Recommended in July! Summer craft play ideas
In July, many daycare centers and kindergartens start Tanabata celebrations and pool time.
Summer is full of events kids can enjoy, like beach trips and fireworks festivals.
Here, we’re introducing craft ideas to make summer even more fun.
You can create summer-themed projects related to Tanabata, seasonal flowers, sea creatures, and cool treats.
Use these ideas as a guide to enjoy crafting with the children and spend the hot summer happily and energetically!
Recommended in July! Summer craft play ideas (1–10)
Stained glass-style fireworks
If you use black construction paper, you can create a stained-glass-style craft.
How about incorporating fireworks as a summer motif? Fold the black construction paper into quarters, then cut out small triangles from the layered corner.
It helps to draw cutting guidelines so children can cut easily.
Next, stick small pieces of cellophane onto a piece of parchment paper.
Prepare cellophane in various colors and let the kids place them freely.
The key is to stick them on without leaving gaps.
Finally, attach the black construction paper over the parchment paper—and it’s done! You’ll have a beautiful piece that sparkles as light shines through.
Sparkling tanzaku decorations
https://www.instagram.com/p/CtEHbqQLUvU/How about making a sparkling tanzaku decoration that’s perfect for hanging on the bamboo branches for Tanabata? Prepare the tanzaku part, where you write your wishes, in the classic style by cutting origami paper to about half its size.
For the sparkling section, cut a construction-paper circle shaped like a wind chime, hollow out the center, and use clear tape to attach small pieces of cut colored cellophane.
Combine this wind chime–like part with the tanzaku and you’re done! You’ll have a glittering, cool-looking tanzaku decoration—try hanging it on bamboo or putting it up on a wall.
Tanabata craft with swipe art
https://www.instagram.com/p/Csvu6aDpwhd/Let’s make Tanabata decorations using the swipe art technique! Swipe art is a method where you brush several colors of paint onto a sponge, then swipe the sponge to create striped patterns.
We use this pattern as a representation of the Milky Way and apply it to Tanabata decorations! The key tips are to mix plenty of water into the paint and to avoid pressing too hard when you swipe.
Add decorations like Orihime and Hikoboshi, star-shaped cutouts from construction or colored paper, and stickers to finish! The steps—dabbing paint onto the sponge and swiping—are very engaging, so be sure to let children enjoy creating them.
Fireworks made with round sticker art
https://www.instagram.com/p/CTrE0NXhiDI/Round stickers, once seen as office supplies, are now strongly associated with tools for creating art.
They come in a variety of colors and sizes, and depending on how you combine them, you can make all kinds of artworks—from dynamic to delicate.
Let’s use these round stickers to create dazzling fireworks! You can make fireworks by placing round stickers of various colors on black construction paper, or you can cut the black paper into a circle and arrange the stickers within it to depict fireworks—both approaches are recommended.
By using round stickers in many colors to create fireworks of different sizes and designs, you can fill your room with the powerful spectacle of a grand fireworks display.
Straw Stamping: Fireworks
Speaking of summer, fireworks are essential, aren’t they? Many children surely look forward to handheld sparklers and fireworks festivals.
In this craft activity, we’ll depict fireworks using straw stamping: cut a straw into four slits at the tip, dip it in paint, and stamp it onto black construction paper.
Any paint color is fine, but darker colors will blend into the black background, so brighter shades like yellow, orange, pink, and light blue work best.
Since we’re using black paper, white will also stand out nicely.
Try layering different colors to create vibrant, festive fireworks.
Soramame-kun’s Meadow Playtime
Here are some craft ideas for July inspired by the popular picture book series “Soramame-kun”! Let’s all work together to make cute Soramame-kun characters.
For Soramame-kun and Edamame-kun, cut origami paper into bean shapes and use jute twine to make their legs.
Also, let’s make flat pinwheels out of origami.
When children use scissors, please make sure teachers or guardians provide support.
In addition to pasting the crafts onto backing paper to display on the wall, it’s also fine to make pinwheels you can actually hold and play with.
Just like Soramame-kun and friends, it might be fun to take your pinwheels out to the playground and enjoy the summer breeze.
Lantern with a wet-on-wet watercolor effect
How about making festive lanterns using washi paper and ink-blur art? If your preschool is holding a summer festival, they can also be used as decorations.
First, let the children draw freely with water-based markers on the rough side of the washi paper.
Next, spray water on it with a mister or spray bottle.
Once the drawing has bled, let it dry.
Then fold a sheet of construction paper according to the steps.
Teachers should assist so the folds are neat.
After the fold lines are made, cut off the excess parts, make slits along the fold lines, and shape it into a lantern—then it’s complete.
Give it a try and enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes with making your own lantern.