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!
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Recommended in July! Summer craft play ideas (31–40)
Ice Cream Kendama
Delicious ice cream turned into a kendama! Here’s a craft idea where, if you succeed at the kendama, it becomes an ice cream.
Draw a cone pattern on brown construction paper and mark the middle of either long side.
Align the end of a piece of kite string with the mark and tape it down, then roll the paper into a cone shape and secure it with tape.
It’s safer to tape down the stringed area as well.
Attach the other end of the kite string to the center of a sheet of newspaper with tape, and crumple the newspaper into a ball.
Cover it with your favorite color of origami paper from the top and secure it to make the ice cream part.
Draw patterns on the ice cream, and you’re done!
Collage Ice Cream
Here are some ice cream craft ideas that also let you enjoy making collages.
Cut the cup or cone bases out of cardboard, then decorate them by drawing patterns with pens or using colored paper.
For the ice cream scoops, basically cut circles out of construction paper, and have fun adding various toppings with small pieces of colored paper or stickers.
It’s also cute to make “collage ice cream” by gluing torn newspaper or flyers onto the round paper scoops.
Once your ice cream is done, attach it to the base to finish.
plastic bottle shower
Kids love playing in the shower, don’t they? Here’s a simple shower toy you can make using a plastic bottle.
Cut off the bottle’s neck and cover the edge with tape to prevent injuries.
Puncture holes on both sides of the rim and thread a vinyl string through them to make a handle, then make about 5–6 holes in the bottom.
Decorate the bottle with vinyl tape to make it cute, and you’re done! When you scoop up water, it will pour out through the holes like a shower.
Goldfish scooping toy
Goldfish scooping, a classic at summer festival stalls, is actually easy to make and enjoy at home! Cut a milk carton into a long strip to form a ring, attach a handle made from another piece of the carton, stretch a drain net over it, and secure it with vinyl tape to make a poi (scooper).
Next, draw fish on a milk carton, cut them out, and make your goldfish.
You can also cut goldfish from construction paper and laminate them between layers of OPP tape.
Float the goldfish in water and scoop them up with the poi.
Since the poi won’t tear, even small children can enjoy it.
Turtle’s plastic bottle bucket
Here’s an idea for a turtle-themed bucket made from a plastic bottle that kids can use to fill with water or scoop and play.
First, cut off the bottle’s mouth and protect the cut edge with tape.
Design a turtle on the side of the bottle using tape, then draw the face with a permanent marker.
Punch holes on both sides of the bottle’s rim, thread through suzuran tape (polypropylene ribbon) that has a 2 cm-wide piece of straw cut and slipped over it, and attach it as a handle to finish.
Using straws in several colors makes it bright and cute.
Recommended in July! Summer craft play ideas (41–50)
Water-play PET bottle toy
Let’s try making some DIY toys for water play.
Here are three types: a scoop and watering can, magic juice, and glitter juice.
For the scoop, cut a plastic bottle in half, punch holes along the rim of the bottom half to thread a string through, then stack another bottle piece upside down (with the mouth facing down) on top to finish.
For the watering can, cut a rectangular opening in a plastic bottle and make several small holes on the opposite side for the water to flow out.
Magic juice is made by filling a small plastic bottle with water, dabbing some paint on the inside of the bottle’s mouth, then sealing and shaking it so the color changes.
Glitter juice is made by putting water, liquid laundry starch (or clear glue), and sequins or beads into a plastic bottle; flip the bottle upside down and back to enjoy the movement of the liquid inside.
Summer at-home fun you can get all at the 100-yen shop!
Everything you need from the 100-yen shop! Here are some ideas for summer play at home.
Have you heard of a sensory bag? It’s a pouch-like item used as a toy to stimulate children’s senses, letting them play while engaging their perception and sensations.
This time, let’s make a DIY sensory bag and play with it! You’ll need a vacuum/compression bag, decorative pom-poms, beads, and liquid laundry starch or school glue.
You can also add glitter for extra sparkle.
The cool, chilly feel makes it perfect for summer.