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)
Craft play
On a rainy day, how about engaging your hands and diving into some focused crafts and art activities? Drawing pictures, folding origami, making handicrafts… Adding elements that represent the rainy season can bring out a sense of seasonality.
For example, you could draw pictures inspired by rain-themed picture books or songs, or depict seasonal creatures like hydrangeas and snails through drawing or crafts.
It’s also a great idea to express your excitement for sunny summer days by drawing things you want to do in summer or a clear blue sky.
Even in the gloomy rainy season, creating something nice will surely brighten children’s moods!
A toy you can play with: Hopping Frog
How about making a bouncy frog toy that’s perfect for the rainy season? You’ll need two paper cups, construction paper, rubber bands, markers, scissors, double-sided tape, and so on.
Try engaging the kids first by asking questions like, “What animal loves the rain?” and then explain the steps.
The key features are big, bulging eyes and a wide mouth.
As long as you convey these points, let them design the rest freely.
Another nice thing is that this toy can be adapted into various others, like rockets.
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!