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

Colorful Turtle

This is a craft project featuring turtles, a creature popular with children.

When you think of turtles, you probably picture the shell on their backs.

In this project, that shell is expressed in colorful paint.

First, use masking tape on drawing paper to create the shell’s pattern.

Then paint over it with your favorite colors.

Once the paint dries, peel off the masking tape and cut the paper into the shape of a shell.

Finally, attach the head, legs, and tail pieces to complete your colorful turtle.

Since cutting out the small parts can be delicate work, it’s recommended that an adult prepare them in advance.

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sasashina

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Tanabata craft with swipe art

Let’s make Tanabata decorations using the swipe art technique! Swipe art is a method where you brush several colors of paint onto a sponge, then swipe the sponge to create striped patterns.

We use this pattern as a representation of the Milky Way and apply it to Tanabata decorations! The key tips are to mix plenty of water into the paint and to avoid pressing too hard when you swipe.

Add decorations like Orihime and Hikoboshi, star-shaped cutouts from construction or colored paper, and stickers to finish! The steps—dabbing paint onto the sponge and swiping—are very engaging, so be sure to let children enjoy creating them.

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miyabi

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Handmade toys for pool play

Let’s make a toy with the kids that will double the fun of playing in the pool.

First, cut a plastic bottle to a suitable length, and to prevent injuries, round off the cut edge by pressing it with an iron.

Make several holes in the bottom so water comes out like a shower.

Next, thread small pieces of straw onto raffia tape to create a handle.

Finally, decorate the bottle by sticking on colorful vinyl tape cut into various shapes, and you’re done.

This activity is perfect for fine motor skills, like threading and sticking stickers.

The bright colors are sure to boost kids’ excitement for water play!

Penguins and shaved ice

How about enjoying a refreshing summer vibe with a sparkling, colorful shaved ice paired with an adorable penguin? Make the shaved ice and the bowl from colored construction paper, and create the syrup by cutting transparent origami paper into small pieces and sticking them on with glue.

For the ice, use a stamp made by attaching cardboard to the tip of an empty plastic bottle.

For the penguin, wrap a cut paper tube with origami paper.

Attach each part—like the eyes and beak—with double-sided tape.

This breezy combo will help you feel cool even indoors!

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hiyori

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The Milky Way and Orihime and Hikoboshi

Turn a kitchen must-have—parchment paper—into the Milky Way! It’s a fun, hands-on craft you can enjoy with kids.

First, spread several colors of acrylic paint onto the parchment paper, fold it in half, and use your hands to spread the paint.

Next, open it up and flick white paint with a brush to complete the Milky Way.

Then roll the parchment into a tube, staple it, and hang Orihime and Hikoboshi motifs from twine to finish.

The tactile fun of spreading paint on parchment paper and the freedom to combine colors will give you a unique, personality-filled Tanabata decoration!

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miyabi

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Paper Cutout Star

Let’s try making a star papercut that could also be used as a Tanabata decoration.

First, fold the origami paper into the specified shape before cutting.

By folding it into that shape and then cutting, it will turn into a star.

After folding the origami paper in half, fold the top-right corner down to meet the bottom edge and the bottom-right corner up to meet the top edge to create an X-shaped crease.

Next, fold the bottom-left corner to the center of the X, then fold that corner back to the opposite side.

Align the right bottom edge with the new edge created by the fold and crease.

Flip the paper over and fold it in half along the center line.

After that, simply cut straight across the top at an upward right diagonal with scissors—and that’s it! Since some steps may be tricky for three-year-olds, work in small groups with adult support.

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sasashina

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[Aluminum Cup] Fireworks

Easy! Sparkling fireworks! Fun for kids and adults alike.

Here’s a perfect August craft: fireworks made using bento cup liners.

For this project, you’ll mainly use the thin paper placed between the cups.

First, unfold the paper and fold it three times to make a triangle.

Then draw lines in shapes like triangles or circles and cut them out with scissors.

This part requires fine motor skills, so please have an adult help.

Once you’ve cut out the shapes, use pens to draw patterns.

The patterns and colors are up to you, so let the kids create freely.

Since the paper is layered, press firmly with the pen to let the ink bleed slightly—that’s the key.

After finishing the patterns, unfold the paper and stick it onto a silver cup.

The cutout areas will shine silver, creating a beautiful firework effect!

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sasashina

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