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)

Let’s play a game with a sensory bag

Work No. 008 Sensory Bag (Game Edition) [Handmade Toys for Early Childhood Education]

Let's play a game with a sensory bag

Do you know what a sensory bag is? “Sensory” refers to perception, touch, and sensation.

A sensory bag is an educational toy where a squishy, gel-like substance is placed inside a pouch, along with items like beads and glitter, so you can enjoy the tactile experience.

Its fun appearance and texture will captivate children.

A zip-lock style bag is recommended to prevent the gel from leaking.

Choose a transparent one so you can see the colorful, sparkly beads inside and enjoy how they look.

Make a handmade sensory bag that you can touch from the outside to enjoy the feel—have fun with it together with your kids.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

mud play

“Muddy Play!” [Ages 0–5] | Torikai Yuuiku-en [Nursery School / Kindergarten]

mud play

Kids love getting all muddy when they play, don’t they? Since it’s summer, how about trying some mud play when you’re outside? Tidal flats where people go clamming have plenty of natural mud, so it might be nice to enjoy some mud play with the family while you’re at the beach.

And if everyone gets covered in mud, taking a group photo will make for a lifelong memory.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Colored water play

Elephant Class (2-year-olds) at Hachiman Nursery School (Fukui City) playing with colored water! Enjoying themselves in August 2018 despite the heat!

Colored water play

Children around kindergarten or nursery school age love playing with colored water, and many of you probably remember doing it when you were that age.

Morning glories bloom in the summer, making it the perfect season for color-water play.

Of course, it’s also great for simple activities using crayons or paints.

When you mix colored water, it turns into other colors, so it’s also recommended as a play activity that fosters various kinds of imagination.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Watermelon splitting

Speaking of summer… Watermelon Splitting! [Ages 1–2] | Taishogawa Play & Learning Nursery [Daycare/Kindergarten Event]

Watermelon splitting

One of the iconic sights of summer is the watermelon-splitting game.

It’s often enjoyed at kids’ events and at the beach, but there are various issues: preparing whole watermelons is a hassle, it’s hard to know how many to get depending on the number of children participating, and the cleanup can be tough.

So let’s try a version you can enjoy to the fullest indoors—and as many times as you like! We’ll make a watermelon that splits open with a satisfying pop when struck with a stick.

It’s also fun to have everyone work together to make a big watermelon.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Making slime

[For 3-year-olds] Squish, stretch—let’s make slime!

Making slime

Let’s try making and playing with slime that has an indescribably pleasant, satisfying texture! You might wonder, “Can you really make slime?”—but with laundry glue, water, and borax, you can.

Thoroughly mix the laundry glue and water, then add a borax solution and stir it around; it will start to thicken and turn into slime.

Once it holds together, pick it up and play with it.

It could be fun to add color using food coloring or paint.

Kids are sure to be captivated by the soft, squishy feel!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem