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 for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: 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 (11–20)

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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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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Shinkansen

FY2024 Kirara-en Sports Day Parent–Child Event for 0-, 1-, and 2-Year-Olds

Shinkansen

One of the vehicles kids love most: the Shinkansen.

This time, we’re sharing an activity idea themed around the Shinkansen.

Using cardboard and construction paper, make the Hayabusa and Komachi.

To keep children safe while riding, it’s a good idea to place a chair inside.

Once everything is ready, all aboard! Have a parent dressed as a conductor push the train, and dash through a waterfall made from plastic tape streamers.

The light, silky sensation will spark their curiosity.

When you arrive at the station, receive a souvenir and you’re at the finish line.

It’s an activity parents and children can enjoy together, so be sure to give it a try!

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Roll the Dice!

FY2023 Minami Daycare & Next-Door Minami Daycare Sports Day — 0-Year-Old Parent-Child Event: “Roll the Dice, Pop!”

Roll the Dice!

First, a parent or guardian starts by holding their child.

When you reach the large die, roll it together.

Next, head together to the box that matches the color shown on the die.

Finally, take a medal from the box, hang it around the child’s neck, and then proceed to the finish—those are the event rules.

Since children can participate together with their parents or guardians, they’ll feel safe and have fun.

It’s also a good idea to keep what’s inside the boxes a secret until the day of the event to add excitement for the kids.

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Crawling race

Participated in a crawling race on 2018-11-25

Crawling race

The Crawling Race is an event for zero-year-old babies that they participate in with their parents.

As the name suggests, they compete to see who can reach the finish line the fastest by crawling! Of course, babies don’t understand the course, so their guardians call out, “This way!” to guide them to the goal.

Some babies won’t move from the start, and depending on their mood, some might not be able to participate at all.

It’s a laid-back event that everyone can enjoy.

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Parent and child with shan-shan

FY 2018 Minami Nursery School Sports Day: Parent–Child Event for 0-Year-Olds “Parent and Child Shanshan”

Parent and child with shan-shan

Xiang Xiang the panda, who was born and raised at Ueno Zoo and quickly became a hot topic, has now been returned to China and seems to be doing well.

Here’s a fun event that features Xiang Xiang.

Children start by being held by their guardians.

Kids who can walk may hold hands with their guardians and proceed together.

After crawling through a tunnel themed after bamboo leaves, ring the bell beyond it together with your child, just like Xiang Xiang, to reach the goal! This time we focused on a panda, but it would be fun to adapt it with various animals.

Adding cute animal masks would make the event even more enjoyable.

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Playtime for Parents and Children (1–10)

glitter-sparkle-pon

Yakushiji Kindergarten, Futaba Kodomoen, Aoba Nursery School: 2022 Infant Department Sports Day – Parent-Child Play for 0-Year-Olds “Kinra Kirapon”

glitter-sparkle-pon

Here’s an introduction to the parent–child activity “Kinrakira-pon,” which you can enjoy with babies from 0 years old.

While there are differences in monthly age at this stage, it’s a cute little play that both children who can sit and those who have started walking can join.

There are many moments of gentle interaction—holding hands with the children, lightly poking their cheeks, and more! You can also cuddle and sway them, or play peekaboo, so you’ll see lots of adorable expressions! It ends with a parent–child hug, overflowing with happiness.

It’s a parent–child activity where you can watch your little ones grow, so be sure to dance along and have fun!

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