Childcare: Recommended program ideas for a sports day

Cardboard kart circuit

[3-year-olds] We made carts and had a race!

Let’s have fun with decorations too! Here are some ideas for a cardboard kart circuit.

What you’ll need: a kart made from cardboard, hats made from construction paper, crayons or colored pencils, coloring pages, double-sided tape, building blocks, and balloons.

Some kids may have played go-kart or racing kart games before, right? Hop into a cardboard kart and race along a course made from blocks! It’s also great to arrange it as a parent-child activity.

Since decorating the cardboard karts is part of the fun, the making process looks exciting too!

Balance Ball Circuit

7 Balance Ball Exercises Parents and Kids Can Do Together

Here are some ideas for a circuit using a balance ball.

All you need to prepare is a balance ball.

Many people may think of it as something adults use for rehabilitation or training, but there are plenty of fun ways to play with a balance ball, so I highly recommend it! Of course, it’s great for practicing balance and strengthening the core, but you can also incorporate activities suited to each child’s stage of development—like crawling under a springy, bouncy balance ball or clinging to it tightly and using their whole body.

A circuit made with pool cues

[Ages 0–5] Seven Types of Indoor Educational and Physical Play! [Nursery School/Kindergarten]

Let’s play while getting creative! Here are some circuit (obstacle course) ideas you can make with pool noodles.

All you need are pool noodles and a utility knife or scissors.

Cut the long pool noodles in half and use them for the course! Place the halved pool noodles on the floor and include a tightrope-walk section where kids crawl or walk along them.

You can also roll balls along the top of the noodles, or connect them into circles to make ring shapes—great ideas to try!

Circuit of the large cube

[Childcare Scene] Let’s Play with the Safety Mirror Cubes – Care for 2-Year-Olds at Chidori Nursery School: Chiba City Authorized Nursery #2yearsold #largeblocks #nursery #shorts

Let’s get moving while we play! Here are some circuit ideas using large blocks.

All you need are large blocks.

Many kids love building houses or making tunnels with big blocks, right? Try adapting these ideas into a circuit course.

A tunnel with clear windows is unique and fun, letting kids pass through with excitement.

Both the children going through the tunnel and those watching will feel the thrill.

Since there’s a chance of bumping faces or falling, be sure to take precautions when using large blocks for physical activities.

A circuit where you role-play as a ninja

[3-year-olds] Ninja Training! ~Circuit Play~

Nin-nin! Swift and stylish moves! Here are some circuit ideas for becoming a ninja.

Prepare a ninja transformation set made from construction paper, a balance beam, a jump rope, mats, and so on.

The video introduces circuit ideas for three-year-olds, but with a few tweaks, many of them can be uniquely adapted for two-year-olds as well! Let’s use the balance beam, jump rope, and mats to fully get into ninja mode.

Wearing a ninja dress-up set to boost the mood is a great idea, too.

Handmade ball circuit

[Ages 1–2] Can You Predict the Movement? Handmade Ball Play

Let’s use a variety of balls! Here are some ideas for a handmade ball circuit.

Prepare palm-sized balls, large balls you can hold with both hands, newspaper, cushioning material, tape, and bags or baskets big enough to hold the balls.

Try events like rolling balls along the floor or collecting balls in bags or baskets—use balls of different sizes and materials to build spatial awareness through play! Using balls that differ in weight and texture will also stimulate children’s senses.

Give it a try!

Newspaper Spiderweb Circuit

[Ages 0–5] Let’s play boldly! Use the whole room to make a spider web!

Tear it! Stick it! Crawl through and play! Here’s an idea for a newspaper spiderweb circuit.

You’ll need plastic ribbon (suzuran tape), newspaper, and tape.

This is a great idea when you want to include crawling movements in your circuit.

Some children find tunnels challenging because they’re dark and long.

By tearing and sticking newspaper as part of everyday activities, you can naturally encourage crawling movements! The making process also stimulates children’s creativity—what a wonderful idea.