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 activities! Cool and refreshing play ideas (31–40)

Ice Treasure Hunt

@hoikushisatomi
[Indoor Play] Ice Treasure Hunt 🧊Nursery teacher / Childcare worker #NurseryTeacherDailyLife #NurseryTeacherThings #LifeWithKids Kids will love it #Indoor Play
3:03 PM – Sharou

Visually beautiful and exciting play! Here’s an idea for an Ice Treasure Hunt.

Treasure hunts are one of kids’ favorite activities, right? Some children think carefully about where the treasure might be hidden as they search, while others touch and check everything they see—there are all kinds of approaches.

This time, it’s an idea for an ice treasure hunt where the treasure is visible but frustratingly hard to get, and that challenge is part of the fun.

All you need are plastic cups and small toys.

Put the toys and water into the plastic cups and freeze them.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

playing in the river

Summer is a great season for playing in rivers.

When planning river activities, always have guardians check how comfortable the children are with water.

Teachers should also conduct a site inspection in advance and confirm on the day that the weather is safe and the river’s water level hasn’t risen.

It’s important for all teachers to thoroughly check that the play area is shallow, that children can firmly stand, and that there are no hazardous spots.

Make sure children wear life jackets, clearly go over the rules for river play, and assign a higher number of teachers relative to the number of children.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Bubble play

"Bubble Play" [2-Year-Olds] | Torikai Higashi Yuuiku-en [Nursery/Kindergarten Event]

Bubble play

Foam play is perfect for a July event.

Prepare a pool or a large basin so the children can have a blast.

Once you make the foam, use a whisk or a stick with rounded ends to mix it.

The mixing process is so fun that both adults and children will be totally absorbed! It’s also recommended to add color to the foam to make “juice,” pour it into plastic bottles, and turn it into a pretend juice shop.

Please be careful to prevent accidental ingestion, such as putting foam in the mouth, and enjoy playing safely!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Colorful Ice Made with a 100-Yen Ice Bag

@nicohana.ouchi
We put water in a 100-yen ice bag, made ice, and had fun♪ Of course, you can use an ice tray, but watching the water go into the ice bag is beautiful too♡ We usually use the ice bag to make ice for my sons’ soccer, but you can pour in juice or coffee—there are so many fun ways to enjoy it in summer, it’s the best♡ Colored ice shining in the sun looks like jewels—sparkly and cute♪ Even adults get mesmerized. ………………………………………………… I’m @nicohana.ouchi, a mom of four practicing relaxed Montessori at home. I share tips on living/playing/enjoying with kids—little ideas to make daily life fun and effortless.#SensoryPlay Five Senses Play Colored Water Play Educational #OuchiMonte #IcePlay Colored Water Ice #100-yenShopEdutainment #AtHomePlay #WaterPlay Living with Children Ice pack #100-yen store purchases
♬ heartwarming everyday song(1370853) – Sumochi

Like sparkling gemstones! Here’s a colorful ice idea you can make with a dollar-store ice bag.

Kids are naturally drawn to shiny, glittering things and items that feel special.

This time, let’s use an ice bag you can find at 100-yen shops to create beautifully colored ice.

Once it’s ready, you can float the ice in a pool or bath, or pile it into cups for play.

It’s a wonderful idea that can help nurture children’s creativity!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Water moving through a straw?

[For older preschoolers and up] Fun experiment♪ Can water move through a straw?

Water moving through a straw?

Would you like to try a fun experiment where water moves on its own? All you need are two clear cups, a bendable straw, and water! Cut the bendable straw so that both sides are the same length with the flexible section in the middle.

First, fill one of the cups with plenty of water.

Next, fill the inside of the straw with water and then hold both ends with your fingers so it doesn’t spill.

Finally, insert each end of the water-filled straw into each cup, and you’re done.

The water will automatically travel from one cup to the other through the straw.

If you add color to the water, you can also enjoy watching the movement and how the colors mix.

This experiment uses the principle of a siphon.

Be sure to observe the mysterious movement of water together with children!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem