Lovely childcare

Let’s get infants and one-year-olds excited at the sports day too! A collection of event ideas for parents and children to enjoy together.

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.

When it comes to sports day, it’s all about parent-child events! Here are some wonderful activities that even infants and wobbly-walking 0-year-olds can enjoy.

From the “Animal Train” to “Kinraki Rappon,” there are plenty of hands-on activities tailored to children’s stages of growth.

Whether a child can sit up or still needs to be held, these events let everyone join in together.

They can transform into cute animals, play hand games, and sway happily with their parents.

Create joyful memories filled with sparkling smiles from the children!

Parent-child bonding events (1–10)

piggyback race

Kasamatsu Racecourse Parent-Child Piggyback Race Aryama Kinen 2011

piggyback race

The “piggyback race,” where parents run while carrying their child on their back and aim for the finish line.

Even if you’re used to carrying your child and have a sense of their weight, running is a whole different story.

Even fast runners need to think about balance so they don’t drop their child while running.

Hold them securely on your back and head for the goal as quickly as you can! If you don’t push yourself, your child might be disappointed after you finish.

Make sure your child holds on tight, too!

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Riding a Molcar

https://www.tiktok.com/@harukaa_402/video/7152018389798489346

The guinea pig–shaped cars, Molcars, are a stop-motion animation made with needle-felted wool.

Some children might be big fans of Molcars.

Here, we put your child on a Molcar made of cardboard and pull it along to move.

A child who loves Molcars might be delighted to ride.

Partway through, set them down, then run to the finish line carrying them.

From that point on, instead of carrying, you could hold hands and run together or give them a piggyback.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Tunnel-Crawling Race

At 1 year and 9 months old: first sports day—crawling through a tunnel, jumping, and punching.

Tunnel-Crawling Race

When it comes to parent-child events that give kids a sense of accomplishment, the tunnel-crawling race is a classic.

Children move forward by crawling through a tube-like space, making it an activity where you can really feel their growth.

If they’re having trouble moving smoothly, it’s recommended to have teachers or guardians assist them.

You can set out just one short tunnel, or line up multiple tunnels with rest stops in between—both sound fun.

It also gets exciting when you connect it with other activities like an attraction.

Create lasting memories with a sports day event where you can witness your children’s development up close.

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Parent-child bonding events (11–20)

Turning into a ladybug to search for clovers

[Baby to Toddler] Nursery Sports Day at 1 Year 3 Months ♥ Parent-Child Competition

Turning into a ladybug to search for clovers

In this event, children sit on a large leaf made of cardboard while their guardians pull the attached string to move them forward.

Please pull gently so the children don’t tip backward.

After the parent and child hop across the four-leaf clovers together, you’ll see some pretty flowers ahead—pick your favorite one.

Finally, climb the vaulting box, which represents a mountain, to reach the goal! This is an activity that parents and children can enjoy together, so why not include it in your sports day?

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Can you tell where you are?

Parent-child competition ~ Can you tell where they are? ~

Can you tell where you are?

Let us introduce a fun, humor-filled event called “Can You Tell Where They Are?” Children line up side by side in small groups, showing only their feet while the rest of their bodies are hidden from view.

Parents then look at the rows of feet and try to pick out which ones belong to their own child—it’s a hilarious challenge.

The children’s little feet lined up are adorable and heartwarming.

Judging based only on feet seems quite difficult, but even if a parent picks the wrong child, that would surely liven up the venue! If you’re looking for a quirky and entertaining activity, definitely give this one a try.

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Uber Eats

[Daichi and Kujira] Sports Day practice scene

Uber Eats

Hold hands with a guardian dressed up as an Uber Eats courier and deliver delicious food! No hill or staircase is too tough.

Be careful not to fall off the path and go pick up the ordered food.

You can carry it in a backpack, or deliver it as is.

Once you deliver the food, you’ve reached the goal.

If there’s someone at the goal to receive the food, you might be able to work even harder on your delivery.

Wishing you a fun and exciting sports day!

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Transform into an animal!

Matsuyama City Nursery School ★ Sports Festival Parent-Child Event for 0-Year-Olds (4): Are You a Koala??

Transform into an animal!

Introducing a parent-child event for infants that can be enjoyed whether they’re sitting or being held.

First, hop into the star car and start! If some babies can’t sit steadily, it looks fun to begin with them in their caregiver’s arms.

When the star car arrives, roll the dice.

Each face shows an animal—like a penguin or a rabbit—so become that animal together and head for the goal.

Please proceed at a comfortable pace that matches each child’s developmental stage!

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