Lovely childcare

[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 (181–190)

Snowman made with paint and origami

Let’s try expressing a snowman by getting creative with the color of the background construction paper.

Choose your favorite color, like blue or red, and first paint a white snowman on it with paint.

It’s a good idea to paint the small parts like the eyes and mouth at the same time.

Once the snowman is painted, use origami paper to make a bucket hat and mittens by cutting them out with scissors.

If the children aren’t yet used to using scissors, teachers should prepare these parts in advance.

Finally, glue the cut-out bucket and other pieces onto the construction paper with the snowman you drew, and it’s done!

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Tree made using natural materials

Let’s make a tree using natural materials like acorns and fallen leaves! You can turn collecting the materials into a childcare activity by picking them up during walks or outdoor play.

Be sure to prevent insects by thoroughly drying or boiling the collected items.

Once the materials are ready, simply glue them onto a triangular piece of cardboard.

To add a Christmas feel, it’s a good idea to prepare red berries and star motifs as well.

Let’s watch over the children as they work and see what kind of creations they come up with.

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New Year’s first calligraphy drawn freely

Perfect for the New Year! Here are some ideas for a first-calligraphy art project.

Even though it’s called kakizome (first writing of the year), this is a free-style version that even children who can’t write characters yet can try.

Depending on their age, encourage them to try drawing pictures, writing characters, or simple words.

Once they’ve finished on drawing paper, paste it onto a slightly larger sheet to serve as a backing.

Then attach rolled pieces of paper at the top and bottom to give it a hanging scroll look.

Finally, add pre-made parts like a rabbit daruma, a gold fan, or pieces of washi-pattern origami, and it’s done! Depending on the children’s ages, you can prepare the parts in advance and let them stick them on like stickers.

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Penguin made by tearing tissue paper

Why not make a penguin while enjoying the texture by tearing and pasting tissue paper? For prep, get the penguin’s body, the white belly piece, and the flippers ready.

Cut them out of construction paper in advance.

Have the children tear white tissue paper and glue it onto the belly piece.

This represents the fluffiness of the fur, so it’s nice to add some prompts or comments that highlight that idea.

Glue the belly onto the body, add facial features with round stickers, and it’s done.

It’s a simple craft, so feel free to add your own twists.

Have fun making a cute penguin!

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A Christmas garland with just four folds

[Christmas Garland] Christmas garland origami — only four folds! Christmas decoration origami, 4-fold

A Christmas garland with just four folds

Here’s an idea for a Christmas garland to brighten up your walls.

Each piece is surprisingly simple—just four folds.

First, fold the origami paper in half into a triangle and unfold it.

Then fold each side halfway toward the crease, using the center crease as your guide.

Fold in the remaining excess, and you’re done.

Thread the last folded part onto a string, and secure the end with cellophane tape so the pieces won’t slip off.

Using Christmas-patterned origami paper makes it extra cute.

You can also draw on the paper or decorate it with stickers—highly recommended!

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