Olympic Activities for Kids

📝 This post about Olympic Activities for Kids was originally published in 2012 and has been updated with new information and resources.

Growing up, the Olympics were a really big deal in our house. We would gather around the TV Guide — yes, an actual printed TV Guide! — to figure out which sports were on and when. We would argue over which ones to watch, but best of all we were actually allowed to watch during dinner, which was never allowed any other time of year. The Olympics felt like an event, not just a TV show.

So when my son came home from school one day, buzzing with excitement about the Olympics, I knew exactly what we were going to do — we were going to celebrate them properly! Whether you’re following the Summer Olympics, the Winter Olympics, celebrating a School Olympics event, or planning Field Day activities, these simple crafts and activities are a fun way to bring the Olympic spirit into your home or classroom.

📝 Note: I know the Olympics are not happening this year, but these activities are perfect for school Olympics days, field day celebrations or any time you want to bring a little Olympic spirit into your classroom or home!

Here are some of our favorite Olympic activities and crafts for kids that bring the excitement of the Games right into your home or classroom!

Olympic Torch

One of the most iconic symbols of the Olympics is the torch — and making your own is easier than you might think! After we finished ours, my son grabbed his torch, headed out of our apartment, and made the rounds to a few of our favorite nearby spots. He got so many smiles from people passing by, and the shop owners we visited loved not only the torch but his enthusiastic chant — “Olympic Torch! Olympic Torch!” 

Materials Needed

✔️Gold poster board
✔️red cellophane or tissue paper
✔️a popsicle stick, old pencil, or broken chopstick
✔️tape
✔️hot glue

Making the Torch

✔️ Heat up your hot glue gun
✔️ Roll the gold poster board the long way until you have the shape you like and hot glue it together
✔️ Insert a circular piece of paper with a hole in the middle inside the top of the tube and secure with hot glue — this holds the flame in place
✔️ Cut two large squares from the cellophane or tissue paper and lay them flat at different angles
✔️ Gather the squares around the popsicle stick and tape the bottom so the cellophane stays in place
✔️ Insert the flame into the hole in the circular paper inside the tube and secure with hot glue if desired

Then grab your torch and take it for a walk, host your own opening ceremonies, or organize a parade around the classroom or neighborhood.

Olympic Rings — 4 Ways!

We started out planning to simply paint some Olympic rings, but once we got going, a whole bunch of other ideas came to mind! Before we knew it, we had created the Olympic rings four different ways!

Dixie Cup Rings — Dip the rims of five Dixie cups into paint and press them onto the paper to create the Olympic rings. Simple, fun, and perfectly round every time!

Plastic Bowl Rings — Follow the same directions as above, but use a plastic bowl with a wide rim instead. The texture on the bowls gives the rings a different look than the cups — really cool effect!

Coloring Page Rings — Print out a coloring page of the Olympic rings and paint or color them in. Great for younger kids who want to participate but need a little more structure!

M&M Rings — Arrange M&Ms in the shape of the Olympic rings and glue them down. Fair warning — we ate all the orange ones before they made it onto the paper! 😄

Free Olympic Printables

Keep kids engaged in the Olympic Games with these two free printables — perfect for tracking medals and cheering on your favorite countries!

Gold Medal Count —Use this free chart to record how many gold medals your favorite country’s athletes win! Simply color in a medal for each gold medal earned — simple, fun, and a great way to keep kids engaged while watching the Games!

🥇 Download the free Gold Medal Tally here!

Olympic Medal Count Chart — Looking for a fun and easy way to keep kids involved in and excited about the Olympics? Print out this free Olympic Medal Count chart, choose five countries to track, and tally up gold, silver, and bronze medals each day. It is as simple as that — and so much fun!

🥈 Download the free Olympic Medal Count Chart here!

The Olympic Games are a wonderful opportunity to spark conversations about sportsmanship, perseverance, teamwork, and countries around the world. Whether you’re celebrating at home or in the classroom, these simple activities help kids join in the excitement of the Games.

More Olympic Resources

Looking for even more ways to bring the Olympics into your classroom? Check out these resources from our TPT store:

Sports Day Activities — Celebrate the Olympic spirit with these fun sports-themed activities perfect for PreK through Grade 2! Great for classroom spirit days, field day, and Olympic celebrations!

👉 Grab Sports Day Activities here!

Favorite Sport How-To Writing — Students choose their favorite sport and write step-by-step directions explaining how to play! A fun and engaging writing activity that connects perfectly to the Olympic season!

👉 Grab Favorite Sport How-To Writing here!

Are you planning any Olympic activities with your students or children this year? Leave a comment below and let us know your favorite way to celebrate the Games! 💚