[Crafts] A special feature on ideas to try with three-year-olds in August! Choose from a variety of motifs
August, the height of summer.
Are you struggling because your craft projects end up looking similar every year, even though you want fresh ideas?
It’s often hard to find time to incorporate new ideas, isn’t it?
So this time, we’ve gathered August craft ideas perfect for three-year-olds.
We’ve included a variety of motifs and techniques, so you’re sure to find ideas you’ll want to try!
Be sure to check them out.
Note: Since the children’s creations are treated as “artworks,” we use the term “制作 (seisaku)” in the text to mean “production/creation.”
- [Childcare] Perfect for 3-year-olds! October craft ideas
- [For 3-year-olds] Perfect for June! Craft ideas using various expressive techniques
- [Age 3] Simple summer origami ideas. A roundup of classic summer motifs.
- For 1-year-olds! Craft ideas recommended for August
- [For 3-year-olds] A roundup of craft ideas to enjoy in summer! Introducing various motifs and techniques
- [Childcare] August Crafts: Cute Ideas to Make in Summer
- [For 4-year-olds] Crafts to make with preschoolers in July and August: Creative activities that let kids feel the summer
- [For 2-Year-Olds] Craft Ideas to Enjoy in August! Incorporate Summery Motifs and Techniques
- [For 4-year-olds] Recommended for August! Craft ideas: Enjoy a variety of motifs
- Craft ideas to try in July for 3-year-olds
- Enjoy August with preschoolers using origami! A collection of summer-perfect ideas
- August Craft Ideas for 5-Year-Olds
- [Childcare] A roundup of summer craft ideas to enjoy with 2-year-olds
[Crafts] A special feature on ideas to try with 3-year-olds in August! Choose from a variety of motifs (1–10)
Shaved ice production
On hot days, you can’t help but crave a cold shaved ice, right? Many people probably make sure to have some at festivals.
Let’s make this classic summer treat! You’ll need a paper cup, cotton, tissues, and paint.
Draw your favorite illustrations all over the paper cup, then stuff it full of cotton.
Place torn pieces of tissue on top to create a crunchy ice texture.
Finally, pour colored water made with paint over it, and you’re done.
If you use an actual syrup bottle, it’ll feel even more like a festival! Try making it while enjoying a conversation like, “What flavor do you like?”
Stamp Juice
On hot summer days, cold juice tastes especially delicious, doesn’t it? That said, chugging sweet juice might not be so good for your body.
In times like that, why not make colorful juices you can enjoy with your eyes? You can create a fun, pop look by painting patterns with a sponge and paint or decorating with stickers.
You can also express the juice’s clarity by layering colored film on top.
Light reflects off the translucent film, and just looking at it can make you feel cool and refreshed.
Whip art
Whipped art is a painting technique that uses colored foam.
It’s a craft idea you’ll want to try in summer when water play is especially fun.
All you need for whipped art is liquid laundry glue, shaving foam, and paint.
Mix the laundry glue and shaving foam at a 1:1 ratio to make the base for your foam paint.
Then add your favorite colors of paint.
Once your foam paint is ready, apply it to a sketch you prepared beforehand.
After painting, take your time and let it dry completely.
When it dries, the foam paint becomes fluffy like a sponge, creating a very unique finish! Give it a try.
[Crafts] A special feature on ideas to try with 3-year-olds in August! Choose from a variety of motifs (11–20)
Playing hide-and-seek, gliding smoothly between the waves
Fish swimming in cold water make you feel cool just by watching them, don’t they? The fish darting around while hiding among wakame seaweed and rocks look like they’re playing hide-and-seek, and it seems so fun.
Let’s recreate that fishy game of hide-and-seek with construction paper! Cut out fish and stick them however you like on a light blue background sheet.
At the same time, prepare one more sheet.
Leave only the top edge connected, and cut vertical slits down the sheet like a noren curtain.
When you’re done, glue this slitted sheet onto the unslit background.
This way, you can show fish swimming as they play in the waves! The fluttering construction paper makes for a very refreshing piece.
Octopus wind chime
How about making a cute octopus wind chime using a paper cup? The caregiver should prepare in advance by making a hole in the bottom of the paper cup and by cutting a clear file into strips and punching a hole at the top.
First, dab red paint on a sponge and apply it to the paper cup.
Next, decorate the strip with masking tape.
Once the cup is dry, stamp fingerprints on the lower half and draw eyes and a mouth on the upper half.
Make slits in the lower half, roll it once, then open it back up.
Attach a string and hang the strip, and you’ll have a wind chime with a uniquely charming expression that also looks cool and refreshing.
Paper plate wreath
This is a paper plate wreath that boosts your summer mood and makes you feel excited just by looking at it.
First, cut out half of the circular center of a paper plate.
Draw a watermelon on the lower half, and glue origami sunflowers and other decorations to the top.
You can also cut it out the same way and make the lower section an ocean, then decorate it with origami fish and boats.
Another idea is to cut out the center and make a pineapple.
Pack it full of summer motifs to create a tropical vibe!
Clownfish of the coral reef
Clownfish—affectionately known among children as “Nemo”—are familiar favorites.
How about making a clownfish relaxing in a coral reef? Teachers should prepare the fish templates in advance.
Stick masking tape onto the fish template and dab paint on with a sponge.
Paint a frame on the background paper, then peel off the masking tape from the fish.
Make coral from pink construction paper and glue it on, then add the fish as well.
You can use round stickers for the eyes.
The instant you peel off the masking tape and the clownfish pattern appears, the kids are sure to cheer.