[Childcare] A roundup of summer craft ideas to enjoy with 2-year-olds

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.
Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

A fun summer for children.At around age two, children’s minds and bodies grow rapidly, and the ways they express themselves expand.In childcare settings, it’s nice to incorporate ideas that let children feel the season of summer while enjoying crafts.However, if you always use similar methods, things can sometimes feel a bit dull.So here, we introduce summer craft ideas you can enjoy together with two-year-olds.There are many ideas, so please use them as inspiration and enjoy summer with the children!Because the things children make are treated as works, we use the term “seisaku (制作),” meaning production/work, in the text.

[Childcare] A roundup of summer craft ideas to enjoy with 2-year-olds (11–20)

[scribbles] Tanabata decorations

Tanabata decorations where you can write wishes are perfect for a summer craft.

Try making them together with one-year-olds.

First, let them scribble with crayons on white construction paper, then decorate it with round stickers.

Cut it into the shape of Hikoboshi’s body, and paste another piece of paper on top where the wish will be written.

The key is to make the most of the lovely patterns the children create.

Prepare Orihime and Hikoboshi’s faces with construction paper, and let the children make the facial parts with stickers or draw them with crayons.

After that, just glue all the parts together.

You could also interview the parents to write down the children’s wishes.

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[Footprint] Parasol and Flip-Flops

Let’s enjoy a summery craft using children’s footprints to make a parasol and flip-flops.

First, have fun with decalcomania on white drawing paper.

Since it will become the parasol’s pattern, choose bright colors to create a lively feel.

Once the paint dries, cut it into the shape of an umbrella.

Take the children’s footprints, and after they dry, cut them into the shape of flip-flops.

Glue yarn over the footprints to represent the flip-flop straps.

Finally, attach the parasol and flip-flops to a backing sheet, and you’re done!

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Sparkling transparent lantern

Let’s make cute, sparkly skeleton lanterns together with the kids.

First, prepare two clear plastic cups and stuff them with transparent origami paper.

Using a variety of colors will make the finished lanterns vibrant.

Next, align the rims of the cups and secure them with tape.

Then, decorate the outside of the cups with stickers, such as stars.

Finally, attach black paper bands to the top and bottom.

If you’re working with two-year-olds, it’s a fun idea to plan which steps to let the children handle.

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Refreshing Ramune in Watercolor Bleed

When you think of drinks that evoke summer, some of you might picture ramune soda.

Using a wet-on-wet painting technique, you can enjoy making ramune art with children.

First, wet drawing paper with water and have fun creating a bleeding effect with paints like blue, light blue, and purple.

Once the paint dries, cut out the shape of a ramune bottle and use construction paper to make the cap.

For the marble inside, let the kids stick on round stickers.

You can also make a ramune-style label out of construction paper.

It’s a refreshing craft idea.

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Tanabata craft with vegetable stamps

How about making a Tanabata craft while enjoying vegetable stamping? This time we’ll use okra—a vegetable that’s also used in Tanabata somen.

Cut white construction paper into a half-circle and stamp it with okra.

These will become Hikoboshi and Orihime’s kimonos, so choose colors with that image in mind.

Once the paint dries, paste them onto slightly larger blue and pink construction paper.

Roll them to give a kimono-like shape and secure with double-sided tape.

Next, make the faces and attach them to a backing sheet.

Feel free to adjust the steps for the faces and the backing to suit your class’s vibe.

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[Tissue Paper] Polar Bear Shaved Ice

Using tissue paper, children can enjoy making shaved ice artwork that even feels fluffy to the touch.

As a preparation, the teacher should make the shaved ice base out of construction paper.

For 2-year-olds, have them choose tissue paper to represent the syrup and tear it into pieces.

Once it’s torn into small bits, apply glue to the syrup area of the shaved ice and start sticking on the tissue paper.

It’s fine to layer the pieces.

After the glue dries, mount it on a backing sheet and decorate with motifs like a polar bear or a shaved ice sign.

It’s a craft idea that looks delicious with its fluffy syrup.

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[Childcare] A roundup of summer craft ideas to enjoy with 2-year-olds (21–30)

Goldfish fan

Here’s an idea for making a fan inspired by the beloved children’s picture book “The Runaway Goldfish.” You’ll use a technique called stenciling, which involves creating pictures and letters with a cut-out template.

Cut a goldfish shape out of the center of a clear plastic file to make your stencil, place it on construction paper, and paint over it.

Decorate around it with stickers, then cut the paper into a round fan shape and punch a hole for your fingers.

Finally, add the goldfish’s eye to complete your cute goldfish fan.

For coloring, dabbing paint with a sponge like stamping gives it a nice texture and is highly recommended.

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