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

cute pineapple toy

Here’s how to make a cute pineapple toy using a candy container! Use an empty cylindrical candy box that matches the size of a pool noodle.

Insert a yellow pool noodle inside, then cut it to the width that suits a pineapple shape.

It already looks pineapple-like at this point, but you can add the pineapple pattern by scoring it with a nail or a thin stick.

Finally, decorate the candy case to look like a tin can using fabric scraps or wrapping paper—and you’re done! It’s perfect for pretend play or playing shop.

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kepiko

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The Ferris wheel spinning round and round

Let me introduce a water-play friendly, spinning Ferris wheel craft.

Gather pool noodles, a milk carton, wooden chopsticks, plastic spoons, and a utility knife, and let’s make it.

First, cut the milk carton to create the base on which the Ferris wheel will rotate.

Next, take a piece of cut pool noodle and make six evenly spaced slits along its side.

Insert plastic spoons into the slits with the handles pointing inward.

Thread a chopstick through the center, set it onto the milk carton base, and it’s complete.

Attach gashapon capsules to the plastic spoons to transform it into a Ferris wheel.

By keeping the balance even, the Ferris wheel will spin smoothly.

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mayumi

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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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Pool cue air cannon

Let me introduce an air cannon made from a pool noodle that you can complete in no time.

Prepare a pool noodle, a balloon, a pom-pom ball, and vinyl tape, and let’s get started.

Cut the pool noodle, tie a knot at the mouth of the balloon, and then cut the top part of the balloon horizontally with scissors, leaving more material on the bottom section.

Fit the cut balloon onto the end of the pool noodle and secure it firmly with vinyl tape so it won’t come off—now it’s ready.

To launch, place a pom-pom ball inside and pull back on the balloon section, then aim upward and release.

The steps are simple, so it’s also recommended for busy teachers.

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mayumi

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Yacht game with caps

No.118 'Yacht Game with Bottle Caps' [Handmade Toy by a Nursery Teacher]

The “Bottle Cap Yacht Game,” where you compete by floating boats on water, is a clever craft that lets you enjoy heated matches using just plastic bottle caps and straws.

Put flags on color-coded caps—like red and blue—finish them in a yacht style, and float them in a water-filled container.

Blow through a straw to propel your yacht; if you get yours into the opponent’s territory first, you win! It’s easy to make, yet it sparks intense battles that demand strategy and focus.

As a craft you can enjoy with everyday materials, it’s an especially popular, recommended game among boys.

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kojifumi

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watermelon

Watermelon Craft [3D] [Origami] [Wall Decoration] [Easy for Kids]

Watermelon, the quintessential summer fruit that many people say they “absolutely eat every year once summer arrives!” Its distinctive look—so iconic that the green-and-red combo instantly brings watermelon to mind—also makes it an easy motif to craft.

You can make one simply by sticking red construction paper onto green and drawing the seeds.

There’s also a way to create a watermelon-inspired paper fan decoration by accordion-folding origami paper, so be sure to look up the method and give it a try.

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Hane Keisuke

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Paku-Paku Goldfish

For the hot summer, a great recommendation for preschoolers is the “Munch-Munch Goldfish” origami.

Fold it, open it up, and move its mouth, and it looks just like a goldfish from a scooping game swimming around.

Use cool-colored origami paper for a fresh look that instantly boosts the summer vibe.

Once finished, kids can show their goldfish to friends or use them for pretend play—the possibilities are endless.

Many children get hooked and say, “I want to make another one!” fostering imagination while using their fingertips.

Display them on the wall to instantly create a nostalgic atmosphere.

It’s an origami idea full of seasonal charm—fun to fold, delightful to display, and memorable too.

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kojifumi

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