[For Preschoolers] Get Fired Up at the Sports Day! Fun Parent-Child Activity Ideas That Everyone Will Enjoy
Here are some recommended parent-child events for sports day that young children can enjoy together with their guardians! In this collection, you’ll find playful activities that really liven things up, such as hide-and-seek using newspaper, a musical chairs-style game with a large hula hoop, and a ball-toss game featuring a mischievous character.
These events are perfect for first-time participants—easy to join and great for strengthening bonds between children and their guardians.
Find ideas here to create a fun sports day full of smiles and happy memories.
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[Preschoolers] Get Fired Up at the Sports Day! Fun Parent–Child Event Ideas (11–20)
Clothing change race
A dressing-up race where pants, T-shirts, and other clothes are placed along the course, and participants put on one item at a time as they run toward the finish.
From the start, they run and first put on pants, then a T-shirt, and finally socks, a hat, and so on.
At the finish line, a guardian will be waiting to help them put on the hat or socks, and then they can hold hands and run to the goal together.
It might be fun to add a twist at the end where the guardian also helps put on the socks or hat!
I ended up doing it.
Let’s try moving like animals and insects to the melody of “Alps Ichiman-jaku.” Use your whole body to express the characteristics of different creatures.
The uniquely adorable movements of one-year-olds are sure to warm the hearts of those around them.
Doing this together with parents or guardians will make it even more fun for the children.
At the end of the song, the children will say “We did it!” to their caregivers while sharing a hug or a high-five.
It’s an event that highlights the children’s cuteness right up to the finish.
Freshly picked fruit
Recommended from infant to preschool classes! Here’s an idea called “Freshly Picked Fruit.” How about incorporating familiar fruits—seen every day at lunch, in picture books, and in pretend play—into a game? Prepare a banana tree, a mandarin orange tree, an apple tree, and animal props (an elephant, a monkey, and a rabbit) with holes for mouths.
At the start signal, each child picks one fruit from any tree and moves forward.
Next, they choose an animal and place the fruit they’re holding into its mouth—then they reach the goal! Give it a try in your class.
Fire! Mobilize!
Firefighters and a fire truck heading out to a fire scene.
It’s the kind of event that will surely excite kids who love working vehicles! From the start to boarding the fire truck, the children run while dodging obstacles.
Prepare obstacles appropriate for their age, such as balancing on a beam or crawling through hoops.
Have the parents wait at the fire truck, then board together with the child and head to the fire scene.
If they throw pom-poms—used to represent water—into the target and “extinguish” the fire, they reach the goal.
Making and wearing firefighter hats will make it even more exciting!
Jama-Jama Ball Toss
One of the most exciting events at a sports day is the ball toss.
Let’s try it as a parent–child competition! But instead of doing an ordinary ball toss, here’s a fun twist: the “Jama-Jama Ball Toss.” Split into teams and do a parent–child ball toss, but a mischievous character called Jama-Jama-kun shows up to interfere—getting in the way of your throws or stopping the balls from going in.
It might be just a little frustrating! Even though Jama-Jama-kun is the “opponent,” if you make the character cute, the kids might love it.
Parent-child relay
One of the showcase events of a sports day is the relay.
How about trying a parent-child relay, not just the kids? Even though you run together, you won’t hold hands; instead, you’ll run side by side for one lap.
To balance the difference between children and adults, have the children run on the inside lane and the adults on the outside lane.
Both children and adults will carry their own batons, passing child to child and adult to adult.
Parents should match their child’s pace and run alongside them.
[Preschoolers] Get Fired Up for Sports Day! Fun Parent-Child Game Ideas (21–30)
Lick of ice cream
Aim for the goal while keeping your balance! Here’s an idea for “Ice Cream Lick.” It’s a fun relay perfect for a 5-year-old’s sports day, featuring a quirky, eye-catching ice cream with lots of impact.
Place a large ice cream made from colored plastic bags on a giant cone, and carry it to the finish while maintaining balance! Kids can enjoy it as a relay on their own, or you can adapt it into a parent-child event.
Work together and head for the goal!