[Childcare] August activities: sensory play to enjoy summer, crafts, songs, and hand play (fingerplay), etc.
August is so hot that it’s hard to play outside.
But there are plenty of games you can enjoy indoors! In addition to water play—synonymous with summer—why not try activities that get everyone excited? There are games that let you enjoy cool, refreshing textures, as well as hand games and dances inspired by summer traditions.
Activities that capture the atmosphere of summer festivals or test-of-courage events are also recommended.
There are so many games kids can enjoy, so try a variety and make fun summer memories!
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[Childcare] August Activities: Sensory play to enjoy summer, crafts, songs, and finger plays (41–50)
summer festival
A fun event that’s sure to delight the kids: the Summer Festival! Just like the stalls at a real festival, enjoy activities such as yo-yo fishing, lucky draws, and super ball scooping.
Not only the children—teachers, too, can boost the festive mood by wearing yukata or jinbei! Set up well-stocked game booths like shooting galleries and ring toss, and try making a stamp card so everyone can visit each station.
At the end, let’s all form a circle and dance at the Bon Odori! We also recommend holding it in the evening when the heat eases.
[Childcare] August Activities: Sensory play, crafts, songs, and hand games to enjoy summer (51–60)
Let’s try making a big ocean!
Let’s experience the joy of painting a big ocean on a large sheet of drawing paper using plenty of paint.
Lay down a plastic sheet or something similar to protect the floor, and wear clothes that can get messy so you can paint freely and boldly without worry.
There are no strict rules—use your hands, brushes, rollers, or wide brushes however you like.
Part of the fun is trying different tools; the result changes depending on what you use.
Savor the joy of creating freely.
Agar play
Agar play is a very popular activity at kindergartens and nurseries.
Children seem to love the jiggly texture and cool feel of agar, so it’s often played with in summer.
Younger children around age three enjoy squishing and stomping on it, while by around age five they can move on to more creative activities like using cutters, making it a recreation that can be enjoyed for a long time.
Playing with ice and glass noodles in spring rain
It’s so refreshing to play with cool ice in the summer, isn’t it? Especially on very hot days, here’s an idea: try playing with lots of ice.
It might melt quickly in the heat, but that’s part of the fun—you can observe it or watch it melt from the warmth of your hands.
You can use cube-shaped ice from an ice maker, long ice sticks for bottles, or even make ice using empty containers like tofu packs.
These days, 100-yen shops also sell silicone molds in shapes like stars, hearts, and characters, so using those could make it even more fun.
Sea and Fish Bubble Art
Let’s try bubbly bubble art that’s full of fizzing fun! Pour some paint and bubble solution into a shallow dish and mix them together.
Once mixed, use a straw to gently blow air into the mixture to make it foam.
Watching the bubbles grow bigger and bigger is sure to get kids excited! After it’s nice and foamy, lightly place a sheet of drawing paper on top—and you’ve got a magical artwork.
It’s a delightful technique that sparks children’s curiosity.
It would be fun to try mixing different colors, too! Be sure to supervise carefully so kids don’t accidentally suck the liquid up through the straw, and keep safety in mind as they work.
Bon Odori (Bon dance)
Bon Odori is known as a summer festival event.
Some children may have seen adults dancing around a raised platform called a yagura.
Since many schools and preschools hold summer festivals in August, consider including Bon Odori as an August event.
There are plenty of Bon Odori songs for children, and some even feature popular characters singing and dancing.
While building a yagura and learning the choreography can be challenging, it will surely become a wonderful summer memory.
Making juice with foam
Water play that kids love is perfect for summer—just splashing with their hands cools them down and makes it feel refreshing.
How about making it even more fun by using bubbles and pretending they’re juice? Fill a basin or an inflatable pool with water and whip up bubbles with soap.
They can splash and mix with their hands, or try a whisk or a bath sponge.
You can also use everyday items like scoops and paper cups to play.