[Childcare] Winter Projects You’ll Want to Try! Recommended Craft Ideas

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.
Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

Winter is packed with events like Christmas and New Year’s.

With one fun event after another, children are surely full of excitement.

Plus, winter-specific activities and warm, cozy motifs add color to everyday life.

In this article, we’ll introduce craft ideas to enjoy during the winter season.

If your ideas have been getting repetitive or you’re looking for a hint, please use this as a reference.

Since the things children make are treated as works, we use the term “seisaku” (production) in the text.

[Childcare] Winter Projects You’ll Want to Try! Recommended Craft Ideas (161–170)

A torn-paper collage wreath and an origami Santa

By the time children are in the preschool class, they can think for themselves about how to arrange colors and patterns, even when doing a tearing-and-pasting activity.

Why not make a wreath that makes use of that thinking ability? As preparation, lightly mark the shape of a wreath with a pencil on white construction paper.

Have the children freely tear origami paper and paste it with glue, using the wreath outline as a guide.

It’s recommended to provide patterned origami so the wreath turns out lively.

Finally, glue a ribbon on the wreath and add a Santa made from origami to complete it.

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tsukada moe

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Fluffy, puffy sheep

Here’s a craft idea for making a sheep with cute, fluffy fur.

You’ll need a paper plate, cotton balls, construction paper, crayons, and glue.

First, use crayons in various colors to draw spirals on the construction paper.

Be careful not to let the colors blend.

Once you’ve drawn the circles, rub them with the cotton to transfer the color onto the cotton.

After making several cotton pieces in different colors, glue them onto the paper plate to cover it, and finally attach the sheep parts to finish.

It’s a lovely idea with soft, gentle colors.

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sasashina

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Penguins and igloos

Making a cute penguin in an igloo is a perfect idea for toddlers who are starting to express themselves in their own way.

All you need to prep in advance are the penguin parts.

Let the children take on tasks they can handle, like gluing, drawing the penguin’s facial expressions, and cutting out the igloo frame.

Even when using similar parts, where they stick them and how they draw will create different expressions—one of the most delightful aspects of children’s art.

Be sure to make and display penguins with a variety of expressions.

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tsukada moe

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Fukuwarai of Anpanman

Fukuwarai is a game where you’re blindfolded and place parts like eyes and a nose onto a face, then enjoy the resulting expression.

It’s a classic New Year’s game, but these days there are versions featuring animals and characters, so you can play it year-round.

Here, we’ll introduce a fukuwarai you can make with felt.

The method is simple: cut out the face base and parts from felt, and you’re done.

You can choose any motif, so make something your child will enjoy.

If you prepare several different parts, you’ll be able to have fun with a variety of expressions.

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sasashina

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Colorful spinning tops

Let’s make colorful, vibrant spinning tops with a New Year’s feel using paper plates and origami paper.

Use a paper plate folded in half and cut as the body of the top.

First, color the paper plate with your favorite crayons or colored pencils.

Then glue on small torn pieces of origami paper to create a collage effect and add patterns to the top.

Using patterned origami or chiyogami will give it a festive New Year’s look.

Finally, attach the spindle part made from colored construction paper, and it’s complete.

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utatane

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