments that bring good luck and toys we don’t usually play with are part of the unique New Year’s scene.

Let’s try making origami pieces of things you only see at New Year’s.

Finished origami like kagami mochi, daruma dolls, and hagoita paddles are also great as wall decorations.

As the shapes take form with origami, kids might chime in, saying, “We have the same thing decorating our room!” If you’re making a daruma, let the children draw the face however they like.

These are lively, fun origami projects to create together.

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A spinning top you can make with paper plates!

[Preschool Craft] Perfect for New Year’s crafts! Spinning tops made from paper plates | Colorful frames made from paper plates

A spinning top you can make with paper plates!

Simple yet spins great! Here’s a spinning top idea made from a paper plate.

Prepare one paper plate, two plastic bottle caps, tape, and crayons.

First, color the surface of the paper plate with crayons.

You can draw pictures or patterns—design it however you like.

Once it’s colored, use tape to attach a bottle cap to the center.

Attach another cap to the center on the back side the same way, and your top is complete.

Pinch the caps and give it a strong spin.

It spins especially well on hard surfaces like hardwood floors.

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