It’s been a tough time for sports over the last year, but the announcement that the Tokyo Olympics would be going ahead was welcome news to sports fans all over the world. Because it’s such an exciting event, which includes a number of new sports this year, it’s a fantastic way to get children involved in different types of exercise - which will stimulate both their imaginations and get them moving! Here are some of our top tips for getting children into the Olympic spirit and helping them to get the most out of imaginative play.
1. Set up a time trial track
Children love a challenge, and many kids love to see if they can beat their own scores - as well as those of their peers. Setting up an area with a running track and a stop clock can be a fun way of getting children to time how long it takes them and their peers to complete the course, which encourages literacy and numeracy skills as well as healthy competition. For a more advanced challenge, children could try to complete the course in a particular time.
2. Shoot some hoops 
A favourite sport for both children and adults, and a popular event for the 2021 Summer Olympics, basketball is a fantastic way for kids to develop physical literacy and hand-eye-coordination. We have a range of different MUGAs to help get you started in different sports, all of which can include a basketball hoop. Younger children can also benefit from something like a ball skills panel, which encourages them to aim for specific targets to improve coordination.
3. Get training
Before competing, any great athlete will have a training programme to make sure they’re at their best. By using outdoor gyms, you can help children to understand how using certain dynamic and gym equipment or doing certain actions and movements can help them to be better at other sports too - for example, by increasing cardiovascular fitness children will be able to run for longer and faster. This can be a good way to help children begin to understand how their body works and how hard work can really pay off. And don't worry if you don't have specialist outdoor gym equipment… Active Trails, Towers and other equipment such as our Flexi-Sport Zones can be used to underpin the same learning!
4. Climb! 
People often associate the Olympics with track sports like running, but there are so many other dynamic events too - one of them being climbing. Climbing is a fantastic way for children to take safe risks which builds confidence and self esteem, along with important motor skills and strength. You could try climbing walls, scramble nets, or some dynamic active trails.
5. Find some funding for the best playground ever
It’s been around since 2013 but the Primary Sport & PE Premium is still one of the best ways to fund your playground development. It is a ring-fenced grant for primary schools to provide additional and sustainable improvements to the quality of PE, sport and physical activity. Allocations to schools are determined by a formula based on pupil numbers. The average one form entry primary school will receive roughly £18,000 per year. It has run every year since then, which is great news for getting children out and active! You can find out more here.
For more information and costs for your school or setting, please contact us today on 01604 261690 or click here.