how to make an indoor obstacle course for toddlers

by Claudie Russel 9 min read

Build an Indoor Obstacle Course for Kids in 7 Easy Steps

  • Step 1. Gather any or all of these supplies: empty paper towel rolls or toilet paper rolls, a bouncy ball, flashcards, a...
  • Step 2. Map out some space for your course—it doesn’t have to be a lot! I do these for my daughter in the spare room of...
  • Step 3. Pick a silly move your kid can do at the starting line to...

Here are a few ideas to get you started on building an indoor obstacle course for your kids:
  1. Crawl under or over a row of chairs.
  2. Crawl under a string stretched between two chair legs.
  3. Jump into and out of a Hula-Hoop five times.
  4. Walk on a balance board.
  5. Throw a beanbag into a laundry basket.

Full Answer

How to make an indoor obstacle course?

Indoor Obstacle Course Use pillows, couch cushions, ottomans, and throw rugs to create a soft and safe obstacle course for pre-schoolers to jump, crawl, and somersault through Keep the Balloon Up Simple and fun, the goal of this game is to keep a blown-up balloon from touching the floor

How to make your own obstacle course for kids?

  • Lay the hoop on the ground and have kids jump in and out of it.
  • Lay several hula hoops in a row and have kids jump down the line.
  • Have kids roll the hoop from one point to another.
  • If kids are big enough, they can try to hula hoop for three or five seconds.

How to make a fun indoor obstacle course by kidadl?

  • Tape - For one of the obstacle course activities, you can use duct tape or masking tape to create lines on the floor which can be used to walk and ...
  • Books and bedsheets - Use a bed sheet to create a magical tunnel to crawl under. ...
  • Hula-hoops - You can use hula-hoops as one of the activities of the obstacle course. ...

More items...

How to master obstacle courses?

  • Having instructions can help prevent injury and make a fair obstacle course.
  • Include specific instructions on how an obstacle is to be completed.
  • For example, participants must go through a tunnel and not over it.

How do you make a toddler obstacle course?

0:356:39How to Make an Obstacle Course for Your Kids in Your BackyardYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo i know that my post will be in line and square it's a good idea to put some concrete at theMoreSo i know that my post will be in line and square it's a good idea to put some concrete at the bottom of the hole. Before you put your posts. In that way the post is sitting on the concrete.

How can I make a kids obstacle course at home?

2:324:44DIY Backyard Obstacle Course | LIFE HACKS FOR KIDS - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow squeeze some hot glue on the edge of your stick. And then stick it inside your sponge. WhileMoreNow squeeze some hot glue on the edge of your stick. And then stick it inside your sponge. While that's drying blow up a balloon. To play hit the balloons back and forth with your bobbers.

How do I make an obstacle course?

0:372:28How to Set Up an Obstacle Course in Your Backyard - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPlace a wooden ladder flat on the ground participants run the length of the ladder as fast as theyMorePlace a wooden ladder flat on the ground participants run the length of the ladder as fast as they can by stepping between each of the rungs. Step 3 lay eight hula hoops in a row. And this segment.

Why do toddlers need obstacle courses?

By climbing over and under obstacles, children build strength in their hands, wrists, shoulders, and core muscles. This helps them to tackle tasks that require precision like writing and cutting more comfortably.

What do kids use for obstacle courses?

You can use a table, or even just boards across some buckets to create an obstacle your child needs to crawl through. You can even use sidewalk chalk to draw parts of the course on the driveway or sidewalk.

How do you make an indoor Ninja course?

0:322:35INDOOR OBSTACLE COURSE! | DIY Dad - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you have to skip across the pillows. And then make it to the pool noodle finish line all rightMoreSo you have to skip across the pillows. And then make it to the pool noodle finish line all right Holly are you ready. Are you ready are you ready to do this yeah trap got canceled this season.

How do you make a ninja course for kids?

0:313:55DIY Backyard Ninja Course For Kids - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then I added a rope up there to climb up. Then we took the slide down. I added on a couple extraMoreAnd then I added a rope up there to climb up. Then we took the slide down. I added on a couple extra 4x4 posts and got some monkey bars I can put a link in the description to where I got those.

What are the types of obstacle courses?

Obstacle courses can include running, climbing, jumping, crawling, swimming, and balanceing with the aim of testing speed and endurance. Sometimes a course involves mental tests. In an off-road obstacle course, the driver is presented with a variety of different terrain to get over, around or through.

