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Childcare: Recommended program ideas for a sports day

Sports day at nursery and kindergarten is something to look forward to.

Creating the program is fun, but sometimes it’s hard to come up with ideas.

Beyond the entrance, exit, and warm-up exercises, it’s also important to plan a variety of events.

Here, we’ve gathered ideas for a sports day that kids can enjoy.

Consider activities like relays, obstacle courses, and dances that match the children’s ages.

Create a program that teachers and children can enjoy together, and make it a wonderful sports day where everyone smiles!

[Childcare] Recommended Program Ideas for Sports Day (71–80)

Handmade ball circuit

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

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!
Newspaper Spiderweb Circuit

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.

athlete entrance

[Sports Day & Daily Childcare • Choreography Supervision: Hiromichi Sato] We’re Pirates! Lively to that famous tune! A versatile marching song “Yo-Ho” usable from 2-year-olds to elementary schoolers • Choreography instruction with counts
athlete entrance

Why not channel those pre-event jitters—your excitement just before the sports day and competitions begin—into a performance starting from the entrance march, and enjoy the sports day even more? A lively entrance performance will instantly lift everyone’s spirits, thrilling the parents who’ve come to watch as well.

Simply marching in is fine, but adding a little choreography or movement raises expectations, as if the performance has already begun.

Let’s enjoy the sports day to the fullest with a spirited entrance performance set to music.

[Childcare] Recommended program ideas for a sports day (81–90)

[Warm-up Exercise] A-I-U-E-O Calisthenics

Tried dancing the sports day exercise!! (Aiueo Music)
[Warm-up Exercise] A-I-U-E-O Calisthenics

How about incorporating the “AIUEO Exercises” into your warm-up routine? The recommended song is GReeeeN’s “Aiueo Ongaku♬.” It’s a little bonus: you can move your body while also touching on the Japanese syllabary.

There’s an official dance available, but for a warm-up it’s better to add choreography that helps you stretch more thoroughly.

Rotate your neck, swing your arms, reach out with your hands, and jump.

Try designing movements that will help everyone get through the events that follow without injury.

[Parent-Child Event] Ladybug

[Baby to Toddler] Nursery Sports Day at 1 Year 3 Months ♥ Parent-Child Competition
[Parent-Child Event] Ladybug

Ladybug, recommended for parent-child events, has children play the role of ladybugs while their guardians support them.

Guardians can pull a cardboard cutout painted like a leaf for the children to ride on, or carry them and move forward across the squares.

Sometimes they wait ahead to cheer the children on as they overcome obstacles, all aiming for the goal together.

A race where children reach the finish line with support from their guardians might bring out expressions and sides of the children that you don’t usually see at the daycare!

My First Errand

Tomobe Kindergarten Sports Day Event Descriptions No. 7 & 8: “My First Errand” and “Shopping as a Pair”
My First Errand

In the “First Errand” event, children run an errand as part of the activity.

Place a variety of foods along the course and have each child pick one they like.

Then they deliver it to the house that’s the same color as the food to reach the goal.

Make the foods and houses using materials like cardboard, newspaper, and construction paper.

Through the event, let parents watch their children successfully complete their errand and feel their growth.

[Game] Muscatyuzu

Yuzu – Muscat [Original Choreography] Sports Day Dance and Recital Dance for Nurseries and Kindergartens
[Game] Muscat Yuzu

A great song to showcase an energetic dance at a sports day is Yuzu’s “Muscat.” It was used as the opening theme for the popular children’s anime Crayon Shin-chan, so many kids are likely to know it.

There’s also an official dance called the “Sukatto Dance,” which Crayon Shin-chan himself dances, so that’s a good reference, too.

In addition, many versions with simplified or arranged choreography are available on video sites, so choose one that suits the age of the children who will be dancing.