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

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
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 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.

[Age 2] Fun July Craft Ideas: Summer Wall Decorations (41–50)

Corn with stamps

How about using corn—something kids love—as a summer crafting motif? Both a stamp made with bubble wrap and one made with cardboard are great options.

Prepare the base corn and leaves ahead of time using colored construction paper.

Make one stamp by wrapping a small ball of cotton with bubble wrap and securing it with a rubber band, and another by rolling a strip of cardboard into a coil and taping it.

Use yellow paint as the “ink” for both, and enjoy freely dabbing and stamping away!

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hiyori

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Stained-glass-style fish

These stained-glass-style fish shine as they reflect the light, making them a perfect craft to display in the classroom.

Cut construction paper into the shape of a fish, then cut out the center and stick OPP tape on the back.

Prepare several colors of cellophane cut into small pieces, and have the children stick them onto the OPP tape.

Attach the dorsal fin and tail, and it’s done! Choose a sunny spot in the classroom and hang them from the ceiling, and the room will transform into an aquarium! The children will surely find themselves gazing up, watching the fish swim overhead.

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tsukada moe

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Colorful fish with decalcomania

Decalcomania is a simple technique that even one-year-olds can try, yet it’s also a delightful way to enjoy color.

Let’s use decalcomania to create fish that swim smoothly.

First, have fun with decalcomania on construction paper.

It’s great if you can involve one-year-olds from the step of placing the paint.

Once the paint dries, cut the construction paper into fish shapes and use round stickers to make the eyes and mouth.

Finally, stick the fish onto another sheet of construction paper to represent the ocean, and you’re done! Give it a try and make these adorable fish swimming in the sea.

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tsukada moe

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A cute heart-themed Tanabata card

July 7th is Tanabata.

Here’s a perfect craft idea for the occasion.

You can also use it as a wall decoration, so give it a try! Cut blue construction paper into a heart shape and use a cotton swab stamp to create a starry sky all over.

In the center of the heart, use finger stamps to depict the Milky Way.

Make the outfits for the Orihime and Hikoboshi figures using a bleeding-art technique with coffee filters, then attach the facial parts made from construction paper.

Once you’ve glued Orihime and Hikoboshi onto the heart base, it’s complete.

If you want to hang it as a wall decoration, punch a hole in the base and thread a ribbon through it.

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sasashina

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Finger-painted ice cream

How about making ice cream art with mess-free finger painting? Put a sheet of drawing paper with paint on it into a zip-top bag, then trace over it from the outside to finger paint! Since clothes won’t get dirty, it lightens the load for parents, too.

Once you’ve created patterns with the paint and let it dry, just cut the paper into ice cream shapes and stick them onto cones.

Imagining the flavors of ice cream with all those mixed colors is half the fun.

Enjoy creating your delicious ice cream art!

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tsukada moe

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Blown-paint fireworks

Fireworks painted with the blow-painting technique are projects that children can easily help with.

Blow painting involves thinning paint with water, dipping a brush or similar tool into it, and then dropping it onto the paper.

You then blow through a straw toward the dropped paint to spread it, creating a variety of patterns.

By changing the direction of your breath and combining different colors, you can produce richer works.

You can depict fireworks using only blow painting, or use blow painting for part of the firework and combine it with construction paper or stickers to create a single firework.

You’ll end up with many unexpectedly beautiful pieces, so give it a try!

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SAKI

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A rainbow fish made with handprints

How about making colorful fish with handprint stamps that will make you feel happy just by looking at them? Paint different colors on the children’s palms to create a rainbow effect.

Then simply press their hands onto drawing paper, cut out a fish shape, and add eyes and a mouth to finish.

If you stick the fish onto a background decorated with light blue raffia (suzuran) tape, you can create an even cooler, breezier atmosphere.

The cool sensation of the paint on their palms will likely boost the kids’ excitement! If painting the hands is difficult, try making an original ink pad using a cleaning cloth (duster) and put it to use!

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