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Perfect for Sports Day! Obstacle Course Ideas Recommended for 2-Year-Olds

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.

Here are some of the most popular parent-child events for two-year-olds at nursery and kindergarten sports days.

Participating together with their beloved parents makes for fun, unforgettable moments for the children! There are plenty of activities with cute, familiar themes like sushi, ice cream, and vegetables.

From being carried in arms to piggyback rides, every event values parent-child bonding and is sure to bring smiles to everyone.

All activities are designed with safety in mind, so feel free to choose ones that suit your child’s stage of development.

Role-Playing Obstacle Course (1–10)

Shopping Competition

Chihiro Nursery School Sports Day: Shopping Race

Shopping Competition

The shopping race is an event where you aim for the finish line while doing some shopping! You push a cart to a designated area, do a bit of shopping… so it might be a little challenging.

It’s recommended for children aged two and up.

To prevent carts from bumping into each other, adjust the number of participants in each race.

Preparing the equipment can be a bit of work, but it’s a competition that excites both kids and parents!

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Sushi Restaurant Race

111001 Sports Day_Parent-Child Event_Sushi

Sushi Restaurant Race

These days, it seems many children list sushi as their favorite food.

So here’s a game to introduce: the Sushi-Shop Relay.

Even kids who aren’t good at running might get excited if the theme is their beloved sushi.

First, a parent plays the role of a sushi chef.

Then you have the children, acting as the rice (shari), carry cardboard pieces that represent the toppings (neta) on their backs.

After that, the children run to the finish line and place their toppings into a lunch box there.

Not only is the activity itself fun, but it’s also highly recommended because you can enjoy how adorable the children look carrying the toppings.

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Vegetable Hide-and-Seek

Eisho Sports Day_Parent-Child Competition_20171028

Vegetable Hide-and-Seek

Let me introduce a parent-child game called “Vegetable Hide-and-Seek,” where parents find their children hiding in vegetable boxes.

Before the start, the children hide inside boxes decorated with vegetables.

Make sure the parents can’t see where the children hide—for example, have them face away.

When the start signal is given, parents lift the boxes to find their child.

Once you’ve found your child, place them on the top of your feet and walk together to the designated spot.

If you pick up the present attached to a clothespin while holding your child, you reach the goal.

It’s a recommended event full of fun, cooperative elements for parents and lots of enjoyment for kids!

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Chibi Ant’s Errand

Tomobe Kindergarten Sports Day Event Descriptions No. 7 and 8: “Errand Aisan” and “Little Ants’ Errand.”

Chibi Ant’s Errand

“Little Ant’s Errand” is a sports day event inspired by ants and is highly recommended.

Preparation is simple: make pretend snacks like donuts and candies using fabric or colored tape.

Next, prepare a standing signboard with an ant illustration and a basket, and finish by drawing the prepared snacks on construction paper and attaching the drawings to the basket area.

During the event, children start from the starting line, pick up a snack along the way, and clear the challenge by placing it into the ant’s basket that has the matching snack picture.

It’s easy to set up, so give it a try!

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Fruit-picking competition

Strawberry picking: a contest to see how many you can eat

Fruit-picking competition

This is a fruit-picking obstacle race.

You choose your favorite fruit, and the activity changes depending on what you pick—for example, you might cross a balance beam, crawl through a tunnel, or get lifted high.

Afterwards, you stick your fruit onto a tree the teacher is holding, and it’s fun to complete a tree full of fruit.

You can pick fruit based on the exercise you want to do, or choose your favorite fruit and then do the corresponding activity—either way, it will be an enjoyable obstacle race.

It can also be enjoyed as a parent-child event.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Kanon-chan becomes a butterfly at the sports festival – 10/October

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

An obstacle course inspired by the story of the picture book The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Children pretend to be caterpillars searching for food and crawl through a series of holes featuring pictures of different foods.

As they overcome obstacles and pass through panels, the story unfolds until they finally grow into butterflies.

The butterfly illustrations displayed on the backs of the children who reach the finish line are absolutely adorable.

The growth of the children parallels the picture book’s narrative, which may move some parents to tears.

It’s an event that makes creative use of a unique, picture-book-themed idea.

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Animal Race

🧡No.97 [Parent-Child Play / Motor Skills Development] “Animal Race Finals: Five Events 🏁” Become animals like frogs, bears, babies, and more, and compete! 👍 Learn the fundamentals of movement in a fun, game-like race 🏁 👍

Animal Race

Let’s step into character and play! Here are some ideas for an Animal Race.

Many children find it fun to pretend to be animals.

This time, try racing while transforming into a frog, a bear, or even a baby together with parents or guardians! Sports days can feel different from the usual routine, and many children may get nervous—but participating alongside a parent or guardian can help them feel more at ease.

Preparing headbands or costumes will likely boost their excitement, too.

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