Fun Parent-Child Games! A Collection of Ideas to Liven Up Your Nursery School Sports Day

Balloon Carry Relay

Here’s a fun balloon-carrying relay where you work together with a friend.

Form pairs, hold a balloon between two paper cups so it doesn’t fall, and carry it to the goal—simple and enjoyable! If your strength and speed aren’t in sync, the balloon may drop along the way and you might not make it to the goal, so communicate with each other and aim for the finish.

If you drop the balloon, start again from where it fell.

Make sure you have plenty of space and be careful not to bump into friends.

Doing it in teams is also recommended.

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mayumi

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Kicking Sniper

Tried VS Arashi’s Kicking Sniper, part 2

How about incorporating a “Kicking Sniper” event, modeled after soccer—one of the Olympic sports? In this game, you kick a ball at targets, and the person who knocks down the most wins.

You can use softer balls suited to the participants’ ages, and making the targets popular characters could add extra fun.

For infants, you might intentionally place the targets in an unstable way so they topple easily, while for preschoolers, adding mechanisms that make the targets move would make it even more exciting.

Give it a try together as a parent-child team!

Giant ball rolling

Preschool sports day parent–child event: Giant ball rolling (ōdama korogashi) – Japan

Giant ball rolling is a game that really heats up when done as a team competition! When adults join in, the height difference makes ball control more challenging—that’s part of the fun.

Let’s all work together while paying attention to our calls and chants.

Decorating the ball with your preschool’s original designs can add to the enjoyment.

Adults should make adjustments—like crouching slightly—so children can reach and touch the ball.

Which team will be the fastest? It’s the kind of event that makes adults unintentionally get serious.

Because falls and collisions are a concern, make sure the children get plenty of practice on their own beforehand.

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tsukada moe

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Handmade-style side dish

[For 2-year-olds] Let’s make a target and play!

Here’s a recommended parent-child event for a sports day: a water-gun target game.

It’s a simple activity where you use water guns to hit targets with water.

If the targets are crafts made by the children, it makes the activity even more special.

When hanging the targets, you can use calligraphy paper or tissues for the hanging part so that the water knocks them down, and participants can win the prize that falls.

Another fun idea is to have parents act as the targets and try to escape their children’s water-gun attacks! If your sports day is held off-site, consider adding this to your program.

Fan ping-pong

[Age 2] The first step into tennis? Table tennis? #shorts

Table tennis and tennis are Olympic events, but they can be a bit difficult to include as events for two-year-olds at a sports day.

So let’s turn the racket into a uchiwa fan to make it fun and accessible for two-year-olds.

With a larger hitting surface, even infants can enjoy participating.

Using ping-pong balls, soft foam balls, or even balloons would be fun as well.

For a parent-child event, it could be exciting if the parents toss the ball to make it easier for the child to hit, or conversely, the parents return the balls tossed by the children.

Jama-Jama Ball Toss

[Sports Day ☆ Event] Adults get hyped too! Chaotic Beanbag Toss

Even the classic ball-toss game can get the whole family excited with a simple twist.

In this version, called “Jama-Jama Tamaire” (the “Nuisance Ball Toss”), a character appears whose job is to block the balls from going into the net.

“Jama-Jama-kun” holds a big cardboard shield and bats back the balls thrown toward the net.

Wear an eye-catching outfit like a full-body suit or a disguise so your identity stays hidden, and fully commit to playing the villain.

If you throw yourself into the role without getting shy, the kids’ cheering will heat up, and the parents will feel a stronger sense of togetherness too!

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hiyori

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I ended up doing it.

Accidentally Made It (1–2-Year-Olds, Parent-Child Interaction ver.)

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.

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Nakajima Junko

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