Crafts and Activities for Children’s Day (Kodomo no Hi)

May 5 is a Japanese holiday known as Kodomo no Hi or Children’s Day. (It used to be just for boys, and girls still have their own holiday on March 3, but this one has officially been for all children for decades. 

I am not Japanese and have never been to Japan so I’m learning along with you, and I learned a lot about the holiday from this post at Asian Languages School. It tells me that the popular symbols of Children’s Day are carp streamers, samurai dolls and Japanese iris blooms, and a common snack is kashiwa mochi, a rice cake with red bean paste wrapped in an oak leaf. 

The carp represent the family, and traditionally families would decorate their roof with carp streamers, with a dragon streamer at the top and then ones representing dad, mom and each of the children. They’re considered a symbol of strength because carp can swim upstream.

The carp are known as koinobori, and there are lots of ways to make your own carp crafts. I love this one made out of plastic eggs from Raising Veggie Lovers, and this one from Adeline Klam uses a cardboard tube and circles of paper to make the fish. (This site is in French but there are lots of photos.)

I also like these little felt ones you can make into a banner from Hirigana Mama. You could also make them out of paper if you want. 

Samurai are also meant to symbolize the courage and strength parents want their children to have. The helmets are called kabuto and you can find instructions for making an origami version at Origami OK, or you can make a person-sized one from a paper shopping bag (I’ve also seen this done with newspaper, you just need a big square of paper) with this video tutorial I found on Pinterest from KTA Super Stores. I also love this paper plate helmet from Free Kids Crafts. 

Or make a cut, color and paste samurai with this template from Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers. 

Iris are a symbol because they tend to be in bloom that time of year. Origami Me has an origami iris pattern, or find an iris coloring page like these from Best Coloring Pages for Kids. 

And if you want to make your own kashiwa mochi, check out this recipe from Japan Centre.

Right click and save to download this Free (Kodomo no Hi) Coloring sheet.