Parent-Child Events for Sports Day: Recommended Ideas for Nurseries and Kindergartens
Parent-child events at kindergarten and nursery school sports days are a great way for families to have fun together and get everyone excited! Here, we’ll share ideas for parent-child competitions at sports days.
From classics like sprints and beanbag tosses to obstacle courses and quirky games, there’s a wide variety to choose from.
It’s also wonderful for children to see their parents getting really into it.
You can easily adapt the activities to fit your space and number of participants, so use these as a reference and brainstorm fun ideas with your fellow teachers.
Imagine the children’s smiles as you prepare, and make it a joyful sports day!
[Parent-Child Events for Sports Day] Recommended Ideas for Nursery Schools and Kindergartens (1–10)
Ball toss in oversized bloomers
Let’s get excited with a unique idea! Here’s a beanbag-toss game using “dekapan.” Dekapan means oversized pants, and participants compete while wearing them.
In this event, it seems the rule is that a parent and child wear one pair of oversized pants together and toss beanbags while running in cooperation.
Since the parent needs to move in sync with the child, timing and calling out to each other are important.
Seeing teams competing while bundled into the dekapan is absolutely adorable!
Piggyback cavalry battle
It’s a piggyback cavalry battle where parents and children team up and compete to snatch each other’s hats! While being carried on their parents’ backs, the children try to protect their own hats as they tussle with friends to grab theirs.
Once they’re piggybacked, the kids’ excitement skyrockets! They’ll be shouting instructions to their parents like, “Run away!” and “Go over there!” as they get totally absorbed in the fun.
Because collisions in a tight space can be dangerous, make sure to secure a spacious area or prohibit running to ensure safety while playing.
Sushi Picnic
This is a parent-child activity.
You and your child transform into the sushi written on a card, and then the child crosses a balance beam to the finish.
To transform into sushi, the child wears the sushi topping shown on the card on their back like a backpack, and the parent gives the child a piggyback ride.
After going around a cone once, cross the balance beam.
This activity includes multiple elements: searching for your assigned sushi topping, parent-child bonding through piggybacking, and measuring physical ability on the balance beam.
Give it a try!
Uber Eats
Hold hands with a guardian dressed up as an Uber Eats courier and deliver delicious food! No hill or staircase is too tough.
Be careful not to fall off the path and go pick up the ordered food.
You can carry it in a backpack, or deliver it as is.
Once you deliver the food, you’ve reached the goal.
If there’s someone at the goal to receive the food, you might be able to work even harder on your delivery.
Wishing you a fun and exciting sports day!
Hey! Welcome!
Kids transform into sushi! Here’s a fun “Hey! Welcome!” activity idea.
In this unique event, children pick their favorite sushi topping, wear it on their backs, and crawl through a tunnel shaped like a customer’s mouth to reach the goal.
Parents play the role of sushi chefs: hold or give a piggyback ride to their sushi-transformed kids and run the course toward the mouth-shaped tunnel.
The adorable sight of the kids is sure to liven up the venue! Don’t miss the chance to give it a try.
Dancing Tamaire
Switch your moves to the music! Here’s an idea for Dancing Tamaire.
Dancing Tamaire is a fun, exciting, and unique twist on the traditional ball-toss game, with a dance element added.
While it follows the familiar rules of classic Tamaire, the key point is that participants toss balls while dancing to the music.
Parents might enjoy practicing the dance together with their children! It’s a great way to deepen bonds through the activity.
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!
