[Childcare] Fun craft ideas and craft activities perfect for summer

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

Summer is full of fun events at daycares and kindergartens! With water play, festivals, and fireworks events, children really get a feel for the season.

Here, we’ll introduce craft ideas recommended for summer.

You can make all sorts of things like colorful fireworks, delicious-looking shaved ice, beautiful morning glories, and cute beach sandals.

These activities let you enjoy the summer atmosphere through crafting, so please use them as a reference! Some projects use unique techniques, so be sure to make fun summer memories together with the children.

Since the works created by children are regarded as artworks, the term “seisaku” (制作) is used in the text.

[Childcare] Fun craft ideas and craft activities perfect for summer (111–120)

Blown-paint fireworks

Fireworks painted with the blow-painting technique are projects that children can easily help with.

Blow painting involves thinning paint with water, dipping a brush or similar tool into it, and then dropping it onto the paper.

You then blow through a straw toward the dropped paint to spread it, creating a variety of patterns.

By changing the direction of your breath and combining different colors, you can produce richer works.

You can depict fireworks using only blow painting, or use blow painting for part of the firework and combine it with construction paper or stickers to create a single firework.

You’ll end up with many unexpectedly beautiful pieces, so give it a try!

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SAKI

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[Childcare] Fun craft ideas and craft activities perfect for summer (121–130)

The Tanabata of the Milky Way

Because of the weather and city lights, not many people have had the chance to really see the Milky Way on Tanabata.

With the hope of showing children this rare sight, let’s try creating a Milky Way on the wall.

Along with the Milky Way, be sure to include Orihime and Hikoboshi as well.

If the weather is bad and children worry about whether Orihime and Hikoboshi were able to meet, design the wall so the two are shown together and you can reassure them: “They did meet!” You could also combine other Tanabata elements like bamboo branches and tanzaku wish strips.

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SAKI

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A rainbow fish made with handprints

How about making colorful fish with handprint stamps that will make you feel happy just by looking at them? Paint different colors on the children’s palms to create a rainbow effect.

Then simply press their hands onto drawing paper, cut out a fish shape, and add eyes and a mouth to finish.

If you stick the fish onto a background decorated with light blue raffia (suzuran) tape, you can create an even cooler, breezier atmosphere.

The cool sensation of the paint on their palms will likely boost the kids’ excitement! If painting the hands is difficult, try making an original ink pad using a cleaning cloth (duster) and put it to use!

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Origami seashell

Here’s an origami seashell idea that evokes a summer beach.

First, cut the origami paper in half.

Then fold it into an accordion.

The more folds you make, the more delicate the finished piece will be.

Once that’s done, trim one end into a seashell shape and staple it to finish.

We tend to associate seashells with white, but using a variety of colors is also recommended.

The gradation will create a fresh, breezy feel.

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yamamoto

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Large-scale ocean production

Why not create a bold ocean-themed wall display using large poster paper? First, paint the poster paper to make the ocean background, then scatter pieces of tissue paper you’ve cut up on top.

This will help express the waves and shimmer of the sea.

Next, use construction paper and PE tape to make sea creatures like octopuses, squids, and jellyfish.

Have fun making them together with the children! Once the creatures are finished, stick them wherever you like to complete the display.

Adding extras like seashells and wakame seaweed will really enhance the atmosphere.

Make it a wonderful wall display by making the most of the children’s ideas.

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tsukada moe

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Paper Cup Fireworks

Let’s use a paper cup to make a beautiful firework! Make slits all the way around the cup, cutting from the rim down toward the bottom.

Then, spread open the slits and your firework is complete! It’s a good idea to color the cup or draw pictures on it before cutting.

If you have paper cups that are already colorful or patterned, you can use them as they are.

If you prepare paper cups in various sizes, you can create fireworks in large and small sizes.

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SAKI

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Fish made with paper plates

Here’s a paper-plate fish craft idea that lets you enjoy a hallway or classroom that feels like an aquarium.

All you need are paper plates, doilies, and origami paper.

First, use the paper plate as the fish’s body and create the eyes and mouth with origami paper.

Next, cut the doily to make the dorsal fin and tail fin.

You can also substitute fruit netting for the dorsal and tail fins.

This gives it a look somewhat like a tropical fish.

Even this alone creates an ocean vibe, but making seaweed out of raffia tape (Suzuran tape) will enhance the underwater feel even more.

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yamamoto

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