how to make an obstacle course for toddlers

by Maureen Kuphal 5 min read

How to Create a Backyard Obstacle Course for Toddlers

  • Something to climb: Toddlers live to climb. ...
  • Something to throw: Balls, hoops, plastic bowling pins, old stuffed animals. ...
  • Something wet: If you want giggles, give them a water blaster, water balloons, or even just a water bucket to carry from spot A to spot B. ...

More items...

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 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 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 build an obstacle course?

On an average day the whales face off against a relentless barrage of about 200 ships, many of them container ships or oil tankers that stretch up to 300 metres in length. It is a clash playing out in increasing intensity around the world.

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 I make a simple obstacle course?

0:292:13DIY Dollar Store Backyard Obstacle Course - HGTV Handmade - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCourse you're going to need a few solar garden lights a couple of pole noodles. And duct tape thisMoreCourse you're going to need a few solar garden lights a couple of pole noodles. And duct tape this way we'll be able to make a tunnel for your little one to army crawl through.

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.

What is obstacle course for toddlers?

Any activity in which children use the large muscles in their legs, arms, and torso helps to build their gross motor skills. In an obstacle course, this can include skills such as jumping, running, crawling, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting and throwing.

How do you make an obstacle course with household items?

0:322:35INDOOR OBSTACLE COURSE! | DIY Dad - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThrough the action figures. Then you're going to crawl through. Them. And then somehow the floorMoreThrough the action figures. Then you're going to crawl through. Them. And then somehow the floor turned to lava. So you have to skip across the pillows.

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.

What is the best obstacle course for kids?

Best Backyard Ninja Courses For KidsB Branton Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course for Kids. ... Flybold Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course Line. ... Topnew 12 Ninja Tree Climbing Holds for Kids. ... Dripex Ninja Warrior 65' Obstacle Course for Kids. ... X XBEN Obstacle Course Kids 50' Slackline Kit. ... Jungle Highline Kids Obstacle Course.More items...•

Can a 2 year old do an obstacle course?

Now is a great time to create a basic obstacle course for your child. By 30 months, they may be able to: jump in place with both feet, and then at a distance of 8-14 inches.

How do you make obstacles on scratch?

1:3510:03Scratch - Obstacle Tutorial - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSimply want to hide the meteor. Okay once we have hidden it we are then able to create a clone of itMoreSimply want to hide the meteor. Okay once we have hidden it we are then able to create a clone of it. So just create a clone of myself.

How do I plan an obstacle course?

Creating an Obstacle Course In Your HomeStep 1: Identify motor and cognitive skills that you would like the obstacle course to help address with your child. ... Step 2: Plan specific activities for your obstacle course that target the indentified skill areas. ... Step 3: Collect materials to build your obstacle course.More items...

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.

How do you make a ropes course in your backyard?

0:119:01Backyard Ropes Course 2: Platforms - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCourse I decided that I was going to build them with a six foot by six foot surface. Area of eachMoreCourse I decided that I was going to build them with a six foot by six foot surface. Area of each square. So there's a six foot platform you can see there in our backyard zipline.

What are the benefits of backyard obstacle courses?

Benefits of the Backyard Obstacle Course 1 Most of the larger background play sets are made for ages 3 and up. That means your little ones may not be ready for the climbing, sliding, swinging, and scaling that's required (at least not without a lot of close adult supervision). 2 While, of course, swings, slides, and monkey bars offer great opportunities for fun and building gross motor skills, a backyard of open spaces and a collection of random toys and activities encourage free play and imagination. 3 Obstacle courses are made to be changed up and revised constantly. The swing may forever go back and forth that large hoop might be Hula hoop challenge one day and part of an oversized ring toss game the next. In other words -- it never gets old, never gets boring.

Why do toddlers need to listen to directions?

Although, having a few activities that require your toddler to listen and follow directions is a good way to nurture communication and cognitive skills as your little one develops.

