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!
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Parent-Child Events for Sports Day: Recommended Ideas for Nursery and Kindergarten (41–50)
Fluffy Tennis Made from Scrap Materials
Here’s an idea for fluffy tennis using recycled materials.
Tennis usually involves a racket and a ball, but this time let’s try tennis using a plastic bottle and a bag! You’ll need a plastic bottle, a bag, stickers, a pen, and masking tape.
Draw your favorite illustrations on the bag, then fill it with air.
Decorating the plastic bottle freely with masking tape and stickers will get everyone excited.
Work together to keep the softly floating bag from falling.
[Parent-Child Events for Sports Day] Recommended Ideas for Nursery Schools and Kindergartens (51–60)
The rice ball goes rolling, roll, roll.
How about a competition inspired by the classic folktale “Omusubi Kororin,” beloved by children both in the past and today? Beforehand, read the picture book to the kids to share the story’s world.
Once the activity starts, they first stand inside the hula hoop placed at the start and pass their bodies through it from below.
Next, they move forward by rolling a large round rice ball—just like a giant ball roll.
Then, after placing the rice ball inside the second hula hoop, they run to the finish line.
It’s a fun and adorable obstacle race that’s perfect for a preschool sports day.
Get into the hula hoop.
A game where hoops are laid out randomly on the ground, everyone walks around and around the hula hoops, and when the music stops, you jump into any hoop.
To put it simply, it’s the hoop version of musical chairs, played by parents and children together.
You can use hula hoops, but it’s more exciting if the hoops vary in size—big and small—so why not make your own with newspaper and vinyl tape? If you can’t get into a hoop, you’re out.
The last parent–child pair remaining wins!
the eye of a typhoon
Let me introduce “Typhoon’s Eye,” a team relay game played in pairs using a long rope or pole.
At the start signal, a parent and child hold the two ends of the rope and run toward the turnaround point.
There, one person becomes the center while the other swings out in a wide arc using centrifugal force, and they head back to the starting line.
Be careful not to panic and let go of the rope.
Teammates who are waiting jump over the rope as it passes.
The rope is handed to the next pair like a baton, and the pair that has finished moves to the back of the line.
The key is to sync your timing as a pair when you turn!
Become a firefighter!
It’s an obstacle course inspired by firefighters’ actions and jobs.
Kids cross a balance beam and vault over a box, but you can get creative by decorating the beam with flame illustrations and making the vault look like a house roof.
A challenge where children throw light-blue balls at a signboard depicting a fire to evoke firefighting would also be fun.
At the end, children ride with their parents in a vehicle made to look like a fire engine and head for the goal.
Watching the adorable little firefighters in action is sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face.
Balloon Basketball
@balloon_manawa A balloon basket that doesn’t hurt even if you get hit! Maybe not just for one-year-olds—kids who can sit up might be able to play too? 🤭 It’s great that you can adjust the height! Give it a try! ♡Ideas for at-home play
♪ Ukīuki Wake Me Up — Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Q;indivi starring Rin Oikawa
Even kids who aren’t comfortable with hard balls can give it a try! Here’s a balloon basketball idea.
Basketball is a ball sport played on a rectangular court where you use a ball and try to score by putting it through a hoop, right? Many of you have probably seen games on TV.
This time, let’s make a ball using a balloon and vinyl tape, and have a shooting contest with a parent or guardian.
For the hoop, a cut-out piece of cardboard works well.
You can adjust the height of the hoop to keep it fun and engaging without getting bored!
Nice shot in the golf game
Let’s make it with newspaper and toilet paper rolls! Here’s a “nice shot” idea for playing golf.
Golf is, of course, a sport played in nature using clubs and balls.
This time, we’re sharing a fun idea that lets you enjoy golf with your child by using newspaper and toilet paper rolls together with a parent or guardian! Working toward a goal together with your child can deepen your bond and create wonderful moments.
Give it a try!