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 (211–220)

Nodding Santa Claus

Christmas Craft [Nodding Santa Claus]: How to Make It Using a Paper Cup (For 4-Year-Olds)

Nodding Santa Claus

This is a doll featuring Santa Claus, an essential motif for Christmas.

It has an added action where the head gently wobbles when lightly touched, conveying a fun, festive vibe.

Use a paper cup as the base, attach a pipe cleaner bent like a spring, and fix the face to the tip to complete it.

It’s a good idea to hide the pipe cleaner connecting the base and the face with cotton or similar material to represent Santa’s beard.

Displaying several of them together will help create an even more cheerful Christmas atmosphere.

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

Yu Takahashi - Fukuwarai

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

Let’s make a homemade Fukuwarai and enjoy it with the kids—perfect for New Year’s play! First, use construction paper to create the base face, such as an Okame or Hyottoko.

Then just make the facial parts like the eyes, nose, and mouth.

Children who can use scissors can try cutting the paper pieces themselves! To play Fukuwarai, blindfold the player and have them place the facial parts onto the face.

It’s a craft activity that will make both children and teachers smile as they see what kind of funny face comes together!

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In conclusion

We’ve introduced recommended craft ideas to try in winter. Winter-specific motifs tend to be quite festive, making craft time more enjoyable. Crafting is a valuable opportunity full of discoveries. Be sure to find ideas that captivate the children—and enjoy them together as teachers, too.