[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)

Christmas tree and gloves

Combining a Christmas tree with a red stocking is a crafting idea that boosts the holiday spirit.

Since you’re making them anyway, why not try a variety of techniques for both the tree and the stocking? For the tree, for example, you could try threading yarn, stamping with toilet paper rolls, or using a toothbrush to rub in a wood-like texture.

For the stocking, try threading with yarn or coloring bubble wrap for a pop-art finish.

You can even make a red stocking with origami.

By changing up the techniques for the tree and the stocking, you’ll end up with a piece that’s fun to put together and delightful to look at.

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tsukada moe

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Christmas bells with Santa and reindeer

How about making handmade Christmas bells that are perfect for a Christmas party performance? It would be lovely to enjoy a little concert with bells you make together with the kids! First, glue the Santa face and hat pieces onto a sheet of construction paper cut into a half-circle.

Next, roll the paper into a cone and secure it with clear tape.

Thread a pipe cleaner with a jingle bell, insert it from the bottom of the cone and pull it through to the top, then form a loop to finish.

By changing the color of the paper and the parts, you can also make reindeer or Christmas tree designs.

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miyabi

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Tree with stencil and cotton-swab stamps

Let me introduce a fun, stamp-and-press tree ornament! First, cut a tree shape out of construction paper.

Next, attach a sponge to a plastic bottle cap to make a stamp.

Put some paint on the stamp and let the children press it onto the paper.

The paint’s intensity changes depending on how hard they press, which makes it interesting.

Also, combining colors—like green and yellow-green—can create a beautiful gradient, so that’s recommended too.

Have them glue circular origami pieces wherever they like.

And that’s it—an ornament that lets kids use their hands a lot is complete!

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hanauta obasan

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A three-dimensional snowman made from tissues

Let’s make a half-relief snowman using tissue or flower paper.

It’s a fun craft where you tightly stuff the inside of the snowman.

First, fold the bottom corner of a plastic bag and secure it with tape.

Next, together with the children, crumple white flower paper or tissues and stuff them into the plastic bag.

When you’re done stuffing, tape the bag’s opening so it won’t come undone.

Then lightly tie the middle with a pipe cleaner to give it a snowman-like shape.

Finally, use construction paper as a hat and round stickers to create the snowman’s face, and you’re done! It’s also nice to have the kids draw on the hat with crayons.

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tsukada moe

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