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!
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[Childcare] Play ideas for July (71–80)
Rain hand play—let’s toss that damp, clammy feeling away!
Let’s brighten up the muggy rainy-season mood with a lighthearted song and hand play.
The hand-play song “Toss That Dampness Away!” uses fun gestures to “gather up” the clammy feeling when the rain goes on and on, and the soggy wetness when you get caught in the rain.
The lyrics even have you collect the rain clouds at the end, which makes it extra fun and sure to get the kids excited.
After tossing away the rain-induced slump, you’ll be ready to start the next childcare activity feeling refreshed.
fishing
Enjoy a fishing game at your homemade summer festival.
First, prepare sea creatures like fish and octopuses to catch.
You can use free illustration materials, or have the children draw them for extra fun.
Laminating the pieces you make will make them water-resistant and safe.
If you don’t have a laminator, use laminating film from the 100-yen shop.
Attach a paper clip to each piece, then fasten string and a magnet to a pair of chopsticks—and you’re done! Catching the fish is fun, but playing the shopkeeper and serving customers adds a different kind of enjoyment.
Have everyone make lots of pieces together!
Fishing game
On rainy days, it’s hard to go to nearby seas or rivers to catch or even watch fish.
At times like that, enjoy homemade indoor fishing.
One way is to attach magnets to fish cut out of construction paper and to a fishing rod made from a chopstick; the magnets stick together so you can “catch” the fish.
Another way is to make fish out of origami, punch a slightly larger hole in them, and hook them with an origami fishing rod.
You can also cut milk cartons into fish shapes and float them in water to enjoy a scene that’s a bit closer to real fishing.
Try indoor fishing in whatever style you like!
[Childcare] Ideas for childcare activities you’ll want to try in July (81–90)
Making a teru-teru-bōzu (a traditional Japanese weather charm)
Here are some activities you can enjoy precisely because it’s the rainy season or a rainy day.
This is how to make a handmade toy to enjoy on rainy days: a teru teru bozu (sunshine charm).
Prepare soft paper such as colorful flower paper, a plastic bag, and some string.
Crumple the flower paper into a ball with your hands, then put it into a plastic bag with a string threaded through it.
Tie off the ball portion with tape or string to shape it into a teru teru bozu.
Draw a face with a pen or add stickers to finish it cutely, and you’re done.
Since the plastic bag is transparent, the colorful paper shows through, making the result super cute.
In conclusion
We’ve introduced play ideas for childcare that are perfect for July.
July can bring sweltering days, but also chilly rain during the rainy season.
We want energetic children to experience a variety of activities.
If you build up a repertoire of games, you won’t be stuck when the time comes.
Please use these ideas for inspiration.