A toddler sports day that gets everyone excited! A collection of fun parent-child game ideas
For one-year-olds, the sports day is their first big event! Even little ones who tend to feel nervous or anxious can enjoy it with peace of mind when they’re with their family.
So, here are some exciting parent-and-child activities you can enjoy together.
We’ve gathered events that let kids transform into popular anime characters or vegetables and that incorporate worlds they love.
There are lots of fun activities that will bring out smiles—even from children who were crying.
Create wonderful memories and fill the whole venue with smiles!
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- A toddler sports day that gets everyone excited! A collection of fun parent-child game ideas
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Footraces and racing events (11–20)
piggyback race
The “piggyback race,” where parents run while carrying their child on their back and aim for the finish line.
Even if you’re used to carrying your child and have a sense of their weight, running is a whole different story.
Even fast runners need to think about balance so they don’t drop their child while running.
Hold them securely on your back and head for the goal as quickly as you can! If you don’t push yourself, your child might be disappointed after you finish.
Make sure your child holds on tight, too!
Kicking Sniper
How about incorporating a “Kicking Sniper” event modeled after Olympic soccer? In this game, you kick a ball at targets, and the one who knocks down the most wins.
You can use soft balls suited to the children’s ages, and making the targets popular characters could be fun.
For one-year-olds, you might intentionally place the targets so they are unstable and easy to topple, 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!
Olympics
If it’s an Olympic year, a sports day with an Olympic theme could be a lot of fun.
This event involves lighting the cauldron.
Each child holds a handmade torch and rides a trolley pulled by a parent to approach the cauldron.
Many children love riding on a trolley even outside of sports day.
For younger children, it’s important to create programs that focus more on enjoyable participation than on competition.
We hope you’ll make happy memories together.
Let’s go to the park.
@5kidsmamaxtokumeikibou First post in a while! The daycare class had their sports day last Saturday. Since there was a parent-child event, I could only record a video of my eldest daughter... 😭 Everyone did their best ❤
♬ Original Song – Anonymous (lol) – Anonymous (lol) Milky fan
How about incorporating children’s favorite playground activities into a sports day event? In this event, the course is designed like a park, and the children make their way through various obstacles.
Crawling through tunnels, jumping, and hanging, they can move their bodies to the fullest while feeling as if they’re at the playground.
By preparing obstacles that match the children’s abilities, the parents watching can also appreciate their kids’ growth.
Basketball ball-toss game
When it comes to sports day, tamaire (ball toss) is a classic, right? Tamaire is a long-loved game that people of all ages can enjoy, but let’s try adapting it to resemble Olympic basketball! For one-year-olds, real basketball hoops or tall ball-toss baskets are probably out of reach.
That’s where parents come in! Lift your child up for a shot, or try a shoulder ride and shoot—it sounds fun either way! Of course, adjusting the hoop height to suit the children will make it even more exciting, so be sure to customize it to match your class color.
Parent-child gymnastics and dance competition (1–10)
Parent-child gymnastics
Parent-child gymnastics is an activity where parents and children exercise together while developing a sense of rhythm and balance.
It’s also recommended as part of the warm-up at the start of a sports day.
Since it’s for one-year-olds, fun elements are included as well.
First, the guardian sits with legs extended.
Next, place the child on your legs and gently sway to the music.
Finally, open your legs and let the child slide down.
This falling sensation is similar to a slide, which many children will enjoy.
There are many other exercises you can do together, so be sure to check them out.
Professor Hug
Let me introduce the “Animal Train,” a big hit at sports days that even the youngest children can join! To the rhythm of the music, lots of different animals hop on the train.
They go through tunnels and over hills—the train is lively and looks so fun.
The kids transform into many animals like rabbits, mice, and monkeys! It’s packed with movements babies love, like being lifted high in the air and gentle tickles.
At the end, everyone gives a big hug, leaving both children and caregivers full of happiness.
Be sure to try it at your sports day!
