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Perfect Summer Craft Ideas to Try in July for 4-Year-Olds

Four-year-olds who are trying hard to express what they want to do and what they can do.

Here, we’ll introduce July-perfect crafts recommended for four-year-olds, themed around Tanabata, water play, and sea creatures.

We hope this helps you create wonderful pieces that showcase each child’s individuality.

Be sure to display what they make.

Value children’s free ideas and let them express the joys of summer!

Since we treat what children make as works of art, we use the term “production” consistently in the main text.

[For 4-year-olds] Summer-perfect craft ideas to try in July (91–100)

A small and cute lantern

[Origami] How to Make a Small and Cute Paper Lantern (Chochin)
A small and cute lantern

Round shape! Here are some ideas for small, cute lanterns.

Are you thinking of making lanterns for a festival event or to decorate a wall? These ideas feature colorful, rounded designs that are perfect if you’re imagining adorable lanterns.

You’ll need four sheets of origami paper, two additional sheets of origami paper, wire, glue, scissors, a craft knife, a pencil, and a ruler.

Since wire is used, please be very careful not to injure your fingers on the ends, and make sure to cut it safely.

Cute origami lantern

[Preschool Craft] Summer craft! Cute lanterns made with origami ♪ | Cute lanterns with origami
Cute origami lantern

Mini-sized and perfect for decorating anywhere! Here are some cute origami lantern ideas.

When you think of making lanterns, many people probably picture using construction paper.

This time, let’s try making lanterns with origami paper, which comes in a wide range of colors.

You’ll need origami paper, pipe cleaners, scissors, glue, and clear tape.

Plain origami works well, but using Japanese patterns or washi-style paper can create a lovely atmosphere—give it a try!

origami watermelon lantern

[Origami, construction paper] Tanabata summer decoration “Watermelon Lantern” — August preschool craft, senior care recreation, wall decoration, simple paper craft (drawing paper) Easy and cute Watermelon lantern
origami watermelon lantern

Just like a watermelon! Here’s an idea for an origami watermelon lantern.

Many of you may be looking to make something with a touch of humor when crafting a lantern, right? Let’s try making a lantern with a classic summer watermelon motif.

All you need are colored construction paper, origami paper, scissors, and glue.

Adding a vine and leaves will make the watermelon motif even more charming.

It’s a perfect idea for summer festivals or wall decorations! Be sure to give it a try.

milk carton lantern

[Lantern Craft] Easy milk carton craft for preschool activities (Target age: 5-year-olds) #shorts
milk carton lantern

Simple and mass-producible! Here are ideas for milk-carton lanterns.

When using lanterns for summer festivals or wall displays, there are times you’ll need to make many.

These ideas are simple and easy to understand—perfect for such situations.

You’ll need milk cartons, permanent markers, scissors, a stapler, a hole punch, and string, among other items.

The steps are straightforward, but since some parts involve measuring with a ruler, it’s best to work in a calm environment.

Finishing them in bright colors will help lift the mood, too.

Swaying Creation

[Kindergarten/Daycare] Rainy season craft / Hydrangea / How to make a fun June craft that gently sways ♡
Swaying Creation

Things that sway gently—lately, I feel like there are more seasonal advertising pop-ups hanging from the ceilings in supermarkets and convenience stores.

Not only children but adults will find their eyes drawn to them.

Making a gently swaying craft like that sounds fun too.

If you imagine a small mobile, the creation process should go smoothly.

For the hanging pieces, don’t just draw illustrations on paper—using cellophane or metallic gold and silver paper could spark even more imagination! Using yarn for the hanging thread will make it colorful as well.

Be sure to include motifs that evoke June, like hydrangeas and snails!

Summer Memory Pretend Play

[For 2-year-olds] Summer memory pretend play! Pretend BBQ, pretend fishing, pretend bug catching
Summer Memory Pretend Play

Here are some pretend-play ideas for making summer memories indoors during the hot season.

Try handmade barbecues, bug-hunting searches, and goldfish scooping—create them together with the kids and have fun.

For the barbecue, talk with the children about what ingredients they want to make, then create them together.

For the bug-hunting search, the key is to think about where to stick photos or illustrations of insects at the children’s eye level and get creative with placement.

For goldfish scooping, rescue origami fish carefully so they don’t fall.

Competing to see how many you can catch also sounds fun! These are great activities for enjoying play indoors even on hot summer days.

Playing aquarium

[Ages 0–2] “Let’s Play Aquarium”
Playing aquarium

Here’s a fun pretend-aquarium activity that lets you feel cool during the hot and humid days of July.

Use blue plastic bags as a stand-in for the ocean and make your fish swim through it.

Create your favorite sea creatures—like whales, fish, starfish, and jellyfish—and you’ll encounter all kinds of ocean life.

If you also hang plastic bags from the ceiling and stick the sea creatures on them, the whole space will feel like an aquarium.

The best part is that people of any age can enjoy it!