Childcare: Ideas for activities to enjoy in July
July brings alternating bouts of the rainy season and summer.
At nursery schools and kindergartens, you want to play a lot with the children, but there are surely days when the unpredictable weather makes preparation difficult.
So here, we’ve gathered ideas for games you can enjoy in July.
From activities related to Tanabata to fun water play, you can enjoy the season of July while feeling its atmosphere.
There are also games you can do indoors, so be prepared for rainy days, too.
Please use this as a reference to expand your repertoire and spend a fun time together with the children!
[Childcare] July Play Ideas (1–10)
Playing with plastic raffia (Suzuran tape)
Let’s adapt the ways we play to suit children’s development! Here are some ideas for playing with suzuran tape.
Suzuran tape is a thin plastic tape known for its colorful appearance.
Because the material is light and flexible, you can cut it with scissors, tie it, or weave it, allowing for all kinds of creative variations and uses in different games.
This time, let’s try making a suzuran tape curtain, a suzuran tape “bath,” and suzuran tape pom-poms.
It sounds like these activities will spark excitement and fun.
playing camp
When it’s rainy and you can’t go play outside, why not enjoy a camping vibe at home? Pitch a tent indoors, try some camp-style meals, or switch off the room lights and spend time by lantern light—there are lots of ways to have fun right at home.
There are also play sets designed for pretend camping, like toy kits that include essentials such as a lantern, cooking gear, and a campfire, so using those is a great idea too.
Just spending your time a little differently than usual can make your at-home hours much more fulfilling.
Water gun target game
This is a simple game using classic water guns in the hot summer, where you compete to see how many targets you can hit within a time limit.
Don’t just focus on target practice—also pay attention to how water guns work by building pressure to push water out.
It’s also recommended to try a DIY approach using basic materials to think about mechanisms like pushing water in with a rod that seals gaps and shooting water out through a nozzle.
Get creative with the durability and distance of the targets, and consider how much water force is needed to knock them down.
Ice play
A great indoor activity for summer is “ice play”! Just touching ice is fun and cooling enough, but if you have time, try adding a little twist.
When you freeze water, place leaves, flowers, or small toys in it as well.
That way, children won’t just touch the ice—they’ll also think about how to melt it and get the items out as they play.
Be sure to choose objects that are safe even if they end up in a child’s mouth!
Making juice with foam
Water play that kids love is perfect for summer—just splashing with their hands cools them down and makes it feel refreshing.
How about making it even more fun by using bubbles and pretending they’re juice? Fill a basin or an inflatable pool with water and whip up bubbles with soap.
They can splash and mix with their hands, or try a whisk or a bath sponge.
You can also use everyday items like scoops and paper cups to play.
Song of July
Japan has four seasons, and it’s a pleasure to enjoy how the scenery changes from month to month.
The abundance of seasonal songs may be unique to Japan’s climate and culture, which encourage people to savor each time of year.
Speaking of spring, summer, autumn, and winter—when it comes to summer songs, there are ones tied to the July festival Tanabata, songs that make you want to head to the beach, and even tunes perfect for a spooky test of courage.
Learning these songs and singing them with children at kindergarten can become cherished seasonal memories.
It’s hard to decide which songs to sing together with the kids, isn’t it?
Let’s play a game with a sensory bag
Do you know what a sensory bag is? “Sensory” refers to perception, touch, and sensation.
A sensory bag is an educational toy where a squishy, gel-like substance is placed inside a pouch, along with items like beads and glitter, so you can enjoy the tactile experience.
Its fun appearance and texture will captivate children.
A zip-lock style bag is recommended to prevent the gel from leaking.
Choose a transparent one so you can see the colorful, sparkly beads inside and enjoy how they look.
Make a handmade sensory bag that you can touch from the outside to enjoy the feel—have fun with it together with your kids.