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!
- [For Preschoolers] Get Fired Up at the Sports Day! Fun Parent-Child Activity Ideas That Everyone Will Enjoy
- [Sports Day] Circuit Ideas for 5-Year-Olds
- Let’s get infants and one-year-olds excited at the sports day too! A collection of event ideas for parents and children to enjoy together.
- Fun Parent-Child Games! A Collection of Ideas to Liven Up Your Nursery School Sports Day
- [Sports Day] Let's Become Olympic Athletes! Parent-Child Events for 2-Year-Olds
- [Preschool] Fun event ideas to include in the sports day for the junior (younger) class
- [Senior Class Events] A collection of game ideas to liven up a sports day for 5-year-olds
- Exciting for 4-year-olds! A collection of sports day event ideas for preschoolers (middle class)
- [Childcare] Recommended circuit competition ideas for a sports day for 2-year-olds
- [Parent-Child Rec] Recreational activities and games for parents and children to enjoy together—also great for sports days.
- Parent–child interactive play. Fun activities popular in childcare settings and at parent–child observation days.
- [Childcare] Sports Day activity ideas. Let’s make the Sports Day exciting!
- For the daycare’s sports day! Fun and unique event ideas
Parent-Child Events for Sports Day: Recommended Ideas for Nursery and Kindergarten (41–50)
I ended up doing it.
Let’s try moving like animals and insects to the melody of “Alps Ichiman-jaku.” Use your whole body to express the characteristics of different creatures.
The uniquely adorable movements of one-year-olds are sure to warm the hearts of those around them.
Doing this together with parents or guardians will make it even more fun for the children.
At the end of the song, the children will say “We did it!” to their caregivers while sharing a hug or a high-five.
It’s an event that highlights the children’s cuteness right up to the finish.
Smiley woof-woof
A one-year-old who loves being held.
How about some activities they can do while being cuddled by their parents or guardians? Support the children’s bodies with your arms and gently rock them—like an elephant’s trunk swaying.
You could also try a game where, like a crane, you lift the children and have them grab a stuffed toy.
Another recommendation is to sit with the child on your lap and move your bodies to the song “Riding the Bus.” Through these activities, you’ll not only enjoy the games but also create warm moments of connection with the children.
Animal Race
Let’s step into character and play! Here are some ideas for an Animal Race.
Many children find it fun to pretend to be animals.
This time, try racing while transforming into a frog, a bear, or even a baby together with parents or guardians! Sports days can feel different from the usual routine, and many children may get nervous—but participating alongside a parent or guardian can help them feel more at ease.
Preparing headbands or costumes will likely boost their excitement, too.
Zip along as a parent and child!
Let’s set off on a parent-child journey! Here’s a dance track called “Oyako de Byuun.” In this song, you spread your arms like an airplane and move around, and caregivers can dance while giving children piggyback rides.
At the end, you can lift the children and let them “fly,” and it’s packed with active play that kids will love and beg to do again.
Because it encourages lots of physical contact, it will help strengthen the parent-child bond.
It also sounds fun to dance while asking, “Where are we going?”
Sushi Picnic
@piyopiyo0519 I don’t dislike that quality. Mom loves youThey say it doesn't look like sushi once you sit down.Sports DayWe couldn’t do it this year.#Nursery school
Original song – Susu – Susu
You won’t be able to take your eyes off the kids’ adorable antics! Here are some ideas for a sushi-themed picnic.
Many people struggle to come up with food-themed events, right? In those moments, we recommend a “Sushi Picnic” that blends humor with cuteness.
Prepare boards with illustrations of about four types of sushi, and at the starting signal, have the kids flip a board.
Once they see which sushi topping is shown, they put on a backpack matching that topping and race toward the goal together with their guardian! Give it a try at your event.
Let’s deliver flavors of the world!
Turn the recipe cards and start cooking! Bring flavors from around the world! Here’s an idea to try.
Sports Day is a special event that happens once a year.
How about competing while learning about the world? Let’s have parents and children work together to make dishes from around the globe as they overcome items like hurdles and balance beams.
Through pretend play, you can create happy memories of joining a fun event together—making American hamburgers, Japanese osechi, Italian pizza, British sandwiches, and more.
Freshly picked fruit
Recommended from infant to preschool classes! Here’s an idea called “Freshly Picked Fruit.” How about incorporating familiar fruits—seen every day at lunch, in picture books, and in pretend play—into a game? Prepare a banana tree, a mandarin orange tree, an apple tree, and animal props (an elephant, a monkey, and a rabbit) with holes for mouths.
At the start signal, each child picks one fruit from any tree and moves forward.
Next, they choose an animal and place the fruit they’re holding into its mouth—then they reach the goal! Give it a try in your class.