[For 4-year-olds] Crafts to make with preschoolers in July and August: Creative activities that let kids feel the summer

Swaying Creation

[Kindergarten/Daycare] Rainy season craft / Hydrangea / How to make a fun June craft that gently sways ♡

Things that sway gently—lately, I feel like there are more seasonal advertising pop-ups hanging from the ceilings in supermarkets and convenience stores.

Not only children but adults will find their eyes drawn to them.

Making a gently swaying craft like that sounds fun too.

If you imagine a small mobile, the creation process should go smoothly.

For the hanging pieces, don’t just draw illustrations on paper—using cellophane or metallic gold and silver paper could spark even more imagination! Using yarn for the hanging thread will make it colorful as well.

Be sure to include motifs that evoke June, like hydrangeas and snails!

Dream-colored Whale

Preschool & Kindergarten: Let's draw big and bold! July—Dream-colored whales swimming in the sea (art/craft activity)

Whales swimming dynamically in the ocean are the perfect motif for summer! Here’s a craft idea for making a dreamy, pastel-colored whale using shoji paper to enjoy soft, blended effects.

Cut shoji paper into the shape of a whale’s body, fold it, and dab in several colors of your favorite paints to let them soak through.

Open it up, let it dry, then glue it onto a backing sheet and add the tail, eye, mouth, and belly.

For the finishing touch, load paint onto a toothbrush to splatter on “spouts,” and add water splashes with fingertip stamps if you like! This project encourages bold, expressive art, so let the kids create freely.

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miyabi

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Fireworks made from scrap stamping

Let me introduce a super fun stamping firework craft using recycled materials.

Get a toilet paper roll, paint, and aluminum foil ready, and let’s make it! Use scissors to cut thin vertical slits into one end of the toilet paper roll, then flare the strips outward.

Squeeze some paint onto the aluminum foil, and dab the cut end of the roll into the paint.

Stamp it onto construction paper to create beautiful fireworks.

Layering a few colors can make the fireworks even more striking.

Stamping on black construction paper is recommended!

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mayumi

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A rhinoceros beetle and a watermelon made with origami

[Summer Wall Display] A Perfect Craft for July and August: Rhinoceros Beetles and Watermelons (for 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds)

We’re introducing two summer favorites: rhinoceros beetles and watermelons.

For the watermelon, cut red and green construction paper into circles and glue them together.

Tear pieces of origami paper by hand and glue them on to create the watermelon pattern.

For the rhinoceros beetle, sharpen the horn shape and make crisp folds.

It’s also fun to fold a stag beetle along with it.

Finish by adding round sticker eyes.

Glue the watermelon and beetles onto a background sheet to enjoy the seasonal feel! A flip feature where a pattern appears when you lift the watermelon is also a fun touch.

Definitely try making this for your July wall display!

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mayumi

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[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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tsukada moe

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fluffy ice cream

Ice cream is something you’ll want to eat every day once summer arrives.

How about incorporating a three-dimensional ice cream craft into your July activities? Using shaving foam, you can create ice cream with a wonderfully fluffy texture! All you need to do is mix shaving foam, white craft glue, and food coloring.

Attach a cone cutout to construction paper, decorate it with your ice cream, and you’re done! You can also add stickers or draw designs for extra decoration.

This fun, super tactile craft is sure to delight children.

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Swaying wind chimes

As a summery craft idea for July, we recommend wobbly wind chimes.

Teachers and children can enjoy making them together, and after they’re done, the kids can take them home and keep enjoying them! You can decorate pudding or jelly cups and use them directly as wind chimes, take apart and repurpose the lids from six-piece cheese packs, or use capsule toy containers as they are—with a bit of creativity, you can turn recycled materials into lovely wind chimes! Note that making wind chimes involves a step where holes must be made, so be sure that adults handle this part.

Let the children put on stickers and draw pictures as their part of the process.

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