Why are obstacle courses important?

Kids obstacle courses also improve motor skills so they're great for development. As well as improving motor skills , it's important for the mind and body to keep doing regular exercise during lockdown and an indoor obstacle course is ...

What is the best room for an obstacle course?

Avoid things like stairs or anything you might bump your head on! We suggest a ground floor hallway, sitting room or bedroom. You could use a combination of rooms for the activity depending on the layout of your home.

What can you use a hula hoop for?

Hula-hoops - You can use hula-hoops as one of the activities of the obstacle course. Perhaps you could make your children do it whilst singing the alphabet for an extra challenge. Or you could simply use the hula-hoop as a marker for a place to jump ten times. Fun games - Your kids' board games or other toys could be used as an addition to ...

How to make a tunnel with a book?

Using two chairs or a sofa, throw the sheet over the top to form the tunnel and use a book as a weight to keep the sheet from slipping. Make sure the book is positioned in a way so that it won't fall on your little ones when they are taking part in the course. Hula-hoops - You can use hula-hoops as one of the activities of the obstacle course.

Is obstacle course good for toddlers?

Obstacle courses are great if you have smaller children too. Toddlers are naturally finding lockdown confusing and difficult as they're unaware of the bigger reason for being indoors all day; this makes it even more difficult for them to be stuck inside.

How to get kids bored of obstacle courses?

Kids will rapidly grow bored of the obstacle course if there isn't an incentive to keep it going. Time the first round and then challenge them to beat their last time. Or add time restrictions to certain stations. There is nothing worse than taking more time to build an activity than your kid does using it. Adding a timer to the challenges will increase your kids' focus and will give more mileage to the course you've created.

What is the best product for making an obstacle course?

Painter's or masking tape is the single-most important product for making a good indoor obstacle course. It can be used to make paths, dotted lines, or arrows to kids on course. Arrows can lead kids in all sorts of silly directions and can take courses over cushions, under tables, and in dizzying circles. Book mazes.

What does Dwin say about obstacle courses?

Dwin says every obstacle course moment should be one that they are expending energy on. She likes to make cleanup a game and a component in the challenge. Add a timer to clean up and set it to some upbeat music, or have kids clean up certain areas before the timer goes off.

What are some fun things to do with kids that don't have tunnels?

Tunnels. Tunnels are a major stop on any respectable obstacle course. If you don't have a kids' tunnel, fear not! They can easily be made by lining up a row of chairs for your child to crawl through, or by rolling up a play mat and taping it in place with duct tape. Crepe paper laser maze.

What to do when kids bounce off walls?

Sack races. If your kids are bouncing off the walls, give them a pillow case or a sleeping bag and make a game of it. It doesn't take a lot of distance to tire a kid out when they have to make cumbersome hops across a room or down a hallway. Ball pits.

How to stay safe as a kid?

To stay safe, make good use of cushions, yoga mats, and blankets as much as you can. And be sure to move sharp corners and breakable items out of the way. "This is the time for kids to get wild, so we like to incorporate padding where we can," says Dwin. She says that safety really is about using your own judgement and knowing your kids, too. She recommends you start off conservative, listen to your gut, and allow your children to build on things after they've show what they are capable of. It's harder to pull back on rules than to loosen them later on.

Is obstacle course a physical activity?

Obstacle courses are not merely physical. They are based on rules and challenges that are the perfect foil for boredom-induced brain-drain. Try having kids come up with a list of rules, like when they crawl through a tunnel they need to sing their ABCs or when they walk the balance beam they need to clap their hands every third step. Adding rules and being open to adjusting and changing them adds a mental challenge to the physical activity.

How much time should a child spend playing?

Depending on your child’s age, they require different amounts of playtime. The average amount of time is an hour for most children — but it’s recommended that children stay active throughout the day for a cumulative time of three hours. This may sound like a lot but with the time spent setting up indoor activities for your young ones it’s easy ...

What is the goal of the bean bag game?

Objective: Child to get the most bean bags in the laundry basket wins the round. Although an easy game to set up, this challenge can get competitive pretty quickly. Set up two laundry baskets on each side of the room and give each child the same amount of beans bags to toss.

Is pool noodle sword fight good for preschoolers?

For your child’ safety, it’s a good idea to clear the room of any fragiles before the pool noodle sword fight commends between your little ones. It’s a great game that can last for quite a while and exhaust your preschooler just in time for a nap.

