how to turn school playground into obstacle course

by Kristofer Brekke 3 min read

Full Answer

How to make an obstacle course for kids?

10 Creative Obstacle Course Ideas for Kids. 1 1 || Carrying An Object. Have kids carry a ball, toy, or other object through the obstacle course to increase the challenge. Make it a weighted object ... 2 2 || Holding Hands. 3 3 || Red Light, Green Light. 4 4 || Animal Walks. 5 5 || Speed Challenge. More items

How can I create an obstacle course for students with mobility challenges?

For example, the obstacle course needs a clear start and finish. The route needs to follow a clear direction, and each stop should invite a change of activity. You can also ask students to include a short list of particular movements, or to come up with variations that would allow classmates with mobility challenges to participate.

Why create a recycling obstacle course?

The goal was to create an obstacle course that students would love to participate in, all while promoting the importance of recycling. Want to try it yourself? We encourage you to try making any of the individual activities for a gym or field day activity.

How can I create an obstacle course using Google Earth?

You could also use satellite images from Google Earth to help plan the obstacle course layout. For younger students, you can skip this part and create a template that each group will mark with the instructions for their obstacle course.

How do you make an obstacle course at school?

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

How do you make an outdoor children's obstacle course?

0:214:44DIY Backyard Obstacle Course | LIFE HACKS FOR KIDS - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSet your tubes in a row like. This in the course run across the tubes making sure that your feet areMoreSet your tubes in a row like. This in the course run across the tubes making sure that your feet are in the middle of the holes.

How do you make a homemade 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 do I make an obstacle ball course?

0:171:56EASY! Build Your Own Ping Pong Trick Shot Obstacle CourseYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUm right let's bust this boredom all right guys my idea is to create a ping pong trickshot obstacleMoreUm right let's bust this boredom all right guys my idea is to create a ping pong trickshot obstacle course you'll be needing two frying pans one glass of cup. Obviously a ping pong ball.

What can I use for a obstacle course?

10 things you can use to create a DIY obstacle coursePool noodles. ... Scrap lumber. ... Tunnels. ... Stumps. ... Any kind of ball. ... Ninja quintuple steps. ... Bean bags. ... Skipping rope.More items...•

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...•

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.

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.

How do you make a backyard Ninja course?

2:536:30How to Build a Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course! DIY - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou just drill some holes through some two by fours make sure that the holes big enough for a ropeMoreYou just drill some holes through some two by fours make sure that the holes big enough for a rope to fit through then drill a hole through your 1-inch PVC pipe.

What is an Obstacle Course?

An obstacle course can take on many forms. Some of them are very large and elaborate in design. In contrast, others are much smaller and include only a few elements. No matter the style or size, most obstacle courses have some common features.

What are the Benefits of an Obstacle Course?

Dr. Michael Suk, MD, orthopedic surgeon and expert on the benefits of physical activity in children, once said, “Exercise is work and play is fun, but the results are the same.” In other words, if you can make exercise a playful activity, children are more likely to do it.

Concerns About DIY Courses

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many families began wondering, “how can I build an obstacle course?” They scoured their storage sheds and home improvement warehouses for building materials and other items they could fashion into a makeshift course for the kids.

A New Approach to PE Class

Schools are an excellent location for obstacle courses. Students can use them as part of recess or physical education classes. And for communities where school playgrounds do double duty as community playgrounds, those same courses can benefit everyone nearby.

Temporary Course Setups

PE classes have been creating temporary courses for years with hurdles and cones inside a school gymnasium or outdoor space. These agility courses provide many of the same skill development activities as obstacle courses. They are quick and easy to set up when you need them.

Permanent Obstacle Courses

A permanent installation at a school is ideal for giving students of all grades and fitness levels a chance to experience an obstacle course. Constructed of weather-resistant and durable materials, it can stand up to hundreds of students racing through it daily.

Active Students Learn Better

For nearly a century, GameTime has partnered with leading scholars and researchers to understand the benefits of physical activity in children. Research shows students who are active during recess perform better academically .

What are some good ways to build a playground?

One of the best ways to do this is with a Trim Trail. The big advantage of a Trim Trail is that you can choose your own elements. There are lots to choose from, too: balance beams, climbing nets, scramble under nets, duck and dive posts, striding posts, jungle bars, wobbly bridges, tight ropes… the list goes on.

What is freeflow obstacle course?

Our Freeflow obstacle courses have evolved through years of working with teachers and student councils to create the ultimate outdoor playground equipment. With a wide range of modules to choose from, you can create a bespoke adventure playground that meets the needs of your school and contains your pupils’ favourite obstacles.

Why is it important to have an outdoor space?

Developing your outdoor space can have lots of benefits for your school. In enhances pupils’ enjoyment and can have a positive impact on their physical health and mental wellbeing. It can also help improve behaviour and progress in the classroom.

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.

Plan Your Build

The first step is to plan your obstacle. While it is possible to build an obstacle course from a kit, it’s a lot more fun to design and build your own. Here are some things to consider when planning your obstacle. • Area to be covered – measure the amount of space you have for your obstacle course.

Gather Your Materials

You don’t have to buy all your materials. One popular obstacle consists of taking used truck tires (which you can often get for free) and painting them in bright colors. Do as much scrounging as you desire to keep costs down.

Put It All Together in the Backyard

With materials in hand, map out the obstacle course and place the materials for each obstacle in position around the yard. Build each obstacle, cleaning up the work site as you go to minimize accidents.

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 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 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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