Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

Shine in the sports day dance! A roundup of handmade props

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!

At kindergarten and elementary school sports days, the children put on adorable dances, don’t they?Props like pom-poms are essential for their performances.And if you’re going to use props anyway, many of you are probably looking for ones the kids can make together by hand.In this article, we’ll introduce a variety of props all at once—besides pom-poms, things like fans and maracas.Many of them are easy to make, so be sure to create props full of originality.

Active in the sports day dance! A roundup of handmade props (21–30)

colored glasses

Introducing all gray-colored lenses ♥

colored glasses

Colored glasses you can make in 5 to 10 minutes.

They’re recommended because you can get creative with the shapes and colors depending on who makes them.

First, draw a glasses frame in any shape you like on thick paper and cut it out.

Apply glue to the back base and attach color film.

Color the front side, punch holes on the outer edges, and attach rubber bands through the holes.

It sounds fun to make different kinds of glasses, dance while wearing them, or use them for pretend play.

Just be careful when using scissors to cut out the base.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Wristband made with tissue paper

[Preschool Teacher] You can also make wristbands for a parachute! How to make tissue paper flowers 🌸

Wristband made with tissue paper

These are wrist accessories made with tissue-paper flowers, a familiar sight in school sports day decorations.

They’re a classic item perfect for dance events at sports festivals.

First, cut thick paper (cardstock) to fit your child’s wrist.

Next, accordion-fold the tissue paper, tie the center with a pipe cleaner or similar, then fluff out the folds to make a flower.

You can attach several tissue-paper flowers to the cardstock, or just one large flower—feel free to get creative! Secure rubber bands to both ends of the cardstock and you’re done.

It would also look great to use different tissue-paper colors for each class or team.

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Shine at the Sports Day Dance! Handmade Prop Ideas (31–40)

fluffy tail

How to make a fluffy tail using yarn from a 100-yen shop

fluffy tail

The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters’ “Fox Dance,” which was a hit in 2022.

Needless to say, the dance itself was adorable, and those blue costumes and tails were incredibly cute! Nissin Donbei’s commercial also featured a super-cute story where a tail expresses a budding crush, remember? So, why not liven up your sports day cheering with a handmade fluffy tail? If you attach yarn around a firm wire core, you can make a perky, fluffy tail that stands upright.

The trick to a fluffy finish is to brush out the yarn!

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Taki no namida pin ku

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Bracelet made with balloon art

Simple & Cute! Ribbon Balloon Art Bracelet♡

Bracelet made with balloon art

Balloon art is often used at celebration parties and events.

It’s characterized by decorations made from multiple inflated balloons.

Among these, the perfect match for the cute dances children perform at school sports days is a bracelet made with balloon art.

By twisting an inflated balloon and wrapping it around, you can form a bow shape.

Adjust the size of the bracelet loop to fit the children’s wrists.

Why not make favorite bracelets together, discussing the color and shape of the bows with the kids?

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bow tie

Easy bow tie tutorial! Great as an accent for recital costumes too!

bow tie

Sometimes, depending on the mood of the song, you might feel like wearing a bow tie.

In times like that, you can even make one yourself.

First, prepare your favorite fabric and sew it with a machine into a shape like a tissue case.

Then accordion-fold it and pinch the center to complete the bow part.

Next, sew on a strap to create the part that goes around the neck.

If you make sure the stitches end up on the inside, it will look neat and tidy! Choose a fabric that kids will love and give it a try.

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twisted hachimaki (traditional twisted headband)

How to make a rope from twine using an impact driver [DIY Edition]

twisted hachimaki (traditional twisted headband)

When it comes to props that liven up the excitement of a sports day, twisted hachimaki headbands are a classic.

Here, we use lace thread known for its delicate patterns and three-dimensional texture.

Let’s make the rope while paying attention to the direction in which you twist the threads.

You can twist it by hand, or finish it all at once using a tool.

Use your favorite colors to create your own original prop.

It also pairs perfectly with choreography themed around traditional Japanese style.

Put on a spirited twisted hachimaki and enjoy dancing at the sports day!

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folding fan

Back in the bubble era, you often saw people dancing with flashy fans, right? With retro trends making a comeback, some of you might be looking for one.

Actually, you can make that kind of fan yourself.

First, cut a clear file to create the blade pieces.

After cutting about 15 pieces, punch holes at the top and bottom.

Fasten the bottom so they overlap, and thread a string through the top holes.

In no time, your fan is ready.

Finish it off by adding feathers or fur.

You can get all the materials at a 100-yen shop, so it’s easy to give it a try!

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In conclusion

We introduced a whole range of handmade props you can use for sports day dances.

They ranged from things that seem easy to make to items that are a bit more elaborate! Keep production time and cost in mind, and be sure to try making your own original, cute props.