How to Plan a Preschool Field Day

How do you plan a field day for preschoolers?

Well, here's how my husband and I did it...

1. Start with a story.

What better story to read than The Hare and the Tortoise? It's probably the most well-known tale about a race, and it has an important message for preschoolers: Be a good sport. It's not nice to brag and try to make other people feel bad. We're also supposed to feel happy for our friends when they're happy. Lastly, sports are supposed to be fun, plain and simple.

2. Discuss good sportsmanship.

• You can talk about how being a good sport translates to playing board games like Candyland.
• Explain what it means to cheer on your team.
• Give each other high-fives.
• Practice shaking hands and saying, "Good game."

3. Award medals before the events.

You can purchase a dozen award medals at a party supply store for anywhere from $3.99 to $6.99. Pass these out as a reminder to be a good sport.

4. Three events preschoolers love:

• In and Out: Set 6 upside-down pails in a straight line, and time each child as they run "in and out" between the pails. After everyone has had a turn, let each child have a second turn to improve their time. (You can use the stopwatch feature on your phone, and don't forget your clipboard!)
• Standing Long Jump: Put down a tape measure and see how far each child can jump. Let each child have a practice turn and a "real" turn.
• The Throw: Again using the tape measure, give each child a plastic baseball (like the ones from Little Tikes t-ball) and let them see how far they can throw it. (Set up the upside-down pails to create boundaries, three on one side and three on the other, and show children how to aim down the middle.) Let each child have two balls and record their best distance.

5. Have fun - and snacks! 

Preschoolers won't care at all about their scores, but they will love the math lesson of looking at the tape measure and identifying the number their ball is near. Most importantly, have fruit, pretzels, string cheese, and juice boxes. Your little ones will have worked up a big appetite.

Have you ever planned a field day for preschoolers? What events did you do?