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

Balance tree of pool cue sticks

Let me introduce an exciting, heart-pounding balance tree made from pool noodles.

Get your materials ready: a pool noodle, a utility knife, plastic bottle caps, stickers, tape, and a paper cup.

Cut the pool noodle in half and make slits where the branches will fit.

Since you’ll be cutting with a utility knife, it’s best to start with small cuts and gradually adjust to the size you need.

Take the remaining half of the pool noodle, slice it lengthwise to create the branches.

Fit the trunk into the paper cup, insert the branches, and you’re done.

Try placing a spinning top—made by stacking two plastic bottle caps together with their indented sides facing each other—on it and enjoy the wobbly balance tree!

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mayumi

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caterpillar fishing

No.167 “Caterpillar Fishing!” [Handmade Toys by a Nursery Teacher]

This is a “caterpillar fishing” game you can make with pool noodles! First, cut the pool noodle into 8 cm-wide pieces.

A template makes it easier! Cut about 10 pieces, arrange them to balance your little “houses,” and glue them together.

Next, make a base out of cardboard.

Attach the pool noodle houses to the base, then make caterpillars using pom-poms and pipe cleaners.

Finally, put a magnet inside a pen cap.

Place the caterpillars inside the houses, and slowly bring the magnet in the cap close to the pipe cleaner—your caterpillar will get “caught”! You can also flip the setup and compete against each other, so get creative and have fun playing!

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kepiko

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lottery; drawing lots; raffle

[Handmade] Easy for anyone to make! How to create an Ichiban Kuji!! #IchibanKuji #Handmade #Crafts

Raffles are also games that kids can enjoy casually.

Simply pulling a folded piece of construction paper can be exciting, but if you have time, why not make a raffle modeled after Ichiban Kuji? Prepare two sheets of construction paper in the size of the tickets; cut slits into one sheet so the pieces can be peeled open.

Since this involves fine work with a craft knife, an adult should handle it.

It might be a good idea to have the children take charge of preparing the prizes.

Let’s liven up the summer festival with a raffle that makes everyone excited to see what they’ll win.

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tsukada moe

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Pool play

Four siblings ♪ We played in the pool outside — Kan & Aki family

When it comes to classic summertime recreation, you can’t beat playing in the pool! Kids love being active, so just taking them to a pool will have them excited all day long.

Compared to rivers or the ocean, pools tend to have fewer water-related accidents, so you can feel a bit more at ease.

Of course, you still need to be careful—make sure you never take your eyes off them.

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Saitō Ayumu

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flowing somen (nagashi-somen)

Flowing somen in the dark with a glowing pool!! If you catch a colored somen, you get to draw a raffle for a candy prize♪ Somen Slider Night Pool ☆ himawari-CH

In summer it’s often too hot to feel like eating, but many people find they can still manage somen noodles because they go down so smoothly.

With recent summers being extremely hot, even kids can suffer from heat fatigue, so let’s build stamina while having fun with nagashi-somen.

Eating together in a lively atmosphere is sure to lift your spirits and restore your energy.

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Saitō Ayumu

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