[Idea Collection] Let’s handcraft the sports day program!

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!
A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

A program is an essential item for a sports day.

You can use it to check “Which event am I in next?” or give it to your family so they can use it to find good viewing spots.

Since you’ll be looking at it throughout the sports day, wouldn’t you like to make the program itself into something memorable?

With that in mind, here’s an article that compiles ideas for handmade programs!

These ideas are especially recommended for nursery, kindergarten, and elementary school sports days.

Create a wonderful, one-of-a-kind program just for you and your group!

[Idea Collection] Let’s Make a Handmade Sports Day Program! (1–10)

Mario-style program

Isn’t one of the most popular game characters for both children and adults Super Mario from “Super Mario Bros.”? Mario’s pop and fun vibe is perfect for designing a sports day program! Try tweaking the program’s fonts to feel Mario-like, and arrange elements like pipes, blocks, and coins from the games to express the Super Mario world.

Adding playful surprises—like in the games, where you never know what will pop out—would likely delight everyone.

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Championship Cup Program

A winner’s cup that makes you feel proud just to receive it! Its impactful look makes it a great idea for a sports day program.

You could cut out a trophy shape from construction paper and use it as the cover.

There are many different trophy designs, so find a shape you like.

You might even hide the program inside the cup to surprise the children and their parents! It would also be wonderful for teachers to handcraft it together with the children.

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Bill of Exchange Program

Handprints let you feel your child’s growth and keep a lasting record.

How about having the kids make handprints and incorporating them into the sports day program design? It’s sure to become a memorable event for both children and parents.

Not just handprints—using your child’s photo or illustrations would be wonderful, too! Try creatively combining events like the giant ball roll and the beanbag toss with the handprints in the design.

You can also add small interactive elements to create a program that parents and children can enjoy together.

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[Idea Collection] Let's make a handmade sports day program! (11–20)

[Accordion Fold] Flap-Flap Program

The key is the accordion fold! Here are some ideas for a flip-flap program.

Many guardians participating in a sports day may want to keep their belongings to a minimum, right? It would be great if the program could be smaller, too! This is an idea you can use in that situation.

By dividing it with accordion folds, the program becomes easy to read and compact! Adding illustrations or photos to the front and back covers can also help convey the atmosphere of the sports day.

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Anpanman-style program

This is a program design themed on Anpanman, a character extremely popular with young children.

The cover features the Anpanman-go.

When you open this program, illustrations of Cheese and Anpanman pop up, so there’s a fun element to opening it.

There are many characters in “Go! Anpanman,” and even the antagonists Baikinman and Dokin-chan are surprisingly popular.

Why not try making one yourself, incorporating characters and arrangements that kids will love?

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Caricature Program

The stars of a sports day are the children, right? So how about using the children’s portraits as the program design? In this idea, you tear or cut construction paper to make facial and hair parts, then stick them onto a program to create faces wearing red caps.

Since each child’s hairstyle and expression is different, it makes for a program you’ll want to keep as a memento.

On the inside of the caps, the children have also written their goals and enthusiasm, which is heartwarming.

Why not try making these during a craft time before the sports day?

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Space-themed program

How about creating a program with a space-themed design that incorporates stars and rockets that children love? Let’s use blue as the theme color to evoke outer space, and make a rocket the main motif.

A rocket launching from Earth into space overlaps with the energetic figures of children during a sports day.

Some children may feel nervous or be unable to perform as they hope, but we want to cheer them on through the program.

Please try incorporating sparkling stars and planets as well.

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