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[Childcare] DIY tunnel ideas that shine at sports day

[Childcare] DIY tunnel ideas that shine at sports day

Last updated:2025/5/6

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 for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

We’ve gathered ideas for handmade tunnels that are perfect for tunnel races at nursery and kindergarten sports days.

If you’re unsure about designs or materials that bring out the children’s cuteness, take a look at these DIY ideas for inspiration!

Using familiar materials like colorful fabrics and cardboard to create animal or flower shapes is lots of fun.

By making an original tunnel, you’ll get to see the kids crawl through it with energy and excitement.

We hope you create wonderful memories at your sports day!

[Childcare] Handmade tunnel ideas that shine at sports day (1–10)

A circuit made with pool cues

[Ages 0–5] Seven Types of Indoor Educational and Physical Play! [Nursery School/Kindergarten]

A circuit made with pool cues

Let’s play while getting creative! Here are some circuit (obstacle course) ideas you can make with pool noodles.

All you need are pool noodles and a utility knife or scissors.

Cut the long pool noodles in half and use them for the course! Place the halved pool noodles on the floor and include a tightrope-walk section where kids crawl or walk along them.

You can also roll balls along the top of the noodles, or connect them into circles to make ring shapes—great ideas to try!

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Transparent tunnel

How about a transparent tunnel designed so you can see the children inside? It’s reassuring to be able to see what’s going on in the tunnel, and it’s wonderful when their faces show up in photos and videos! If you use garden stakes, you can easily create the tunnel’s shape, so give it a try.

Once the frame is ready, connect clear plastic bags and tape them in place.

It would also be lovely to decorate it with colored plastic bags to evoke characters or nature-themed designs!

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Newspaper Spiderweb Circuit

[Ages 0–5] Let’s play boldly! Use the whole room to make a spider web!

Newspaper Spiderweb Circuit

Tear it! Stick it! Crawl through and play! Here’s an idea for a newspaper spiderweb circuit.

You’ll need plastic ribbon (suzuran tape), newspaper, and tape.

This is a great idea when you want to include crawling movements in your circuit.

Some children find tunnels challenging because they’re dark and long.

By tearing and sticking newspaper as part of everyday activities, you can naturally encourage crawling movements! The making process also stimulates children’s creativity—what a wonderful idea.

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Crawling through a tunnel

Crawling through a tunnel

Crawling through a tunnel

When it comes to events perfect for a thrilling sports day obstacle race, tunnel crawling is a great choice.

You can make tunnels using cardboard boxes or chairs, and have the children crawl through on all fours.

Since it’s done with hands and feet on the floor, it’s well-suited for indoor obstacle courses.

Setting up tunnels in a classroom or gym and competing to see who can crawl through the fastest sounds fun, too.

It’s an event that gets both the kids attempting the tunnel crawl and the cheering parents and teachers excited together.

Be sure to consider the tunnel’s width and darkness when you build it.

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Go! Energetic Moles

Kasama Tomobe Tomobe Kindergarten Childcare Information: “Sports Day Series – Middle Class – Individual Events”

Go! Energetic Moles

The event “Go, Energetic Moles!” adds cuteness and humor to a traditional obstacle race.

There are two main points.

First, the children wear mole-themed crowns and run as if they are moles.

Second, obstacles such as brown plastic sheets and hula hoops are set up to evoke the feeling of moving through the soil.

It’s also wonderful to let them enjoy the process of making the mole crowns.

Wearing a handmade crown will likely boost their motivation even more.

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Handmade ball circuit

[Ages 1–2] Can You Predict the Movement? Handmade Ball Play

Handmade ball circuit

Let’s use a variety of balls! Here are some ideas for a handmade ball circuit.

Prepare palm-sized balls, large balls you can hold with both hands, newspaper, cushioning material, tape, and bags or baskets big enough to hold the balls.

Try events like rolling balls along the floor or collecting balls in bags or baskets—use balls of different sizes and materials to build spatial awareness through play! Using balls that differ in weight and texture will also stimulate children’s senses.

Give it a try!

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[0-year-olds] Hoop-Crawling Tunnel

“Circuit Play with Handmade Toys” [0-Year-Olds] | Torikai Higashi Yuuiku-en [Nursery/Kindergarten Event]

[0-year-olds] Hoop-Crawling Tunnel

This is a hoop tunnel that even small children can crawl through.

By combining familiar materials like milk cartons, you can make it easily and bring out lots of adorable smiles from the kids.

It’s also a great idea to create multiple colorful hoops in pink, light blue, or yellow-green.

You can keep them sturdy by tying each one together with packing string.

Another advantage is that even after the sports day is over, children can keep enjoying it for circuit play and tunnel play.

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