How to make an obstacle course for kids?

Here are five easy ideas for creating an awesome indoor obstacle course for kids: 1. Jump through hoops. Take your kid’s collection hula hoops and lay them on the floor. Encourage your kids to jump from one to the next without touching the floor outside the hoop. If the hulas are too big, try overlapping them.

How to get kids to expend energy without leaving the house?

For parents, there’s sometimes nothing worse than having to deal with your kids’ pent-up energy when they’re stuck inside! Fortunately, there are fun, healthy ways for them to expend their energy without ever leaving the house – create an obstacle course indoors . An obstacle course is an excellent way to help them build motor skills, ...

How to get your kids to burn calories?

Jumping is an excellent way for your kids to burn some calories and get their heart rate up – and a bit of competition never hurts! 2. Get them climbing. Incorporate your kids’ favorite climbers as part of the fun.

How to chase away blues indoors?

To chase away the winter indoor blues, create a fun and challenging indoor obstacle course for your kids, get out the timer, and have your children either compete against each other or try to beat their own record. As you’re planning out your awesome indoor obstacle course for kids, don’t forget to check out some Step2 toys to help chase away cabin ...

How to make an obstacle course for kids?

Pick a silly move your kid can do at the starting line to begin the obstacle course. A few ideas: strike a pose, do a dance, do three jumping jacks, spin around three times, pretend to be a certain animal—you get the idea.

How to get from obstacle to obstacle?

Decide on some fun ways that your kid can get from obstacle to obstacle. A few ideas: crab walk, bear walk, slither like a snake, walk back wards, walk side ways, dance, walk with eyes closed, walk with a book on her head, and so on.

How to make a kid climb a mountain?

A few ideas: Drape a sheet between two chairs, where your child has to crawl under or limbo under. Pile some pillows that your kid has to “mountain climb” over. Put a small bouncy ball on the floor, which your kid has to pick it up with her toes and drop it into a paper towel roll suspended above a bucket. Place a toy that rolls at one station and have your kid push it with his nose to the next station. Have your kid push the bouncy ball with her nose across the floor into the paper towel roll (tape it down so it doesn't move).

How To Introduce And Teach An Obstacle Course To Toddlers

All you need to create obstacle courses for preschoolers and toddlers are creativity and making the best use of stuff lying in the house. When you are creating an obstacle course, you must ensure the safety of children to avoid any risk of getting injured while playing these games.

15 Obstacle Courses For Toddlers And Preschoolers

When the weather is bad, or you just want to stay indoors, try indoor obstacle courses for toddlers that are fun and engaging.

Benefits Of Obstacle Courses For Toddlers

Obstacle courses offer multiple learning outcomes ( 2 ). Here are some benefits of obstacle courses for toddlers:

What are some skills that kids can learn through obstacle courses?

Gaining control over their movements is an important skill that may be practised by kids through an obstacle course. Those types of skills can include walking a “tightrope” on the ground, skipping from one spot to the next, and climbing a playground ladder.

What is an obstacle course?

An obstacle course is a wonderful way to engage a young child in movement. These awesome obstacle course ideas for kids are simple and will provide hours of entertainment and learning. Although there are many different kinds of obstacle courses and ways to build them, they share several similarities. They use objects and structures as the obstacles ...

What are the benefits of obstacle courses?

What are the Benefits of an Obstacle Course? Beyond having fun and using energy, obstacle courses offer many skill-building advantages for the kids who take part in working their way through them. Some of these benefits can seem obvious, while others may be more surprising.

How to encourage creativity in children?

Creativity. A wonderful way to encourage creativity is to ask your child to take part in designing the obstacle course. This can involve drawing, writing, communicating ideas verbally and using imagination.

What are some of the skills that children can use to build gross motor skills?

In an obstacle course, this can include skills such as jumping, running, crawling, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting and throwing.

How to get your child ready for school?

How to boost your child's development and get ready for school through PLAY, even if you're short on time... Learn the only 4 kinds of play activities you should be focusing on and never chase a bored child around the house again, begging him to sit down and pay attention to your "fun" activity.

Can environmental print be used as obstacle course?

Environmental print can easily be incorporated into obstacle courses . For example, place a sign on a tunnel with the word “crawl” and an image of a child crawling or just the word “tunnel” to label it.

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