Sports Day: Circuit Ideas for 3-Year-Olds
The “circuit” at a sports day is an event where three-year-olds can have fun moving their bodies.
Here, we’ll introduce circuit activities that bring together a variety of enjoyable movements so children can play using their whole bodies.
You can also incorporate familiar items into the events, such as rolling on a mat or hanging from a horizontal bar.
Creating a circuit that matches the sports day theme will make it even more exciting.
We hope you create a wonderful sports day where you can feel the children’s growth!
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[Sports Day] For 3-year-olds | Circuit Ideas (21–30)
pedal-powered bike
It seems like things would get even more exciting if there were a competition involving some kind of ride.
So, I’d like to propose a foot-propelled bike.
A foot-propelled bike, also known as a “kick bike,” is like a bicycle that you push along by kicking the ground with your feet.
It could be fun to include race-like elements to match the name “circuit.” How about waving a flag at the finish line? Since it can go a little fast, don’t forget to prepare helmets.
Balloon Touch
A game with a satisfying feel when you hit it—balloon touch is also recommended.
In this one, you place a balloon somewhere along the circuit and the goal is to touch it.
It also looks fun to set the balloon a little higher so players have to jump to touch it.
You can even use the balloon touch as the finish line: touching the balloon at the goal point means you’ve finished.
Try adding your own twists, like drawing pictures on the balloons or preparing lots of them.
ladder
As an idea for incorporating equipment commonly found in many daycare centers and kindergartens into a circuit, using a ladder is also recommended.
Place the ladder between low-set vaulting boxes or similar supports—think of it like playground monkey bars laid horizontally.
Then let the children enjoy crossing over it; they can go on all fours or walk bipedally—either is fine.
Encourage each child to try the way they like best.
Since it’s dangerous if the ladder comes loose, be sure to check safety thoroughly.
If you don’t have suitable supports to rest it on, placing the ladder on the ground is also an option.
Jumping from a high place
If there were an event where participants jump from a high place, it would become a highlight of the entire circuit.
Also, seeing children mustering their courage to jump would surely warm the hearts of spectators.
The question, then, is how high it should be and what kind of equipment should be installed.
As an example, about five levels of a vaulting box is recommended.
Prepare a mat at the landing area to prevent falls.
As a plus, it could be fun to incorporate an action like hitting a target in midair after the jump.
Sponge block circuit
Let’s build your own course! Here are some ideas for a circuit using sponge blocks.
What you’ll need: sponge blocks, mats, a balance beam, and masking tape if necessary.
Sponge blocks come in a variety of shapes—rectangles, squares, triangles, and cylinders! Use a rich variety of sponge blocks to create your circuit course.
If you combine a balance beam and mats within the course, it’s sure to get kids excited and engaged.
I caught a fish.
Many kids love pretend fishing, right? So why not include a fish-themed parent–child event in your sports day? The child holds an inner tube and the parent holds a bucket, then at the starting signal they run to the blue tarp.
Lots of fish are “swimming” on the tarp, so the child catches a fish that matches the color of their inner tube and puts it in the bucket.
Run carefully so you don’t drop the fish, then place it into the box of the same color as the fish.
After that, return to the start and pass the baton to the next pair! Since the inner tube and bucket serve as the baton, be sure to hand them over securely.
circuit
One event that lets parents feel their children’s growth is the circuit.
Like an obstacle course, children make their way through various challenges, but the goal isn’t competition; it’s for parents to see what their children have learned to do.
They might do a forward roll on a mat, roll their bodies, walk on a balance beam, or crawl through a hula hoop…
Avoid including overly complex skills; instead, use activities that are a natural extension of the play they usually do.
