In summer, fun festivals that children love are held at nursery schools and kindergartens! Speaking of festivals, there are classic games that kids adore, like fishing games, ring toss, and target throwing.
Here, we’ve gathered ideas for handmade summer festival games that children can enjoy.
There are various options, such as target games using colorful balls and original games you can make with simple crafts.
Handmade games nurture children’s imagination and let them have fun with friends.
Be sure to use these ideas as inspiration to liven up your summer festival!
- Recommended for childcare! Game and activity ideas to liven up a summer festival
- [Nursery/Kindergarten] Make Your Sports Day a Hit! A Collection of Fun Beanbag Toss Variations
- Great for festival stalls! Handmade game ideas
- [Childcare] Fun craft ideas and craft activities perfect for summer
- [Kindergarten/Daycare] Games and Performances for Fun Events
- Games that liven up festivals. Ideas that children can enjoy.
- [Childcare] DIY Ideas for Circuit Play
- Fun for adults and kids alike! Home festival ideas to capture the lively spirit of a Japanese matsuri
- [Childcare] A roundup of summer craft ideas to enjoy with 2-year-olds
- Easy DIY Fishing Game! Craft Ideas Useful for Childcare
- Let’s enjoy summer-only fun! Cool and refreshing play ideas
- Handmade goldfish scooping ideas: How to make goldfish and scoops (poi)
- Handmade summer festival games: a collection of ideas you can enjoy at kindergartens, daycare centers, and at home.
[Nursery/Daycare] Recommended for Summer Festivals! A Summary of Handmade Game Ideas (1–10)
Paper cup target practice

An exciting game! Here’s an idea for a paper-cup target game.
It’s perfect for a summer festival game corner! It’s easy to make, so give it a try.
You’ll need paper cups, origami paper, scissors, a craft knife, and vinyl tape.
Cut out the bottom of a paper cup with the craft knife, stretch a balloon with its mouth tied over the opening, and tape it in place to make a pop gun.
Prepare rolled-up origami pellets and paper-cup targets decorated with illustrations, and you’ll be ready to enjoy the paper-cup target game!
Handmade Sweets Scoop
@niconico_mama What treat should I put in it tomorrow, I wonder?#Nursery schoolChildcareHandmadeSummer FestivalChildcareParentingEducationalLife with childrenworkProduction
♬ POKÉDANCE – Pokémon [Official]
Enjoy the festive vibes of a Japanese fair! Here are some ideas for a DIY candy scooping game.
These ideas are perfect for anyone who wants to create an exciting corner that will thrill kids, just like at a festival.
You’ll need empty capsules, pipe cleaners, tape, masking tape, glitter origami paper, handkerchiefs or scarves, and cushioning material.
If using candy is difficult, try putting origami creations or illustrations inside the capsules instead.
smart ball

Let’s make a retro game! Here’s an idea for a “smart ball” game.
Smart ball is a type of pinball where you shoot balls into winning holes on the board.
This time, let’s try making a handmade smart ball.
Hammer nails into a board to set up winning and losing zones.
If you add a spinning mechanism, the ball’s movement becomes unpredictable and exciting.
It’s also a good idea to build a small-scale version using materials like cardboard.
Give it a try!
Candy scoop

Make your own poi! Here are some ideas for a candy scooping game.
Activity corners like this are always a big hit with kids.
This time, let’s try setting up a handmade candy scooping booth.
You’ll need origami paper, pens, scissors, tape, and so on.
A “poi” is the tool used for goldfish scooping, typically a plastic frame with washi paper attached.
The key to this idea is that you can easily make one with origami paper! It could also be fun to make your own candy bags and create a fully original candy scooping corner.
Summer Memory Pretend Play

Here are some pretend-play ideas for making summer memories indoors during the hot season.
Try handmade barbecues, bug-hunting searches, and goldfish scooping—create them together with the kids and have fun.
For the barbecue, talk with the children about what ingredients they want to make, then create them together.
For the bug-hunting search, the key is to think about where to stick photos or illustrations of insects at the children’s eye level and get creative with placement.
For goldfish scooping, rescue origami fish carefully so they don’t fall.
Competing to see how many you can catch also sounds fun! These are great activities for enjoying play indoors even on hot summer days.
Summer festival pretend play

I think many teachers are planning pretend summer festivals in July.
There are so many fun booths: a beanbag toss shop, a mask shop, a doll scooping game, and an agar play shop where kids can enjoy sensory play.
Children take turns as shopkeepers, and they can collect stamps as they visit each booth—guaranteed to get them excited by the special festival atmosphere.
It’s also a great chance to learn social skills through the shopkeeper experience.
Finish off with shaved ice to really soak up the festival mood! Adding a French fries stand or yo-yo fishing is also recommended.
cutout
@thi.nano154 Cutting out shapes is so fun!!!!!!!#chiina nodagashi (cheap, nostalgic Japanese snacks and candies)#vlog#StayAtHomeSquad#Japan
Classic Medley 2019 – Pianica Magician
Try your hand at a traditional pastime! Here are some ideas for katanuki (cutout art).
Katanuki is a common sight at festival stalls.
How about giving this long-loved activity a try? Use a needle, toothpick, or drawing pin to cut out various designs imprinted on a flat, board-like candy.
For children’s safety, you can also adapt the activity using construction paper or other materials.
With a bit of creativity, your customized katanuki will get kids excited and engaged.


![[Nursery/Daycare] Recommended for Summer Festivals! A Collection of DIY Game Ideas](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/CNa0YJg9iaU/maxresdefault.webp)

