How to Make an Indoor Obstacle Course for Kids

Guide energetic children through an indoor obstacle course.

Children need to be active and find a way to expend some energy, even if the outdoor weather is not cooperative. Delight and amuse some children on a day they are stuck inside with an indoor obstacle course. Incorporate many elements that will challenge their skills. For a little competition, time children to see who can get through the course the quickest.

Things You'll Need

• Ring toss game
• Bean bags
• Laundry basket
• Small board
• Golf putter and ball
• Plastic cup
• Chairs
• String
• Blank paper
• Pen
• Tape
• Jump rope

Instructions

1. 

   Move furniture out of the way and create a large open space.

   Clear a room or large area for the obstacle course. An injury is the fastest way to ruin a good time, so take precautions that the children will not get hurt. Move furniture out of the way, especially those with sharp corners, and pull up area rugs or other things that could cause a child to trip or slip.

2. Gather items for the obstacle course and place them in different spots. Family Education suggests setting up things like a ring toss game, bean bags that can be thrown in a laundry basket, a one-hole golf game (use a plastic cup as the hole if necessary), and a small board for a balance beam.

3. 

   An old box can become a tunnel for children.

   Set up moving challenges. To get from place to place, create places that children have to crawl over, under or through. Set up a row of chairs that the children need to crawl over, or tie string to the chairs' legs and direct children to climb under them. A large cardboard box or some well-place sofa cushions can create a tunnel to climb through.

4. 

   Assign tasks, such as jumping rope, in the obstacle course.

   Place tasks on pieces of paper throughout the obstacle course. Every so often, tape a piece of paper that has instructions such as "Do 10 Jumping Jacks," or "Do a Handstand" on it. Other challenges include doing three somersaults, walk like an animal (such as a crab, snake or bear) or jump rope five times. Incorporate any activities that the children can do within the space provided.

Tips & Warnings

• Customize the obstacle course when creating it close to a holiday. The Out-of-Sync-Child website suggests placing red paper hearts on the floor for Valentine's Day, or letting children follow a path of little green footprints near St. Patrick's Day. On a national holiday, play patriotic music and decorate in red, white and blue.

• Keep in mind the age of the children and their developmental levels. Do not encourage a child to do something that could cause injury because the task is beyond his ability.

References

• Family Education: Indoor Obstacle Course
• Family Fun: Indoor Obstacle Course
• The Out-of-Sync-Child: Indoor Obstacle Courses for Parents or Teachers