For 1-year-olds! Craft ideas recommended for August

9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

In August, when the truly hot days continue, we tend to spend more time indoors.

If you’re a teacher looking to enjoy summer-themed projects inside the classroom, this is a must-see.

Here are August craft ideas for one-year-olds.

A collection of project ideas that incorporate summer themes like ice cream, shaved ice, fireworks, and sea creatures!

We’re also sharing many activities that use unique techniques to capture the curiosity of one-year-olds, so they’re sure to join in with enthusiasm.

Please use these as a reference.

Because we present ideas that value children’s free and creative expression, we consistently use the term “seisaku” (制作, creation/production) rather than “seisaku” (製作, making/manufacturing) throughout the text.

For 1-year-olds! Recommended Craft Ideas for August (11–20)

Ice cream with bleeding painting technique

A magical wall decoration idea using coffee filters and water-based markers! Draw pictures on plain filters with ordinary water-based markers.

Then, when you trace over them with a brush dipped in water—like magic—the ink bleeds into a beautiful gradient! Cut the colored filters into circles, make the cone part as well, and you’ll have a finished bleeding-art ice cream decoration.

It’s exciting to see the kids’ drawings bleed and find out what color combinations their ice cream will turn into!

Raise the rankinglower

Araki Jakkan

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In conclusion

We introduced craft ideas for one-year-olds recommended for August.

There were lots of summer-specific activities that stimulate the five senses of curious one-year-olds.

While fine motor tasks are still challenging at this age, it’s also a time when their sense of self emerges and they begin to assert themselves.

So it’s a good idea to prepare plenty of paint and origami paper in a wide range of colors so children can choose their favorites.

Let’s be mindful to include many ideas that let them enjoy color changes and different textures, helping them feel the joy of creating.