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)

Body painting

[Ages 0–5] Body Painting — Gather Around, Enjoy Painter!

Body painting

Let’s paint our faces and bodies with lots of colors and enjoy some body painting! In cold seasons, the water can be so chilly that cleaning off the paint feels unpleasant, but in summer, even the washing-off part is cool and fun for kids.

Be sure to let them play freely during the hot summer.

You can paint cute designs like the ones you see at theme parks, or just slather on all kinds of colors—anything goes! Since regular paints can sometimes irritate the skin, it’s best to use paints made specifically for body painting.

Also, be careful to keep paint out of the mouth and eyes.

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water balloon

[Balloon Play Special] Perfect for indoor activities in childcare (for ages 2–5)

water balloon

Let’s have fun playing with water balloons like the ones you see at festivals! There are even types that let you fill many balloons at once, so be sure to make use of those.

Water-filled balloons feel bouncy and squishy, even more so than regular balloons, which makes them really fun to touch.

You can poke and squish them, float them in a pool, roll them around—there are lots of ways to play.

Even if you throw them and they hit someone, they don’t hurt that much, but be careful not to aim at delicate areas like the face.

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Agar play

Matsuyama City Nursery School ★ Agar Play ♪♪

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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Making juice with foam

[For 1-year-olds] Let's make juice with bubbles!

Making juice with foam

Water play that kids love is perfect for summer—just splashing with their hands cools them down and makes it feel refreshing.

How about making it even more fun by using bubbles and pretending they’re juice? Fill a basin or an inflatable pool with water and whip up bubbles with soap.

They can splash and mix with their hands, or try a whisk or a bath sponge.

You can also use everyday items like scoops and paper cups to play.

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Ice play

At Hachiman Nursery School (Fukui City), the Elephant Class (2-year-olds) all played with ice. They discovered leaves and flowers inside the ice! How fun!

Ice play

A great indoor activity for summer is “ice play”! Just touching ice is fun and cooling enough, but if you have time, try adding a little twist.

When you freeze water, place leaves, flowers, or small toys in it as well.

That way, children won’t just touch the ice—they’ll also think about how to melt it and get the items out as they play.

Be sure to choose objects that are safe even if they end up in a child’s mouth!

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