Looking for field day ideas for preschoolers that go beyond a race across the playground? Think colorful hoop paths, bubble stations and little bowling lanes.
These pictures give you plenty to choose from, including quieter activities and a few cute extras for the day.
You can keep things simple or set up several stations. Choose activities that suit your group, have adults supervise each one and leave room for water breaks.
Everyone can join in without keeping score.
Preschool field day games and details to try
colorful sack races
We’re starting off strong with these bright numbered race sacks. The blue, yellow and red combination is so cute!
For your preschool version, keep the hopping route short and give each child plenty of space on level grass. You can skip the race and let everyone practice little hops with an adult nearby.
rainbow parachute circle
I love this rainbow parachute with number cards arranged around the edge. There’s already so much color here that you don’t need extra decorations.
Try having the children hold the handles and make gentle waves together. If you want to use the cards too, invite them to find a familiar number before you begin.
a colorful spoon relay
How cute are these yellow and orange spoons? The picture pairs them with little balloons, with spare spoons standing in a yellow bucket.
For preschoolers, swap the balloons for large, age-appropriate play balls to avoid balloon choking hazards. Let children walk a short route while balancing a ball on their spoon.
sponge and bucket play
If you’re looking for a splashy station, this one gives you a simple starting point. A big yellow sponge sits between bright buckets, with more buckets across the grass.
Try a walking relay where children carry a wet sponge to another bucket and squeeze it out. Use shallow water, supervise closely and move the activity if the ground gets slippery.
through the hoop tunnel
This hoop tunnel may just be one of my favorite setups here. I love the colorful hoops lined up between the orange cones.
For younger children, make a shorter version with securely supported hoops and let them go through one at a time. There’s no need to race through it.
a table full of bubbles
Who doesn’t love a few bubbles? This table has bright bowls, long wands and bubbles floating all around it.
Set up your own supervised dipping station with bubble solution and age-appropriate wands. Keep the solution away from mouths and wipe up spills around the table.
follow the little footprints
These colorful footprints are just adorable. Some pairs sit inside the hoops while others sit outside, giving children a little path to follow.
Try a slow stepping game before introducing jumps. Secure the footprints so they don’t slide, then let children choose whether to step or hop through.
bright bowl targets
Don’t want a game with lots of running? No problem!
These colorful bowls make a lovely starting point for a tossing station. I especially love the yellow sunburst number signs.
You could use large, age-appropriate beanbags and place the nearest bowl just a short toss away. Skip the big scores and call out bowl colors instead.
pink and blue car tracks
I am obsessed with this little race setup. The pink and blue lanes, toy cars and handwritten start sign are so cute together.
Make this a quieter station where children take turns releasing cars down a securely supported ramp. Choose cars suitable for their ages without small detachable parts.
a team rope pull
Here’s a classic team game, with children lined up along a rope on the grass. For preschoolers, I’d choose a gentle, adult-led version rather than a hard tug-of-war.
Keep pulls light and brief, with no rope wrapped around hands or bodies. Practice stopping together first so everyone knows when to relax their grip.
chalk twists and jumps
This is hopscotch with a little something extra! I love the spiral between the numbered squares and the pretend plank drawn across the waves.
Borrow those details for a traffic-free playground or closed paved area. You could draw a shorter route with a few stepping squares, one gentle turn and a little jump.
gold-colored medals
How sweet are these medals? The gold-colored circles have big black number ones and dark blue ribbons.
You could finish your field day with a participation award for every child. For preschoolers, I’d use the same circular design on a take-home card rather than a ribbon worn around the neck during play.
a circle of ball tosses
If you’re looking for a shared target game, this circle is a cute idea. Bright chairs surround a clear bin, with colorful balls being tossed toward the middle.
For your version, have children sit facing inward normally or use floor spots. Take turns tossing large, age-appropriate soft balls into the bin, then collect them together once tossing stops.
over the little net
The ribbon details on this low net are so pretty. Buckets and tubs of colorful balloons sit on both sides, ready for a tossing setup.
For preschool play, I’d replace the balloons with large soft balls. Let children take turns tossing over the net rather than aiming at each other, with supports and cords kept outside their walking paths.
scoop a rainbow duck
I am obsessed with these colorful ducks. The pink, blue, orange and green ones look so cute floating in the blue pool. There are little nets beside it too.
Try a supervised scoop-and-sort activity with children staying outside the pool. Use shallow water and have an adult remain within reach, then empty it as soon as the station closes.
a bright field day shirt
Want a little extra color for the day? This orange shirt has oversized white-outlined lettering, stars and a checkerboard strip along the bottom.
The pictured design says 2025, so change the year if you’re borrowing the idea for your event. I’d keep those little stars!
stack a cup tower
Don’t want every station to be a race? No problem there! This tall cup tower gives you a quieter activity to add between the outdoor games.
For preschoolers, start with a few cups on a low, stable surface and build a smaller tower together. See what they choose to make without setting a height goal.
a walk-through sprinkler
This sprinkler setup keeps things simple. Thin streams of water fall from the top of a white rectangular frame, with a blue hose connected at the side.
A purpose-made, securely installed sprinkler could give you a similar station. Keep it supervised, encourage walking and route the hose away from where children enter and exit.
a mini bowling lane
How cute is this little bowling lane? Colorful upright tubes stand at the end of yellow boundary lines, with bright balls ready to roll.
Try the same idea with a short lane and lightweight pins. Let each child roll from a nearby mark, then wait until the ball stops before anyone resets the pins.
catch the colorful crabs
Last but definitely not least, we have these adorable crab scoops. The children are holding long-handled nets with colorful crab shapes spread across the grass.
You could invite each child to scoop up one color at a time. Give the scoopers plenty of room so their net handles stay clear of each other.
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And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Emily
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