[For 3-year-olds] A roundup of craft ideas to enjoy in summer! Introducing various motifs and techniques
Summer is full of fun events at nurseries and kindergartens, like water play and festivals! But there are also days when it’s too hot to play outside.
On those days, how about enjoying some crafting? Through making things, children can discover new ideas, get inspired, and feel happy.
Here, we’ve gathered summer craft ideas recommended for three-year-olds.
With a variety of themes and techniques, kids can create projects they’ll enjoy.
Please use this as a reference and have fun enjoying summer together with the children! Because the children’s creations are treated as works, we use the term “seisaku” (制作) in the text.
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[For 3-year-olds] A roundup of craft ideas to enjoy in summer! Introducing various motifs and techniques (1–10)
Morning glory craft made with dyed paper
Speaking of summer flowers, morning glories are just as famous as sunflowers.
So for a summer craft, let’s try making morning glories using dyed paper! To make them, take a round-cut piece of shoji paper, fold it in half three times, and apply watercolor paint along the edges so it soaks in.
Be careful: if you use too much paint or too much water when mixing, the color will spread across the entire paper.
Once colored, open the paper and let it dry, then cut colored construction paper to make leaves.
Finally, attach the morning glory and leaves to a thick paper base with a chopstick handle, and you’re done.
It’s a great idea that also works as a wall decoration.
Goldfish scooping toy

When it comes to stalls popular with children at summer festivals, goldfish scooping is a classic.
The sight of red goldfish gracefully swimming is practically a symbol of summer.
So for a summer craft, let’s make a goldfish scooping toy.
This lets you enjoy goldfish scooping in a kendama-like way.
Crumple a tissue into a ball and wrap it with a large sheet of flower paper.
This will be the goldfish, so shape the tail fin, then wrap tape around the boundary between the head and the tail, and attach pectoral fins and eyes made from origami.
Slightly split the tip of a pair of chopsticks, insert a paper plate between the split and secure it.
Tie the paper plate and the goldfish together with a string, and you’re done.
Play by flipping the goldfish up from the paper plate and trying to land it back on the plate again!
Making wind chimes from jelly cups

Furin wind chimes are a beautiful symbol of summer, ringing with a gentle lin-lin sound.
Here’s an idea for making a wind chime using a jelly cup.
First, decorate the cup with masking tape and sparkly stickers.
Make two holes in the bottom of the cup, thread a string through, and tie it on the inside of the cup, leaving a small loop on the outside.
Then cut one side of the string inside, thread on a bell, and tie it to secure.
Finally, attach the tanzaku strip, and you’re done.
An adult should handle the hole-punching step.
Also, tying the string inside the cup is trickier than it looks, so it’s best for an adult to help with that as well.
[For 3-year-olds] A roundup of craft ideas to enjoy in summer! Introducing various motifs and techniques (11–20)
Cute origami lantern

Mini-sized and perfect for decorating anywhere! Here are some cute origami lantern ideas.
When you think of making lanterns, many people probably picture using construction paper.
This time, let’s try making lanterns with origami paper, which comes in a wide range of colors.
You’ll need origami paper, pipe cleaners, scissors, glue, and clear tape.
Plain origami works well, but using Japanese patterns or washi-style paper can create a lovely atmosphere—give it a try!
Cute watermelon lantern
https://www.tiktok.com/@peta_peta_anyo/video/7391119811519991058Fun craft time! Here’s a cute watermelon lantern idea.
It’s perfect for anyone who wants to make lanterns together with children.
You’ll need construction paper, origami paper, a toilet paper roll, paint, cotton swabs, and more.
Dab black paint with a cotton swab onto red origami paper like a stamp.
You can also use round stickers for this step, so choose based on the child’s age and development.
The rounded shape is adorably charming, isn’t it?
origami watermelon lantern

Just like a watermelon! Here’s an idea for an origami watermelon lantern.
Many of you may be looking to make something with a touch of humor when crafting a lantern, right? Let’s try making a lantern with a classic summer watermelon motif.
All you need are colored construction paper, origami paper, scissors, and glue.
Adding a vine and leaves will make the watermelon motif even more charming.
It’s a perfect idea for summer festivals or wall decorations! Be sure to give it a try.
Refreshing Melon Soda

With a scoop of ice cream on top of juice, it’s like a dream drink, isn’t it? Melon soda looks refreshing and is perfect for summer crafts, so be sure to try making it with the kids.
First, cut out the glass, the juice portion, the ice cream, and the cherry from colored construction paper.
An adult should draw the outlines, and have the children do the cutting.
Once the parts are cut out, use a sponge and a straw to stamp the juice section to create the look of ice and bubbles.
Finally, glue all the pieces onto the backing paper, and you’re done!



