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Fun July Craft Ideas for 2-Year-Olds: Summer Wall Decorations

In July, the heat continues and we end up spending more time indoors, don’t we?

Many teachers with energetic two-year-olds may find themselves wondering, “What should we do today?”

Here, we’re sharing craft ideas recommended for two-year-olds.

There are lots of fun activities featuring motifs that are perfect for summer.

While valuing the children’s eagerness to try things, let them enjoy expressing themselves freely.

Because we focus on activities that allow children to express themselves freely, we consistently use the term “制作” rather than “製作” in the main text.

[For 2-year-olds] Fun July craft ideas, summer wall decorations (61–70)

Goldfish made with paper plates and tissue paper

Let’s make a cute goldfish using a paper plate and tissue paper! Cut a single slit in the paper plate—about the size of a slice of cake—and attach the cut-out piece to form the goldfish’s tail.

Prepare tissue paper in various colors and cut it into small pieces.

You can cut it neatly with scissors, or let the children tear it freely.

Then have them glue the small tissue pieces onto the paper plate however they like, and finish by adding a black round sticker for the eye.

Aside from cutting the paper plate, it’s best to let the children do the rest.

Don’t feel limited to red just because it’s a goldfish—encourage them to use any colors they like.

SAKI
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flower wind chime

Craft: “Flower Wind Chimes” [Ages 0+] [How to Make] [Childcare] [July] [August]
flower wind chime

Here’s how to make a cute flower wind chime using tissue paper.

First, create a template for the wind chime part using construction paper, then use it to cut the outer shell from a clear file folder.

Attach double-sided tape to the cut clear plastic, and stick on pieces of tissue paper that you’ve torn and crumpled.

This is the most fun step, so let the kids do this part! Once the exterior is done, make a tanzaku (paper strip) from origami paper, thread a bell onto a string, and connect the exterior and the tanzaku.

Finally, attach the hanging string, and you’re done.

You can use a single color of tissue paper for a cohesive look, or mix several colors for a bright, colorful finish.

sasashina
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Vegetable Stamp Art

Did you know vegetables can be art tools—even stamps? Slice vegetables into rounds that are easy for kids to hold, dab paint onto the cut surface, and you’ve got vegetable stamps! It’s best to cut off the stem end you wouldn’t use in cooking so nothing goes to waste.

You’ll get mysterious patterns that are different from ordinary drawings.

Using vegetables that are in season in summer—like green peppers, okra, and corn—can also be a chance to teach kids when each vegetable is at its tastiest.

Vegetables with distinctive cross-sections, such as lotus root and bitter melon, are especially likely to delight children.

SAKI
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Fireworks with straw stamps

[Age 2] Feel the summer! Make fireworks using straws!
Fireworks with straw stamps

Let’s launch beautiful fireworks using straws! Cut slits into a straw and spread the end out like petals, dip it in paint, and dab it onto black construction paper like stamping—pon, pon—to add color.

The flared straw will create patterns that look just like fireworks! Layering different colors is also recommended.

Teachers only need to prepare the straws and paint; let the children do the paint-dipping and stamping themselves.

It’ll be exciting to see what kinds of fireworks appear.

Once they’re done, hang the fireworks on the wall and turn the room into a mini fireworks festival.

SAKI
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A sunflower field made from toilet paper rolls

[Paint Craft] Make It with Toilet Paper Rolls! Sunflower Field Stamp / DIY Stamps
A sunflower field made from toilet paper rolls

Let’s try painting sunflowers that bloom vibrantly in summer using a toilet paper roll! Cut several slits into a toilet paper roll and spread them out like petals.

Paint the ends with yellow paint and stamp the color onto drawing paper—this creates the sunflower’s yellow petals.

For the brown center, bundle a few cotton swabs together, dip them in brown paint, and stamp to fill it in.

If you want to add leaves, finger stamping is recommended.

Teachers should prepare the toilet paper rolls and cotton swabs, and let the children do the stamping.

Having real sunflowers or photos on hand will help the children visualize more easily.

SAKI
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Blurry Painting Ice Cream

[Preschool Crafts] Perfect for summer wall displays! Easy blot-painting ice cream
Blurry Painting Ice Cream

When you think of summer, it’s the perfect season for delicious ice cream.

Let’s express the sweet ice cream that kids love using a wet-on-wet painting technique.

For preparation, cut white drawing paper into circles.

Then lightly moisten them with water.

Have the children drop their favorite paints onto the paper and enjoy watching the colors bleed and spread.

If there are too many colors, they may blend too much during the bleeding process and not finish neatly, so it’s best to limit the number of colors in advance.

Once the ice cream circles are dry, stick them onto a cone—and it’s done! Enjoy making original ice cream art with the children.

tsukada moe
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In conclusion

We introduced recommended craft ideas for 2-year-olds in July.

Did you find something you’d like to make? I hope you found plenty of activities that let children enjoy color changes and the curious textures of different materials.

Prepare with the children’s developmental stages in mind—decide which parts the teacher will handle and which parts the children will do—and then proceed with the crafts.

It’s likely you’ll spend more time indoors during the hot summer, but I hope you can enjoy many unique projects and spend fulfilling time with the children.