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!
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Parent-child bonding events (1–10)
fruit
One activity that babies in the 0-year-old class can enjoy together with their parents is fruit picking.
Set up trees and fields you’ve made, and place fruit inside them.
The event involves parents and children carrying a basket, picking fruit, and heading for the goal.
By preparing various kinds of fruit, you can add the excitement of “Which one should I choose?” If babies in the 0-year-old class find it difficult to walk, please assist them to get close to the fruit.
Try incorporating this idea to encourage parent-child bonding.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
For those looking for a theme to color the world of a sports day for a 0-year-old class, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is highly recommended.
It portrays a caterpillar searching for food and tells the story of how it eventually becomes a beautiful butterfly.
In the picture book, there’s a clever gimmick where holes appear where the caterpillar has eaten.
It’s also a great idea to let the babies become the caterpillar and go on an adventure.
Create props that bring the story’s world to life, such as fruits and meadows.
Following the storyline as they move through different areas, ending with the touching moment when the parents welcome their baby who has turned into a butterfly, is especially moving.
Swim! Baby Swimmer
“Swim, Baby Swimmer!” is a cute and simple event where children aim for the finish line by walking slowly while holding hands with their guardians.
Since the event is inspired by fish swimming gently, putting a fish-shaped hat on your child or dressing them in clothes with fish prints will make the Baby Swimmer theme even more adorable.
You can also enhance the ocean vibe by placing seaweed or fish panels around the area, so be sure to try those kinds of decorations too!
honeybee
This is a game where children pretend to be honeybees, ride on a balloon, and pick flowers.
Teachers and parents help move the balloon and hand the flowers, so even infants in the 0-year-old class can participate safely.
Keep an eye out for the adorable babies dressed in bee costumes.
It’s also fun to make various types of flowers and let the babies choose their favorites.
If you want to enhance the atmosphere, creating a meadow or flower field out of paper or cardboard is recommended.
It’s a perfect theme for a sports day packed with babies’ adorable charm.
Mr. Ant on an errand
When it comes to sports day themes that are both physical exercise and mental training, “The Errand Ants” is a classic.
It’s a competitive activity where children deliver the food the ants want without making mistakes.
Place food items made from paper or boxes, and let the children pick their favorites.
There are boxes set in front of the ants, so have the children put each food item into the box with the matching illustration.
If it’s difficult for babies in the 0-year-old class to do it on their own, it would be fun for parents or teachers to join in and help find the food.
It’s a unique idea that lets parents and children experience the joy of running errands together.
Taking a stroll on a box♪
This is a parent–child activity using boxes that’s perfect for the 0-year-old class.
Use sturdy materials like cardboard to make a vehicle for the children to ride in.
At the sports day, have the children ride in the vehicle while the guardians pull it with a string.
Pull slowly and aim for the goal as you move forward.
You can also set up small stations before the goal, like grabbing a balloon or choosing an item.
Decorate the boxes cutely while looking forward to the expressions the children will have as they ride!
circuit play
“Circuit play” is like an obstacle course at a sports day, where you set up various attractions and let kids have fun.
Unlike a typical obstacle course, though, the stations are designed so even 0-year-old babies can enjoy them with ease.
For example: mats that wobble when you walk on them, tunnels, and balance beams or mats with gentle slopes.
They’re all fun regardless of height or whether a child can walk yet.
You can start wherever you like—there’s no need to race for rankings! It also helps develop motor skills, so it’s highly recommended.