Obstacle courses games


5 Indoor Obstacle Courses for Kids

Blog

05/20/2020

Maybe it’s too hot to play outside or you live in the city with not an ideal park for your kids to get the physical activity they need! But who says you need playground equipment to have fun? Bring the excitement indoors for your little ones with these 5 indoor obstacle courses for kids! It’s a fun way to keep kids busy without screen time. Not only will they have a blast, but you’ll be entertained and laughing for hours as they navigate through the obstacles ideas below.

How Much Physical Activity Do Children Need?

It’s incredibly important for a child’s developmental health to get ample amounts of playtime. 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 to achieve this, and a fun way to bond with kids!1

Indoor Obstacle Course Ideas for Toddler-Aged or Preschool-Aged Children (ages 3 through 5 years)
#1 Hula Hoop Hopscotch 

Set up time: 5 minutes

Objective: The child will hopscotch in each of the hula hoops laid on the floor.

For this remix on hopscotch, your preschooler will jump hoop to hoop to complete the indoor course – no chalk required! Jumping in and out of hoops is a perfect indoor activity to get your kid moving and grooving. Below are a few ideas to make the challenges more difficult:

  • Spread the hoops further apart
  • Make different moves for each colored hoop (E.g. Blue hula hoop you hop in with your right foot, green hula hoop you do jumping jacks, and red hula hoop you frog jump to the next hoop) 
#2 Pool Noodle Sword Fight

Set up time: 1 minute

Objective: First child to tap their noodle on the other wins the round

This is a quick set up! 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.

#3 The Hot Lava Obstacle Course

Set up time: 10 minutes

Objective: Race to the finish line but don’t touch the floor (it’s hot lava!)

Maybe you played this game when you were younger so you remember just how fun it is! To play this game, it’s best to use multiple rooms to set up the hot lava obstacle course. Your role in this will be the referee. If your kiddo jumps into the hot lava, it’s back to the start line for them!

“Stepping stones” or objects to act as safety from the hot lava, should be placed throughout the course so that your little ones can cross the finish line. Examples of items to use as household “stepping stones” include:

  • Chairs
  • Couch cushion
  • Pillow
  • Towel
  • Rope (this can be used as a balance beam)

This game does not just have to be for your toddler or younger children – little ones aged 5 or older can play as well! Sometimes even older kids and adults can’t resist the fun of this game.

Indoor Obstacle Course Ideas for Elementary-Aged Children (ages 6 through 13 years)
#4 Hula Hoop Challenge

Set up time: 5 minutes

Objective: Time your child to see how quickly they can complete all the hula hoop challenges.

With this indoor obstacle course for kids, set up different colored hula hoops across the floor with about at least 5 feet in between each so every child playing has their own space to move around. Every color of hula hoop represents a different activity with the hula hoop. Below are some examples of what each hula hoop color can represent:

  • Yellow – Do jumping jacks in the hula hoop 5 times
  • Red – Jump rope with hula hoop 5 times
  • Blue – Hula hoop around your hips 10 times
  • Purple – Throw 5 bean bags into the hoop 

If you want to professionally set this hula hoop course up, create colorful signs that are assigned to each hula hoop station! 

#5 Laundry Basket Bean Bag Toss

Set up time: 5 minutes

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. Additionally, join in on the competition by challenging your kiddo to a laundry basket bean bag toss! 

Here are a few alternatives to beans bags:

  • Stuffed animals
  • Bouncy ball or whiffle ball
  • Soft toys

This laundry basket bean bag toss can be combined with other indoor obstacle games that we have mentioned.

We hope these obstacle courses for kids spark a bunch of fun playtime with you and your kiddos. By keeping them active with indoor activities, your child will strengthen their bones and muscles, while also boosting their imagination. For more fun activities and parenting advice, visit the Children’s Bureau parenting blog or talk with one of our helpful team members today!

 

Sources:

  1. https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/children/index.htm

 

Reviewed by:

Ronald E. Brown, President & CEO

Dr. Ronald E. Brown has been the President & CEO of Children’s Bureau since 2018. He joined Children’s Bureau in 2000 where he managed the operations of Children’s Bureau’s foster care, adoption, mental health and child abuse prevention programs. He holds a B.A. in Social Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara, an M.B.A. from California State University, Long Beach, and a Ph. D. in Public Policy and Administration from Walden University.

25 Easiest Low Prep Obstacle Courses for Kids

Find some ideas how to organize the best obstacle courses for kids that will keep them occupied for hours!

Lately, my kids love a more challenging play time. They have been asking me to set up and prepare obstacle course.

I think obstacle courses are great for kids. They encourage thinking and problem solving. Also most of the obstacle courses require lots of physical movement which is so hard to achieve these days.

I've searched and re-searched for obstacle courses for kids that require low prep, but bring most fun for kids! 

