Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

Sports Day: Circuit Ideas for 3-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.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

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!

[Sports Day] For 3-year-olds | Circuit Ideas (21–30)

circuit training

[Problem Solved] Teach us, Captain!! #SportsDay #CircuitExercises #Preschoolers #YoungerClass

circuit training

A circuit activity is a competition like an obstacle course that combines various types of movement.

The goal is to lower the difficulty compared to a traditional obstacle course and encourage kids to move their bodies in many different ways.

We use familiar items from daily preschool or kindergarten life, such as mats and hula hoops, in combination.

For example, on the mat they might do forward rolls or knee jumps, and with several hula hoops lined up they might jump across them or do hopscotch-like steps.

You can have groups compete to see who reaches the goal the fastest, or simply let families watch the children work hard and complete each activity one by one.

It’s a great way for parents and guardians to appreciate their child’s growth through a variety of movements!

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Gymnastics circuit using equipment

Gymnastics circuit for 2-year-olds

Gymnastics circuit using equipment

How about incorporating apparatus-based exercises into the circuit? By apparatus, I mean items like mats and blocks.

For mats, you can set them up in a mountain shape so children can enjoy the process of going down.

For blocks, arrange them like stairs so they can have fun climbing over them.

Let’s think of setups that make moving their bodies feel enjoyable.

Also, during the actual event, some children may feel nervous and not move as they did in practice.

I hope it becomes a wonderful sports day where teachers and guardians can watch over the kids warmly.

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[Sports Day] For 3-year-olds | Circuit Ideas (31–40)

Challenge the horizontal bar too! Circuit

"Circuit Play" | Gakuenchō Yūiku-en [Nursery/Kindergarten Event]

Challenge the horizontal bar too! Circuit

If you want to include hanging exercises, horizontal bars are also recommended.

When setting up a circuit outdoors, lay mats under the bar and design the circuit with safety in mind.

For adjustable, assembled bars, set the height so it’s easy for children to use.

It may help to set rough time targets, such as how long to hang.

Try to design the circuit so it fosters a sense of accomplishment—so children can say, “I did it!”—and make sure activities stay within a comfortable, manageable range.

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hopscotch

hopscotch 👣⭐️

hopscotch

Hopscotch, a long-time favorite among children, is also perfect for circuits.

To incorporate hopscotch, just place hula hoops or dedicated rings on the ground.

If you’re outdoors, you can draw it with chalk.

Try to arrange the spaces so they’re a comfortable size and width.

The rhythm can be “3-3-7” or anything else you like.

Another advantage of hopscotch is that it works well as a segment placed between activities, helping participants move from one station to the next.

This way, they can have fun even during transitions.

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zigzag running

Sports Day Circuit

zigzag running

Some of you may want to incorporate the movement of “running.” However, running is monotonous, so including too much of it might feel boring.

As a way to add a twist, here’s an idea: zigzag running.

Set up cones in a straight line and run while weaving around them in a zigzag.

It’s recommended because it helps develop agility and strengthens the area around the knees, which can reduce injuries.

By the way, spacing the cones about 3 meters apart works best.

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Balance stone

85559 Balance Stone 11pcs

Balance stone

Incorporating balance stones could make the circuit more fun.

Balance stones are toys inspired by stepping stones—colorful and shaped like rocks.

Place them on the ground and hop from one to another without falling.

They’re not only enjoyable but can also add visual flair to the circuit and help define traffic flow.

Some balance stones come in varying heights, so you can choose those if you prefer.

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Roll on the mat

Indoor physical play (3-year-olds) 2022-08-05

Roll on the mat

One type of mat exercise is the log roll.

A log roll involves lying on your side facing the mat and rolling your body in that position.

It’s fun because it lets you move in a way that’s different from usual.

It’s also effective for improving strength and developing fine motor control.

The log roll movement can be useful in other activities and sports as well, so give it a try.

At first, it’s easy to roll off the mat, so be ready to provide support.

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