Lovely childcare

Let’s enjoy summer-only fun! Cool and refreshing play ideas

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.

In the hot summer, many teachers are surely thinking, “I want to have fun with the children through cool activities!” So here are some ideas to enjoy summer-specific play.

There are classics like water gun games to enjoy with friends, as well as sensory play using mud, foam, and ice.

Hands-on experiences nurture children’s curiosity, so these are highly recommended.

There are also activities children love—like bath bombs and slime—that can be done both outdoors and indoors, so be sure to incorporate them into your childcare.

Stimulate the children’s five senses and enjoy the summer to the fullest!

Let’s enjoy summer-only fun! Cool and refreshing play ideas (21–30)

Ice play where you can put in your favorite character

https://www.tiktok.com/@riimama.asobi/video/7256770642639457537

Help the toys! Here’s a fun ice play idea where you can trap your favorite characters inside ice.

Every child has toys that are special to them or favorites they love, right? How about using those toys to make ice? To rescue the toys trapped in a frozen world, kids will likely focus on melting the ice.

Try it in a way that’s enjoyable and safe for your child, and make the most of those hot summer days.

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ice koma

[Brain-Boosting Play] Easy and cooling indoor ice play perfect for summer #SummerPlay #IcePlay #SpinningTops #Kindergarten #ElementarySchool

ice koma

Introduce a perfect indoor play idea for hot summer days that uses cold ice and will have your child completely absorbed! Playing with spinning tops made of ice lets kids use their hands and fingers while stimulating their senses.

To make the ice tops, pour water and decorations like glitter or beads into a condiment cup, insert a popsicle stick into a square-folded piece of aluminum foil, and set it on top of the cup to hold the stick in place.

Then just freeze until solid and they’re ready! It might feel tricky at first, but once the surface starts to melt a bit, they’re easier to spin—so give it a try! You can also bump the tops into each other for battles or compete to see whose top spins the longest.

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Bath bomb making

[For 5-year-olds] Fun-to-make bath bomb crafting!

Bath bomb making

Bath bombs are so fun to watch as they fizz and dissolve when you pop them into the tub.

Did you know you can make them yourself? How about making some with your kids and having a little playtime? All you need are baking soda, citric acid, and food coloring.

Mix the baking soda and citric acid, then add your preferred color of food coloring to tint the mixture.

Pack the mixture firmly into silicone molds and let it dry—that’s it! We recommend using character-shaped silicone molds sold at 100-yen shops.

Fill a large basin with water and enjoy the fizz as they dissolve!

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Soap bubble

Fun Day Care – Bubble Show & Hangers

Soap bubble

Soap bubbles are something everyone has played with at least once.

Kids love watching lots of tiny bubbles float in the air or a big bubble drift slowly by! Soap bubbles look especially striking against the clear blue summer sky, making them perfect for summer play.

There are the classic toys where you blow through a straw dipped in bubble solution to make bubbles, and there are also “bubble guns” that let you pour solution into a tank and produce a huge number of bubbles all at once.

Soap bubbles can even make the hot summer feel a bit cooler.

Make lots and have fun!

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[Craft] Water gun with a plastic bottle

Plastic Bottle Water Gun: Make bath time more fun! You can change how the water comes out!

[Craft] Water gun with a plastic bottle

One activity that’s great for pool play is using a water gun made from plastic bottles.

To make one, prepare two plastic bottles.

Cut one bottle around the halfway point and use the mouthpiece side.

For the other bottle, cut it a bit closer to the mouth than halfway, and again use the mouthpiece side.

To prevent injuries, it’s a good idea to tape over the cut edges on both pieces.

Remove the cap from the bottle you cut second, and insert it into the first bottle.

On the first bottle’s cap, poke several holes so water can spray out.

Your plastic-bottle water gun is complete! By changing how you make the holes in the cap, you can vary the way the water comes out.

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