Jump to:
  • 25 Obstacle Courses for Kids
  • 1. Water Obstacle Course
  • 2. Spy Training Obstacle Course
  • 3. Backyard Obstacle Course
  • 4. Obstacle Course themed Birthday Party
  • 5. Animal Sounds Obstacle Course
  • 6. Build your own Obstacle Course together
  • 7. Sidewalk Obstacle Course
  • 8. Simple Obstacle Course for Crawlers
  • 9. Balloon Obstacle Course
  • 10. DIY Obstacle Course
  • 11. Obstacle Course for young kids
  • Fun Ideas For Kids
  • 12. Pipe Obstacle Course
  • 13. DIY Cavaletti
  • 14. Make your own Obstacle Course
  • 15. Yarn Obstacle Course
  • 16. Pool Noodle Obstacle Course
  • 17. Dad Approved Obstacle Course
  • Indoor Obstacle Courses
  • 18. Super Easy Obstacle Course
  • 19. Shape Obstacle Course
  • 20. Train Obstacle Course
  • 21. Obligatory Morning Obstacle Course
  • 22. Easy Gross Motor Obstacle Course
  • 23. Indoor Obstacle Course
  • 24. Spy Scavenger Obstacle Course
  • 25. String Obstacle Course

25 Obstacle Courses for Kids

Source: Meaningul Mama

Using balloons, pool noodles and lots of water, this obstacle course is perfect for all ages!

Kids love to pretend as spies or as action characters. Start their training by creating your very own Spy training camp!

Using your garden planters and house buckets, you can build the easiest obstacle course ever!

Source: Martha Stewart

Your kids would definitely enjoy an obstacle course themed birthday party and it might be the best birthday party they would ever have!

If you have lots of stuffed animals at home, stored somewhere in the attic, this is the right time to bring it all out!

Nothing beats a family activity, so make it more exciting by assembling your own obstacle course!

Source: Playtivities

Using only a box of colored chalks, you can create your own obstacle course even without a backyard!

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If you're looking just to be told an ACTIVITY TO DO EACH DAY -- what you need and how to do it -- join The Activity Room. It's structured like a meal planning service -- but with activities.
It's geared towards 2-5 year olds.

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Toddlers love crawling, don't they? It's time for the little ones to have their own obstacle course!

Using a pack of balloons, make your next obstacle course activity more fun!

Source: Imagination Soup

If you are looking to create your own obstacle course, check out this easy instructions and customize your obstacle course!

If your children are still too young to accomplish complex obstacle courses yet, try out this custom obstacle course for young kids!

Fun Ideas For Kids

Interconnected pipes are one of the best materials to use for any outdoor activity, especially for creating your own obstacle course!

Source: Jax Dog Mom

One of the best things about an obstacle course is that you can put any activity in it. Try out this homemade DIY Cavaletti!

No time to go on a quick beach getaway? Try out this pool themed obstacle course using your own pool noodles, pipes and a small inflatable pool!

A ball of yarn can go a long way to give your kids a more exciting day!

Source: Learn Play Imagine

With your pool noodles hanging around your house after the summer getaway, you can still use it for this awesome obstacle course.

Not all obstacle courses are dad approved, it is actually a lot more fun and advanced if Dads approve it! So check everything first, before you let them do it.

Indoor Obstacle Courses

You don't need a lot of materials to do this. Just look around your home for toys that can be used for every station for the obstacle course.

Source: Toddler Approved

Another indoor obstacle course to help your kids to memorize the shapes easily!

For indoor plans during the school days, surprise them with train tracks all around your home!

For your future long weekend plans, start it with a tiring yet fun activity like this morning obstacle course!

Source: Adventures At Home With Mum

An indoor obstacle course to enhance your children's motor skills!

If summer is over and you are still craving for obstacle courses, you can always do it indoors!

If there is an outdoor Spy training course, this indoor Spy obstacle course is much easier to do!

Source: Hands On As We Grow

Using a deck of cards and a couple of strings, you can have an indoor obstacle course to make your weekends more exciting!

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Obstacle Course Play Online Free

Rating: 5

Game Rating: 4. 4 Your mark: No · Total marks: 13

Starkid: Obstacle Course is a hardcore arcade game starring a big-eyed star whose task is to collect triangular-shaped green objects scattered around the level and reach the finish platform leading to the next level.

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Starkid's Obstacle Course //

An obstacle course and 13 more outdoor games for a children's party. Games and contests for children's birthday

If you are organizing a home children's party or helping to organize a New Year's party at school or kindergarten, you can't do without outdoor games - you need to release children's energy. We offer games for children from 3-4 years old, which can be included in any holiday scenario - for example, dedicated to sports. Don't forget to think of rewards for the winners of each competition, such as homemade medals. Then you will get a real Olympics!

