Fun summer activities for kids: ideas you’ll want to try in childcare and at home

Eurhythmics with Water Play

[Summer Eurhythmics: Water Play de Eurhythmics] Scarf play, hoop play, pretend play—let’s enjoy classic summer water play with the children! ✨ Parent–child eurhythmics, rhythm play

Let’s have fun with expressions that feel like playing with water using props! Here are some ideas for “Rhythmic Water Play.” Eurythmics is a music education method that develops expressive skills by moving the body to music.

The charm isn’t just in moving to the music—it’s also in using items to express yourself.

This time, let’s try creating the feeling of water play indoors by using things like hula hoops and organza.

Through pretend play, children might notice subtle nuances within everyday movements.

Puni Puni Fruit

Looks just like the real thing! You can even peel the skin♪ I tried making a squishy fruit assortment [Oni Pita] DIY Fruits Squishy with Nano Tape 🍇🍉🍌🍓

They look just like the real thing! Here are some ideas for squishy, jiggly fruits.

Have you heard of nano tape? It’s a kind of tape with super strong adhesion that can be reused, and it’s apparently great for kitchens and DIY projects.

Let’s use this amazing nano tape to make squeezies.

In the video, bananas, watermelons, strawberries, and grapes are recreated to look glossy and bouncy, making you want to craft them with your kids.

Definitely give it a try!

At-home games you can play with a towel

[At-home Play: Physical Activities] Easy towel-based games you can do at home! Get through the summer with indoor play for kids. Introduced by a nursery school principal and a childcare worker.

Let’s play with everyday materials! Here are some at-home play ideas using towels.

Towels are familiar items for both adults and children in daily life.

This time, let’s try playing with towels you have at your preschool or at home.

If you put a bag inside an open towel and roll it up tightly, it transforms into a ball that makes a crinkly sound.

If you tie the ends of a bath towel, it turns into a sled for dolls.

It’s fun how the shapes change, isn’t it? It’s a wonderful idea that lets children use their creativity while they play.

Summer festival pretend play

[For 4-year-olds] Let’s play summer festival!

Recommended for 4-year-olds! Here are some ideas for a pretend summer festival.

Summer festivals are often held as local events or at schools and kindergartens.

This time, let’s plan a summer festival play where 4-year-olds take the lead.

They can crumple newspaper with both hands to make candy apples and takoyaki, and use them for decorations.

There can also be stalls like a shaved ice shop using cotton and cups.

Through this pretend summer festival, children can interact across age groups and even learn about money—great ideas with lots of possibilities.

Goldfish scooping made with construction paper

[WakuWaku-san’s Craft Workshop] Make an easy “Goldfish Scooping” game and have fun playing it!

Let’s make it with simple steps! Here are some ideas for making a goldfish scooping game out of construction paper.

Wouldn’t it be fun to recreate the goldfish scooping you see at festivals and food stalls at your preschool or at home? This time, let’s try making a goldfish scooping game using construction paper and paper plates.

You’ll need long, thin strips of colored construction paper, paper plates, a stapler, scissors, cellophane tape, glue, and stickers.

Make the goldfish out of colored paper and the poi (scooping paddle) out of paper plates.

Even without water, putting them in something like a kiddie pool should create the right atmosphere.