Ideas for Winter-Themed Crafts and Bulletin Board Projects for 5-Year-Olds
By the time children are five, they handle scissors and glue more smoothly, and the range of craft activities expands dramatically.
Why not enjoy some winter-themed crafts together with your five-year-olds?
We’ve gathered plenty of ideas inspired by events like Christmas, New Year’s, and Setsubun, as well as winter-specific items like snowmen and mittens.
Encourage projects that let children freely express the worlds they imagine and experience a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
Since we treat what the children make as works (art pieces), we refer to them as “seisaku” (creations) in the main text.
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[For 5-year-olds] A collection of craft play and wall display ideas that feel like winter (21–30)
[Yarn] Snowflake
This is a great idea for those in snowy regions or anyone looking for a craft with a seasonal feel! You’ll need items like thick paper or a milk carton, cool-colored yarn, cellophane tape, scissors, and so on.
Many children may have never seen real snowflakes.
Before starting the craft, it’s helpful to look at snowflakes in picture books or encyclopedias to help them build an image.
The yarn-wrapped pieces are cute enough to display on their own, but turning them into a garland or mobile can create a lovely atmosphere!
Let’s make oden toppings!
It looks just like the real thing! This is a heartwarming craft project we recommend.
You’ll need origami paper, tissue paper, paint, double-sided tape, scissors, paper plates, pipe cleaners, and more.
Cold winter days make you crave oden, don’t they? Before starting, try asking the kids which oden ingredients they like—you might catch a glimpse of each family’s unique preferences.
You can pack in each child’s favorite ingredients, or have everyone make the same ones.
Add your own twists and enjoy creating in a fun, cheerful atmosphere!
[For 5-year-olds] A collection of craft play and wall display ideas that feel like winter (31–40)
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.
Twisted paper streamer made of decorative tissue paper
@hoiku.labo Perfect for New Year’s: a twisted shimenawa made with flower paper 🎶 ⭐️Detailed steps and tips are in the comments⭐️ChildcareNursery teacher / Childcare workerKindergarten TeacherCertified Childcare and Education Teacher#Nursery school#Kindergarten#Kodomoen#NurseryTeacherThings#IWantToConnectWithChildcareWorkersLife with childrenJanuary#Shimenawa#ShimenawaDecorationNew YearNew Yeartissue paperNew Year’s craft
♬ Are You Ready – Deejay Meddy
A perfect New Year’s craft activity where you can make an authentic shimenawa just by twisting tissue paper.
The steps are simple: roll two colors of tissue paper into thin strands, twist them together, make two of the same, and form a ring.
The twisting process is great fine-motor practice as kids learn to control their strength, and they’ll also enjoy choosing the colors.
Showing a real shimenawa or a photo beforehand helps them visualize the result and complete the project smoothly.
Add New Year-themed decorations like pine or snakes at the end to instantly create a festive, eye-catching shimenawa.
It’s easy yet full of seasonal charm—highly recommended for parents and children to enjoy together over the New Year.
A cute kotatsu you can make with 100-yen shop items!
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.
Perfect for New Year too! A Daruma you can make and play with
https://www.tiktok.com/@n.annlee321/video/7045232229122886914In January, it seems many regions hold Daruma markets.
Crafting a lucky Daruma is perfect for a January art project.
Prepare three strips of construction paper cut into small tanzaku-like pieces.
Take one marble and glue the paper strips together to wrap around it.
Draw a Daruma face on a round sticker and attach it to the marble-filled paper to finish.
Because the marble is inside, the Daruma will roll around amusingly when you set it in motion.
If you make a slope and hold Daruma-rolling races, the children are sure to get excited.
Cute! How to make mandarin oranges
@yuumaama2022 How to Make Mikan (Mandarin Oranges)TranslationchildChildcare#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.