Long jump

You will need: rope or ribbon; one tag (plastic cap, loto chip, or marked piece of paper) per player.

Mark the start with tape or rope. Let the child stand on the start and jump forward. Put a mark on the place where he landed. Then let him jump again. If this time he jumped further, then move the marker to the place of the new landing, if not, leave it where it was. Let the child jump 5 times. Put a mark on the place of the farthest jump.

Have each child jump in the same way. The one who jumps the furthest wins.

Discus throw

You will need: rope or ribbon, paper plates.

Use string or tape to mark off a square at the end of the room. Let the child move away and try to hit this square with paper plates. Two or more children can throw plates in turn, competing in accuracy. You can mark the plates with different colors for each child or write their names on them.

Javelin throw

You will need: rope or ribbon, toothpicks.

Use string or tape to mark two lines on the floor at a distance from each other. Give each child 5 toothpicks. Let the players take turns standing behind one of the lines and throw toothpicks one at a time to the second line. Score points for those toothpicks that touched or crossed the second line. The child with the most points wins.


Shot put

You will need: rope or ribbon, balloons, badge or medal.

Use tape or string to mark two lines spaced apart. Give each player a balloon. Let the players take turns standing behind one of the lines and throw one ball at a time to the second line.

Balls don't fly far, so the player whose ball touches or crosses the second line deserves a reward.

Ring throw

You will need: scissors, small paper plates, bottle, candlestick or other long, stable object.

Cut out the center of each plate, leaving a 3 cm ring. Place a bottle, candlestick, or other tall, stable object on the floor. Let the child move away and try to throw the rings from the plates onto the bottle.

Two or more children can compete to throw the most rings. You can mark the children's rings with different colors or sign the child's name on them.

Obstacle course

When you create an obstacle course, consider the age and number of children, their abilities, and the space you have available. Here are some ideas to get you started. For most children, 10 trials are sufficient.

  • Crawl under or over a row of chairs.
  • Crawl under a rope stretched between the legs of two chairs.
  • Jump in and out of the hoop 5 times.
  • Walk across the plank.
  • Get the rattle into the laundry basket.
  • Run with a rattle on your head.
  • Roll over.
  • Jump in place, repeating the rhyme.
  • Do 10 leg jumps together - legs apart.

Golf newspapers

You will need: newspaper, tape, tape and paper or empty tins, 1 tennis or golf ball for each player.

Make a golf club for each player by rolling up a few sheets of newspaper and bandaging them tightly. Using tape and sheets of paper or jars lying on their sides, mark several "holes" on the floor. Let the child use his club to try to drive the ball into the holes.

Ball racing

You will need: rope or ribbon, one soft ball per player.

Mark two lines with tape or string, spaced apart.

Give each player a ball. Let the children stand at the start. Say: “Get started! Attention! March!". Players must rush to the finish line in one of the following ways:

  • crawl while holding the ball on their back;
  • run with the ball between your legs.

The player whose ball falls on the way to the finish line is out of the game.

Coin Hunt

You will need: coins, one plate or cup per player.

Have the children leave the room while you hide the coins. You can hide them under sofa cushions, in drawers, behind curtains, on books, etc. When the children return, give everyone a plate or cup. At your signal, they should start looking for coins. After 5 minutes, the search stops and the found coins are counted. The one with the most coins wins.

Blind Coin Hunt

You will need: Eyepatch for each player, coins, paper bag per player.

A large spacious room is suitable for this game. Remove all objects that children can hit. Tie each player a blindfold and scatter coins on the floor. Give everyone a paper bag. At your signal, the children should begin to crawl on all fours and look for coins by touch. After 5 minutes, on a signal, the hunt stops and the results are calculated. The one who collects the most coins wins.

Cross the river

You will need: rope or rope.

Mark two lines at a distance from each other with a rope or string. It will be a river. Have the players take turns trying to jump over the river. Widen the river by moving the ropes a little. Have the players try to jump over again. Make the river wider until the players can jump over it. The one who jumps over the widest river wins.

Running in pillow cases

You will need: rope or ribbon, one pillowcase per player.

With string or tape, make two lines on the floor at a distance from each other. Have each player stand at the starting line wearing a pillowcase, holding onto the top of the pillowcase. At the signal, the players must start jumping towards the finish line. The one who reaches the finish line first wins.

Hide the clock

You will need: a clock or timer that ticks loudly.

This game is good for children of all ages. Children leave the room, and the adult hides the clock or timer. On a signal from an adult, the children return and try to find the clock. The one who finds them first wins.

Change of costumes

You will need: 2 boxes or 2 suitcases, changing clothes (hats, scarves, jackets, skirts, etc.).

This fun game requires 4 or more players. It is good to play it with the whole family, because children really like it when adults have fun with them.

Fill suitcases or boxes with an equal amount of items.


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