[Childcare] Sports Day activity ideas. Let’s make the Sports Day exciting!

Traveling by train

Chihiro, age 2 — nursery school sports day — traveling by train

You’re probably curious about what kind of event “traveling by train” is at a sports day! The rules are very simple: children get inside a cardboard train and run as if they’re traveling along the course.

On the course, they climb over low platforms shaped like hills, weave around cones, and jump over hula hoops—enjoying their trip as they go.

You can also include a game where you prepare puzzles with animal faces and bodies separated; along the way, they pick pieces so the top and bottom match, then assemble and stick them together at the end! It’s sure to be a fun journey for the kids! It’s also adorable if they enter and exit carrying handmade carry-on bags!

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SAKI

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Borrower Competition

Reiwa 3 (2021) Matsuyama Minami High School Sports Day 'Borrowed Person Race'

Borrowed item races are a staple event, but this one is a “borrowed person” race.

As the name suggests, you don’t borrow objects—you borrow people.

Participants head for the finish line with teachers, parents, or kindergarteners who match the theme! The great thing about this is that everyone can have fun together in a friendly, lively way.

Adults and children alike can enjoy it, which really livens up the sports day! Just be careful not to make the prompts too difficult, since some kids might be shy.

You could also mix in rules from a traditional borrowed item race.

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Araki Jakkan

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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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Operation Hide-and-Seek

Kindergarten sports day (parent-child event)

What kind of event is “Hide-and-Seek at the Sports Day”? This version is a hide-and-seek game that parents and children can enjoy together, where the guardians try to find their own child.

First, the children get into boxes placed on the field.

During this time, the guardians should avoid seeing where their child goes—by turning around, for example.

Once everyone is hidden, the guardians open the boxes all at once to search for their child.

The parent-and-child pair that finds their child quickly and reaches the finish line first wins.

You can make the event even more exciting by having the parent give their child a piggyback ride or by adding obstacles on the way to the goal!

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SAKI

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color guard

Chuo Nursery School Color Guard

Color guard performances, where large, colorful flags are waved, are dazzling and cool, aren’t they? They’re included as part of marching ensembles and, in Japan, are also used by the Self-Defense Forces and police bands.

Although there are many challenging movements—like children working hard to carry heavy, oversized flags while changing formations, or coordinating to swing the flags into various shapes—you can really see how much they’ve grown through their efforts.

Color guard has a kind of splendor that’s different from dance or group gymnastics, so it’s enjoyable not only for the children who actually wave the flags, but also for audiences like their parents.

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