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!
- Fun Fish Craft Ideas to Make at Daycare and Kindergarten
- Fun July Craft Ideas for 2-Year-Olds: Summer Wall Decorations
- Fun crafts using straws
- [July] Recommended for 1-year-olds! Fun summer craft ideas
- [For 4-year-olds] Crafts to make with preschoolers in July and August: Creative activities that let kids feel the summer
- Perfect Summer Craft Ideas to Try in July for 4-Year-Olds
- [Childcare] Recommended for 3-year-olds! Craft activity ideas
- [For toddlers] Simple but amazing craft ideas — including toys they can play with
- [Childcare] Fun craft ideas and craft activities perfect for summer
- [For 5-year-olds] Crafts to try in July! Ideas that capture the season
- Craft ideas to try in July for 3-year-olds
- [For 3-year-olds] A roundup of craft ideas to enjoy in summer! Introducing various motifs and techniques
- Fun to make in childcare! A collection of easy origami ideas recommended for July
Recommended in July! Summer craft play ideas (21–30)
Paku-Paku Goldfish
@hoiku.labo [With Kids!] Chompy Goldfish Made of Origami 🌻ChildcareNursery teacher / Childcare workerKindergarten TeacherChildcare job openingsChildcare Column#NurseryTeacherThings#IWantToConnectWithChildcareWorkers#Nursery School Craft#DaycarePreparationNursery School PracticumChildcare studentAspiring childcare workerChildcare Job LabNursery teacher skillsJob change activities#JobChange#nursery_teacher_job_changeNursery teacher employmentProduction#CraftworkProductionOrigamiGoldfish
♪ Original Song – Craft Ideas for Childcare ♪ Hoiku Kyujin Labo – Hoiku Kyujin Labo | Nursery Teacher Job Changes and Helpful Information
For the hot summer, a great recommendation for preschoolers is the “Munch-Munch Goldfish” origami.
Fold it, open it up, and move its mouth, and it looks just like a goldfish from a scooping game swimming around.
Use cool-colored origami paper for a fresh look that instantly boosts the summer vibe.
Once finished, kids can show their goldfish to friends or use them for pretend play—the possibilities are endless.
Many children get hooked and say, “I want to make another one!” fostering imagination while using their fingertips.
Display them on the wall to instantly create a nostalgic atmosphere.
It’s an origami idea full of seasonal charm—fun to fold, delightful to display, and memorable too.
Sunflower folded from a single sheet

Let me introduce a brightly shining summer sunflower.
Prepare one sheet of origami paper and start making the creases.
Fold the corners toward the center along the central lines.
This is an important step to set the base of the origami.
Open it once, then use the crease lines to create the sunflower’s petals.
Flip it over, adjust the shape of the sunflower, round it out, and you’re done.
It’s also a great idea to draw a pattern in the center of the sunflower with a felt-tip pen.
Choosing your favorite colors of origami paper to make colorful sunflowers could be really cute, too.
Recommended in July! Summer craft play ideas (31–40)
Easy shaved ice
The summer-filled “Easy Shaved Ice” is an origami idea that even preschoolers can enjoy: with just one sheet of paper, you make both the cup and the ice, then finish by drawing syrup with a pen.
Coloring while imagining your favorite flavors—red for strawberry, green for melon, blue for Blue Hawaii—is a huge hit with kids.
Even with the same shape, each piece shows personality depending on how it’s colored, sparking lively chats like, “What flavor should mine be?” Hang them on the wall and they instantly become a refreshing display! It’s the perfect origami for creating summer memories and expanding children’s imagination.
Easy and cute morning glories

Let’s make a summer symbol, the morning glory, with origami.
Fold the paper into a triangle three times.
Prepare scissors and cut the top of the triangle diagonally.
Be careful not to cut the inner triangular section while cutting.
Open the paper and fold the four corners inward along the lines.
Turn the paper over, fold the corners, shape it into a morning glory, and you’re done.
The steps are simple, so give it a try.
Wrapping paper tape to make a vine and decorating it is a lovely touch too.
Pineapple and popsicle

Here’s how to make pineapples and popsicles to keep you cool in the hot summer.
Prepare pineapple and leaf shapes made from construction paper, cellophane, scissors, and fruit stickers.
First, for the popsicles, cut cellophane and origami paper to get them ready.
Glue the cut cellophane and fruit pieces onto the prepared popsicle base, then cover with clear tape to protect it.
Attach a piece of construction paper cut to look like a popsicle stick, and you’re done.
For the pineapple, glue pieces of yellow and orange origami paper onto the pineapple-shaped construction paper base.
Finally, add the leaves to complete it.
Both projects are fun for kindergarteners, so be sure to give them a try!
Perfect for summer! Watermelon

When you think of summer, you think of watermelon! Let’s make a summer watermelon out of origami.
Prepare one sheet of origami paper and a felt-tip pen.
Fold the paper in half, then fold up the four corners slightly.
Fold the sections between the corners.
Flip it over and slightly fold the corners again.
Fold the paper in half so that the colored side shows, and your delicious watermelon is complete.
Draw the seeds with the felt-tip pen to finish your tasty-looking watermelon! It might also be fun to use different colors of origami paper to make a colorful variety of watermelons.
Perfect for summer! How to fold a cicada (origami)

Here’s an origami project idea that’s a bit of a fun challenge for older preschoolers: how to fold a cicada.
It takes concentration to carefully fold the wings and body, but that makes the sense of accomplishment even greater when it’s finished.
Using darker origami paper like brown or black will look realistic, while bright colors create a cute look—your choice of colors brings out individuality.
Adding patterns on the back to make your own unique cicada is also recommended.
If you stick the cicadas on the wall, it will look as if they’re perched on a tree, instantly giving your classroom or room a summery feel.
It’s a perfect summer origami craft that lets kids enjoy the season while developing fine motor skills.



