Lovely childcare

Ideas for Winter-Themed Crafts and Bulletin Board Projects for 5-Year-Olds

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.

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.

[For 5-year-olds] A collection of craft play and wall display ideas that feel like winter (31–40)

Fukuwarai (a traditional Japanese “lucky laugh” face-making game)

Yu Takahashi - Fukuwarai

Fukuwarai (a traditional Japanese “lucky laugh” face-making game)

Why not try making Fukuwarai, a game often played during the New Year? You prepare a mask that forms the outline of a face and then place facial parts on top to play.

It’s an activity that makes the most of children’s free ideas, so it’s perfect for childcare settings.

In addition to masks with traditional Japanese motifs, you could also try winter-themed characters like Santa or reindeer.

If you make an origami box to store the parts, you can take them out anytime you want to play—highly recommended.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

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⭐️Childcare Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Kindergarten Teacher Certified Childcare and Education Teacher #Nursery school #Kindergarten #Kodomoen #NurseryTeacherThings #IWantToConnectWithChildcareWorkers Life with children January #Shimenawa #ShimenawaDecoration New Year New Year tissue paper New 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.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

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.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Perfect for New Year too! A Daruma you can make and play with

https://www.tiktok.com/@n.annlee321/video/7045232229122886914

In 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.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

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.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

[For 5-year-olds] A collection of craft and wall-display ideas that evoke winter (41–50)

A fun igloo with stamp play

@hekimen_25
[Building a Kamakura with Stamp Play ☃️] Using a sponge to stamp—pop! pop! A stamping craft that kids can enjoy with total fascination 😆✨ In snowy regions, their imaginations might expand even more, making it even more fun… 🤭#Childcare Crafting #Production Video Nursery teacher / Childcare worker #Nursery school　Production Kamakura　Stamp　#paint　
Tomodachi Collection – Love

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.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Easy-to-make snowman using a plastic bottle

@hoiku.labo
[Craft for ages 0–5] Easy snowman with a plastic bottle!#Childcare Crafting Nursery teacher / Childcare worker #Drawers of Childcare With children Easy to make Make and play Popular production Snowman Snowman Plastic bottle⭐↓For details, see the comments↓⭐
♪ Original Song – Hoiku Kyujin Labo – Hoiku Kyujin Labo | Nursery Teacher Job Changes and Helpful Information

For winter crafts, many projects use snowmen as their theme, don’t they? If you use an empty plastic bottle, you can easily make a snowman craft.

Stuff cotton into the empty bottle.

Once the container is tightly filled, put the cap on, then draw eyes with a pen or decorate it with stickers.

Wrap a thin, long strip of felt or ribbon around the snowman’s neck area and glue it on to finish.

You can display it in your room as is, or make several and line them up to play like bowling—it sounds fun either way.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem