Lovely Play & Recreation

[Parent-Child Rec] Recreational activities and games for parents and children to enjoy together—also great for 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.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

We’re introducing recreations, games, and crafts that are perfect for parent–child activities at sports days and for quality time at home!

If you’re a teacher unsure which parent–child events to include in your sports day, or a parent looking for fun activities to enjoy with your child, please feel free to use this as a reference.

If you’re not fond of active movement or don’t have much space, crafts are a great option.

Crafts also leave you with something tangible, making for a wonderful keepsake.

Work together to take on challenges, or create memorable pieces, and strengthen your bond while enjoying parent–child activities!

[Parent-Child Rec] Recreations and games for parents and children to enjoy together. Also great for sports days (91–100)

What’s inside the box?

Touch and guess! What squeeze is it? Black Box showdown!

What's inside the box?

The classic party game “What’s in the Box?” This is a game where you guess what’s inside the box using only your sense of touch.

On variety shows, they often put in live creatures or slimy items to make it exciting.

For a parent-child activity, it’s nice to have each person insert a hand through the left and right holes, feel together, discuss, and give the answer.

The contents should be something people might hesitate to touch a little, and something everyone can laugh at when it’s revealed! How about slime or a scouring pad?

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Big Pants Race

Parent and child in oversized pants

Big Pants Race

The “Big Pants Race” is where a parent and child wear one giant pair of pants together and run to compete.

Why not try it at a sports day and see if you can match your timing perfectly as a team? To avoid falling, adults should match their pace to the child’s! You might find that if the parent is out of shape, the child is actually faster…

The Big Pants Race is a fun game for parents and kids—give it a try!

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[Parent-Child Rec] Recreations and games for parents and children to enjoy together. Also great for sports day (101–110)

Rag-wiping relay

Haruto Sports Day 2018: Parent-Child Recreation

Rag-wiping relay

If you’re looking for a fun relay parents and children can do together, how about this “Zokin-Kake Relay”? The parent and child use one cleaning cloth between them and move forward while wiping the floor.

Zokin-kake uses the whole body, so it’s actually pretty tough! Plus, since an adult and a child with different strength levels are paired up, you won’t get anywhere unless you really cooperate.

In a parent-child activity, encourage each other and give it a try.

Turning it into a team competition is also recommended!

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In conclusion

As children grow older, they spend more time playing with friends, but every now and then it’s nice to enjoy time together as a family.

Parent–child activities are perfect not only for sports days but also for at-home play.

Move your bodies together or create something side by side, and make the most of your parent–child time!