Is there a rule for climbing a slide?

There are no rules but there are some guidelines to help you plan a fun, safe course for little kids. Something to climb: Toddlers live to climb. This is the one element where you may want to invest in a simple toddler-friendly slide or large soft blocks that can be safely stacked and mounted by an early walker.

What are some good ways to make an obstacle course?

Consider inflatable obstacles . A safe and easy option for creating an obstacle course is to make use of inflatable obstacles. Since these obstacles are inflatable they pose a low risk of injury and can add an appealing and lighthearted feeling to your obstacle course.

What is the best place to build an obstacle course?

Look around for the best space available to you for your obstacle course. Hills might be obstacles themselves and can add difficulty to your course. Flat areas are a great location if you plan on building obstacles yourself that need to be level.

What are some good obstacles for kids?

Alternatively, have people balance an object on a spoon for a short stretch. Inflatable obstacles are great for children too.

How to overcome obstacles?

Including teamwork can be a great way to get your participants working together to overcome the obstacle course.

How to test agility?

Running around a series of cones, like a skier slaloming, can be a good test of agility. Try tying small threads with bells attached to them just off the ground. Participants have to step around them without ringing the bells.

Do you need to build an obstacle course for your friends?

Building a simple obstacle course for your friends and family on the other hand will not require such steps.

Do all obstacle courses have to be created the same?

Not all obstacle courses are created the same. You will need to build your course while keeping the participants in mind. Think about the age and physical fitness levels of those who will be using the course. Try to build a safe and challenging course based on this information.

Why do kids build obstacle courses?

Building a backyard obstacle course is a fun and easy way to help your kids stay active during the summer and promote the development of important physical and mental skills. The best part about making a backyard obstacle course is that it doesn't have to be complicated or expensive.

How to teach kids to hula hoop?

Hula-hoop. Lay the hoop on the ground and have kids jump in and out of it. Lay several hul a 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 bunny jump rope?

Lay a wooden ladder on the ground and have kids bunny hop through the rungs or hop on one foot. Place a series of hula hoops on the ground several feet from each other. Have the kids jump, leap or hop from one hoop to the next. Jump rope while counting to 20.

How to make a sponge bucket brigade?

Make a sponge bucket brigade. Fill one bucket with water and give each kid a large sponge. Have them work together to soak up the water from the bucket and squeeze it out in another bucket.

How much exercise should a child do daily?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily, preferably "vigorous" activity that raises their heart rate and respiration. A backyard obstacle course is a great way to disguise vigorous exercise as a fun game.

Can kids use hula hoop?

Kids can use a hula hoop for jumping or skipping as well as hula-hooping. Marcy Maloy/Digial Vision/Getty Images. Grade school kids, ages 6 and older, are up for a challenge, so you can raise the difficulty level of the backyard obstacle course.

Benefits of Obstacle Courses for Gross Motor Development

This activity is great for working on gross motor skills. These skills work the large muscles of our body, which we use for walking, jumping, skipping, and more. As children grow, so do their abilities to control and move their muscles. Children need lots of time to play and build strength in their bodies.

Obstacle Course Activity Plan

Hop into the center of each hula hoop. Crawl through the pool noodle tunnels.

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.

Super Simple Ways to Make an Obstacle Course for Kids

Spy Training Obstacle Course for kids from One Creative Mommy. An agility course that includes stepping through rings (just throw out some rings!), crawling under a table, and a tightrope!

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What is a cardboard tunnel?

Every school can find extra cardboard to use. This cardboard tunnel is made of several different boxes to give students a section to crawl through. Remember, students still have to be holding their plastic bottle. Attaching all the boxes together really makes it challenging (and fun) for students.

Who is Stacy Tornio?

Stacy Tornio is a freelance writer with a focus on education. She's an author of nearly 20 books, including many educational family titles. Nearly everyone in her family is a teacher. So she decided to be rebellious and write about teachers instead.

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