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

Agar play

Matsuyama City Nursery School ★ Agar Play ♪♪

Agar play is a very popular activity at kindergartens and nurseries.

Children seem to love the jiggly texture and cool feel of agar, so it’s often played with in summer.

Younger children around age three enjoy squishing and stomping on it, while by around age five they can move on to more creative activities like using cutters, making it a recreation that can be enjoyed for a long time.

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Saitō Ayumu

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Handmade triangle puzzle

[1-Minute Therapy] [Handmade Learning Toy] Triangle Puzzle – Autism Support, After-School Day Service (Therapy A-3-2)

This is an indoor activity where you use colorful construction paper to make triangles of various sizes and combine them to complete pictures and shapes.

Children can work at their own pace and freely, which helps them enjoyably develop concentration, spatial awareness, and creativity.

Because there are few chances to fail and it’s easy to experience success, it’s also effective for boosting self-esteem.

The materials are simple and you can start right away, which is a big plus.

With a little ingenuity, kids can create their favorite animals, vehicles, or even story worlds—so adults, too, should dive in and enjoy it together!

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kepiko

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Toys at 100-yen stores that promote development

[Introduced by an occupational therapist] Toys recommended for development [I tried buying them at a 100-yen shop]

First is the “Blow-Up Basket.” Playing blowing games engages the muscles around the mouth and stimulates the abdominal muscles.

Tracking the ball with the eyes also helps practice eye control.

Next, the “Takoyaki” toy is perfect for developing fine motor skills.

It can also lead into pretend play.

Lastly, there are the “Soft Color Blocks.” They’re simple, safe, and highly versatile—the key points.

They’re great for activities like gripping and pinching.

All of these toys are available at 100-yen shops, so if you see them, be sure to give them a try!

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kepiko

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Underwater Coin Drop Game

Scene of the 1-yen coin drop game at the En'nichi Summer Evening Fair held in the Musashi-Koyama Shopping Street Palm

How about trying the “Underwater Coin Drop Game” you often see at summer festivals? Fill a large fish tank with water and sink a cup inside it.

Then drop coins from above, aiming to get them into the cup.

It sounds easy, but the coins flutter around in the water and rarely go in.

It’s so frustrating that you end up trying over and over again.

Use light coins like 1-yen pieces.

If you don’t have a fish tank, you can probably find a substitute at a 100-yen shop, so give it a look!

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sasashina

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Snow play in midsummer

Playing in the snow in midsummer!! We played with GellSnow☆ We also made rainbow-colored snow with paint♪ Toy himawari-CH

In the scorching summer, we can’t help but miss the cold winter snow, right? So, let’s give kids the gift of snow in the middle of summer! With a kit called “Gelli Snow,” you can touch snow anytime, anywhere—let’s play in the snow in midsummer! All you need besides the kit is water.

If you chill the water well, it feels even more like real snow! Just mix these two and your snow is ready.

It’s made to be safe for people and the environment, so you can play with peace of mind.

Let’s enjoy cool, comfortable playtime with midsummer snow!

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SAKI

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