Lovely Play & Recreation

Recommended Indoor Activities and Recreation Games for July

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.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

July is a time when heatstroke is a concern, so it’s not ideal to spend long hours outside.

So, here we’ll introduce activities you can enjoy indoors! We’ve gathered games and activities that people of all ages can enjoy.

From drawing and board games to crafts, there are plenty of ways to have fun inside.

There are lots of recreational activities that both kids and adults will love.

Spend a fun time with your family and friends.

Be sure to give them a try and make cool, refreshing memories in a comfortable place!

Recommended indoor activities and recreation games for July (21–30)

Clay sweets deco ice cream

[Easy DIY] How to Make Ice Cream with Resin Clay! Spherical Version [Sweets Deco & Fake Sweets]

Clay sweets deco ice cream

These fake sweets are so realistic you might mistake them for the real thing, and they’re super popular with girls for their cuteness.

This time, we’re making spherical ice cream out of clay.

Add paint to create the color of your favorite flavor, and try making fruits and other toppings to decorate it, too!

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Three Balloon-Popping Games

[With 100-yen shop materials!] 3 Balloon-Launching Games 🎈 #short

Three Balloon-Popping Games

Soft balloons let kids play safely indoors! Here are three recommended balloon-launch games perfect for indoor play—all using materials from the 100-yen shop.

1) Turn a 100-yen planter stand into a chimney by rolling an A3-size PP sheet and attaching it on top.

Stuff balloons into the chimney and use a handheld fan from below to blow them out—great fun! 2) A super-simple game: put balloons in a plastic basket and throw rubber balls at it to launch the balloons out.

3) Make a frame using a hula hoop and plastic bottles, place lots of balloons inside, and toss rubber balls to send the balloons flying—easy and exciting.

With just a bit of creativity, you can make games your kids will love.

Give these a try!

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Recommended indoor activities and recreational games for July (31–40)

Handmade planetarium

@atsumichan774
At night, turn off all the lights in your room… and play with a homemade planetarium! Hello! I’m Atsumi, a nursery teacher! Today I made a planetarium using colored cellophane, construction paper, and a smartphone! Use a craft knife to cut holes in the black construction paper in any shapes you like—stars, triangles, squares… making lots of different shapes is really fun. Once you tape the paper into a cone shape, shine your phone’s light from the inside and play! It looks seriously beautiful and it’s so much fun! ● Materials Construction paper Colored cellophane Clear tape Smartphone Atsumi-sensei’s Craft Channel Atsumi-sensei’s Nursery Diary Sound effects: Maou DamashiiPlanetarium Handmade work #Nursery school Summer Art Night sky #HandmadeToys Shooting star Color cellophane Daiso Production ideas August
♬ sweet dreams – Chaba no Gika

How about enjoying the glittering stars of Tanabata and the summer night sky with a handmade planetarium? It’s a perfect event for those who rarely have time to gaze at the sky, and you can enjoy it without worrying about the weather.

Stick it to the ceiling, darken the room, and set the mood with music that suits the summer sky to make it even more exciting.

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Sea Dance

The Nippon Foundation “Umi to Nihon Project” Umi Dance

Sea Dance

Umi Dance features a refreshingly cool sound that blows away the summer heat.

It’s also known for being sung and danced to by children attending preschools and kindergartens nationwide.

With Marine Day falling on the third Monday of July, many people want to feel the vastness of the ocean even if they can’t go out.

The song includes ocean-themed quiz questions, making it a fun way to learn, so both adults and children can enjoy it together.

Creating a kamishibai (paper theater) with an “ocean” theme and reading it to kids is also recommended.

The melody evokes sandy beaches and seaside scenes, so you can feel the summer vibe even indoors.

Letting children freely dance to express the ocean sounds like great fun, too.

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Ice stick puzzle

How to make a simple puzzle♪ All you need are popsicle sticks and stickers! Perfect for craft time with kids ✨ #earlylearning #play #athomeplay #educationalplay

Ice stick puzzle

Ice cream is delicious in hot weather.

Let’s make a puzzle using the sticks from finished ice cream.

Prepare your favorite photo or illustration, apply glue to the back, and attach the sticks.

Once it’s dry, cut it into pieces.

You can make several kinds and have fun racing to see who can finish the puzzle the fastest.

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Making a sun catcher

How to Make a Suncatcher: A Beautiful Summer Hanging Decoration That Looks Like Stained Glass

Making a sun catcher

A great indoor summer activity for families with children to try together is making sun catchers.

They’re beautiful pieces that let sunlight shine through and look like stained glass, helping create a cool, refreshing feel during the hot summer.

Place a template on black construction paper, secure it with clear tape, and cut out the shape.

Cover the cut-out area completely with colorful tissue paper, sticking it on without any gaps, then attach another cut-out sheet to the other side.

Punch a hole at the top, thread a string through, and it’s finished.

It can also be fun for parents and children or friends to teach each other any parts they’re unsure about.

How about creating pieces themed around “Tanabata” or “the ocean,” which are perfect for July?

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Tanabata Slime Making

DIY Handmade Tanabata Slime ♪ How to Make a Galaxy Milky Way Liquid Monster

Tanabata Slime Making

It’s a Tanabata activity using slime—something many of us have probably made in science class! At first glance it might seem like an odd combo, but slime has limitless possibilities.

Since you can mix colors, let’s create outer space with slime this time! Once you’ve blended lots of colors to form a beautiful cosmic hue, finish by making the Milky Way with sparkling glitter.

Because it will keep spreading out on a table, placing it in an acrylic case or similar container will keep it neat and tidy.

And at the end, it’s also fun to roll it up or squish it and play!

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Murakami Shinpei

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