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[Sports Day] Circuit Ideas for 5-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.

Five-year-olds are developing better body balance and are becoming able to do a variety of physical activities.

Many preschools and kindergartens include circuit courses in their sports days.

Here, we’ve gathered circuit activities that children can enjoy at sports day.

For example, by incorporating skills like the back hip circle on the bar, vaulting box, and jump rope, children can feel their own growth.

For five-year-olds, it’s their last sports day.

We hope it becomes a sports day where everyone has fun and feels a sense of achievement and satisfaction!

[Sports Day] For 5-Year-Olds | Circuit Ideas (31–40)

A circuit using traffic cones and hula hoops

★Ages 2–3 (Path to the Vaulting Box: Straddle, Ages 2–3 Edition)

A circuit using traffic cones and hula hoops

Why not create a circuit using traffic cones and hula hoops? Just setting them up gives a solid circuit vibe.

With the cones, it’s fun to place them in a straight line and run while weaving through them.

You can also combine them with other activities or use them to guide participants from one station to the next.

Another perk is that traffic cones come in a wide range of colors—take advantage of that to add a game-like element.

As for hula hoops, we recommend using them like stepping stones for extra fun.

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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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A circuit of hula hoops and mats

2.5–4-year-old class circuit

A circuit of hula hoops and mats

This is an idea to set up hula hoops and mats outdoors to create a circuit.

For the areas with hula hoops, move forward while hopping like hopscotch.

For the areas with mats, move forward by doing forward rolls or rolling along.

Please have a teacher on standby to assist and to make sure no one falls off the mats.

You can also include three-dimensional mats, such as triangular ones.

Try arranging them as equipment to walk across like a balance beam or to climb over.

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Jump through the hoop

Jumping is an activity that is almost always incorporated into circuits.

There are many events like hopscotch, hurdles, and vaulting boxes.

They’re all fun, but some of you might be looking for something a little different.

That’s why I’d like to introduce a game where you jump into a hoop.

Have participants jump from a higher spot aiming for a hula hoop.

Enjoy the thrill of wondering, “Can I land cleanly inside?”

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Two-Foot Jump Challenge! Circuit

At Hachiman Nursery School (Fukui City), the Elephant Class (2-year-olds) had a movement activity in the hall! They enjoyed two-footed jumps, the balance beam, and the slide.

Two-Foot Jump Challenge! Circuit

Put your feet together and jump with all your might! This is a circuit play activity where you line up sticks with spaces between them and place round mats for landing between the sticks, so kids can progress by jumping over each stick.

Many children may feel that jumping with both feet is a bit scary at first.

It’s a good idea to start by simply stepping over the sticks, and once they get used to it, have them try jumping.

A two-footed jump involves coordinated actions—bending and straightening the knees, lifting the heels, and pushing off the ground with the toes—and is very important in the course of physical development.

It’s great if kids can master it naturally while having fun.

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[Sports Day] For 5-Year-Olds | Circuit Ideas (41–50)

mountain climbing

Mountain climbing is an activity that excites people with its impactful appearance.

As the name suggests, it’s a sport where you run up a sloped “mountain.” A convenient way to set it up is to use a vaulting box and mats.

First, prepare a vaulting box at your preferred height.

Then prepare a slightly lower vaulting box and place it next to the first.

Lay mats over them to form a mountain shape, secure everything firmly, and you’re done.

The appeal lies not only in climbing up but also in being able to descend from a high place.

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A circuit using the balance beam

Hachiman Nursery School (Fukui City) – Elephant Class (2-year-olds) circuit play! Balance beam, tunnel, and more, held in February 2016.

A circuit using the balance beam

Circuit activities using balance beams can be a lot of fun.

In fact, there are several types of balance beams.

The first is the standard type most people think of.

There are also soft balance beams made from cushioning materials that eliminate height, as well as athletic-style beams that can be set up in zigzags with varying heights.

In any case, we want children to enjoy the thrill of “I might fall!” and the excitement of “Can I make it across?” When they finish crossing, give them a round of applause and praise their courage!

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