Recommended Themes and Slogans for Nursery and Kindergarten Sports Days

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

When you decide on a theme or slogan for a sports day at a nursery or kindergarten, it brings the children’s feelings together and creates special memories.

To help you come up with a fun theme, here are some ideas and phrases.

We’ve chosen simple, easy-to-understand words so they’re clear for the children.

Use these as a reference while listening to the children’s ideas—the time you spend in childcare will be even more enjoyable.

Bring children and adults together as one, and make it a wonderful sports day!

Short, mood-boosting words (1–10)

Jump!

The sports day theme “Jump!” is a perfect match for the children’s energy.

Phrases like “Leap into the future!” really convey their potential.

When deciding on a theme, it’s a great idea to ask the kids for their ideas, too.

Words that everyone comes up with together truly resonate.

On the day of the sports festival, if everyone unites and embraces the theme, it’s sure to become a wonderful memory.

Just imagining the moment when the venue is filled with the children’s smiles and the parents’ emotion makes me excited!

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Burn!

As a slogan that fosters a sense of unity at a sports day, “Moero!” (Burn with passion!) is recommended.

This phrase gives children energy and momentum, inspires them to do their best, and also boosts parents’ enthusiasm to cheer them on.

Incorporating the children’s own ideas will lead to a more enjoyable event.

In addition, having teachers come up with the slogan while talking with the children can deepen their bonds.

In this way, making “Moero!” the theme will liven up the sports day and make it a memorable occasion.

Please use this as a reference.

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unity; solidarity; cohesion

Even if the words are difficult, it’s a phrase that makes you feel how important it is to do your best together with your friends at the sports day.

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Words to strengthen team cohesion (1–10)

When it comes to sports day themes, unity and teamwork are absolutely essential.

Here are theme ideas that incorporate keywords with that in mind.

It’s a good idea to choose and combine words that are easy for children to understand and accept.

Keep the words simple so they’re easy to say out loud—something that makes everyone want to shout together to boost team spirit.

With a theme like that, you can bet everyone will raise their fists and take on the events with enthusiasm!

A heart that doesn’t give up

It’s a slogan that conveys the message: don’t give up with an “I’m done” attitude—hang in there and do your best to the very end.

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Dash through toward the goal

This one is filled with the feeling of “Run hard and make it to the finish!” It gives you the strength to do your very best.

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Unite our hearts

As a sports day theme, the phrase “Joining Our Hearts as One” is a wonderful choice that highlights the valuable opportunity for children to join forces with their friends, teachers, and parents.

By adopting this phrase as the theme, we can expect all participants to cooperate, encourage one another, and heighten the excitement of the event.

Through sports day, children will learn the importance of cooperation and teamwork.

It is also a great theme that helps parents get into the spirit of the occasion.

Let’s be sure to keep “Joining Our Hearts as One” in mind together with the children and host a fun, memorable sports day.

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A heart that never gives up is a gold medal.

How about holding the sports day under the straightforward and appealing slogan, “A heart that never gives up is a gold medal”? It’s a powerful slogan that simply conveys the importance of striving toward your goals.

While some events have rankings and wins or losses, by celebrating the spirit of not giving up until the very end—not just the results—the sports day can become an opportunity to nurture children’s self-esteem.

Receiving a “gold medal” makes even adults happy, as it feels like their effort is being recognized.

Please consider incorporating this idea.

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