If you want your children to put the electronic devices down, and go to outdoor activities, it is not needs the expensive play equipment. Using the common items at home, you can build a challenging DIY obstacle course.
This kind of activity not only lets children run, jump, and climb freely, but also improves coordination, balance, and creativity, and can develop their teamwork and problem-solving ability. What's more, if children can join in designing and building the track, this is a kind of fun and valuable learning experience.
The following are some simple, low-cost, and easy to find goods, and help you and children to create an outdoor obstacle course.
12 daily goods can build DIY obstacle courses
1. Old wooden boards or wood
The old wooden boards can become a great balance disorder at home, for example:
Balance beam
Small springboard
Bridge challenge
Simple seesaw
Expand knowledge: Balance games can stimulate children’s vestibular system, helping children’s development of balance and spatial awareness.
2. Pool Noodles
Pool noodles are lightweight and safe, very suitable for using in children, and can create multiple obstacle gameplay, for example:
Bend it into a ring and let children crawl or burrow.
Put it on the ground to exercise hopping or striding.
Insert it in the grass to form Z-shaped track.
As low hurdle jumping training.
Expand knowledge: This activity can improve children’s agility and lower limb coordination, it is also a common basic exercise in sports training for many kids.
3. Crawling tunnel
If you don’t have a professional child tunnel, you can choose the following goods:
Large cardboard box
Blanket + 2 chairs
Fold the space under the table
Children need to climb through the tunnel.
Expand knowledge: Climbing is an important stage for children’s motor development, and can strengthen the core strength and body coordination.
4. Various ball games
Any ball can become a part of the track, for example:
Football
Basketball
Rubber ball
Balloon
How to play:
Use the club to push the ball to the finish line.
Dribbling while bypassing the obstacles.
Put the ball in a designated area.
Expand knowledge: This activity can improve hand-eye coordination clearly.
5. Ninja Steps
If you have simple tools, you can make a pedal of ninja training:
Use the woods to make several small pedals.
Install according to different heights.
Children need to jump or step over.
Expand knowledge: This kind of training comes from the ninja obstacle training program, it can train explosive power, balance, and body control.
6. Tree stumps
If the yard has tree stumps, you can use:
As the jump point
As the balanced standing platform
Add crossbars for the low-bar jump
Expand knowledge: The irregular terrain training can help to develop children’s dynamic equilibrium skills.
7. Bean Bags
You can use an old fabric or beans to make a bean bag at home.
How to play:
Throw into the bucket
Throw into the ground target area
Working on the balance beam while throwing
Expand knowledge: Throwing game can help children to develop fine motor control ability and target judgment ability.
8. Jump rope
The jump rope can be used not only for jumping, but it can also become an obstacle:
As the long jump starting line
Use as a balance line
Used for "Riverbank Games"
Expand knowledge: The Jumping training is very important for children’s bone density and lower limb strength development.
9. Bottle bowling
Arrange into a bowling alley after filling plastic water bottles or milk bottles with water:
Use the ball to knock down the bottles
Reach the number of knockdowns, only then can you continue.
Expand knowledge: This kind of activity combines strength control and precision training.
10. Tires
The old tires are a common element in many outdoor obstacle training, and it is very functional in the family DIY obstacle course.
How to play:
Agile footwork training: Put the tires on the ground in a row, let children step into each tire, and jump out again.
Jump challenge: Set a distance between the two tires, and let children jump through.
Overcoming obstacles: Vertically fixed the tires, and let children crawl and climb.
Strength challenge: Older children can try to move the tires lightly.
Expand knowledge: Tires training commonly used in athletes’ agility training, it can help to improve the speed of the pace, coordination and lower limb explosive power.
11. Hula Hoops
Hula hoops can create many interesting challenges:
Hanging on the tree, let children jump over.
Lining up to form a jumping path.
Agility training.
Expand knowledge: Hula hoops training can improve rhythm and body coordination.
12. Cones / Plastic Cups
If you don’t have conical drums for professional training, a simple plastic cup, a drink cup, and a small bucket can be used.
How to play:
Snake race: Arrange the cups in a curve, let children run around.
Target challenge: Kick or roll the ball into the area formed by the cup.
Color task: Cups in different colors represent different actions, like jumping, spinning, or doing push-ups.
Quick tap: Parents shout the colors, and children need to run to the corresponding cups quickly.
Expand knowledge: This kind of training used for football and basketball training, and can improve reaction speed, directional change ability, and motor agility.
Security recommendations of DIY obstacle course
To ensure the children’s safe, you need to note the following when building:
1. Cleaning the area: Ensure the ground doesn’t have sharp stones or glass fragments.
2. Fixing all obstacles: Loose wooden planks or tires can lead to a fall.
3. Young children need to control: Especially building the track and climbing the obstacles.
4. Avoiding the slippery environment: the ground is easy to slip after raining or snowing.
5. Wearing the right shoes: Wear the anti-slip sports shoes best, rather than slippers or barefoot.
More challenging gameplay
If children are already familiar with the track, you can add challenges:
Change direction: form finishing point running back to the starting point.
Timed challenge: Record completion time.
Balance challenge: Use the scoop to lift the egg or ball.
Non-dominant hand challenge: Use the other hand to throw.
Weighted challenge: Hold a toy or a water polo to finish the track.
These changes can make children constantly to challenge themselves at different difficulty levels.
The DIY obstacle course is not only a simple outdoor game, but also an activity that combines exercise, creativity, and family interaction.
By using common goods such as pool noodles, wooden boards, tunnels, balls, and hula hoops, children can design their own challenging track. During this process, they not only get a full-body training, but also develop problem-solving ability, teamwork spirit, and self-confidence.
So, just a little creativity, a simple backyard can become a children’s adventure training ground.
FAQ
Q: What age is the obstacle course suitable for?
A: Generally, children over 3 years of age can join in a simple obstacle course, such as crawling, jumping through hoops, etc. The older ages can add climbing, jumping, or balancing challenges.
Q: How to make children more willing to join in obstacle courses?
A: You can have a try:
Let children design the track
Add timed games
Set reward mechanisms
Invite friends to join together
Q: What's the difference between DIY obstacle courses and professional ninja tracks?
A: The DIY track is simpler and safer, it is very suitable for family entertainment, and the professional ninja track usually has many high-difficulty structures.
Q: What is the space required for a DIY obstacle course?
A: A backyard, lawn, and driveway of 20–50 square meters is enough to build a simple obstacle course.
Q: How often should a DIY obstacle course be replaced?
A: If children often play, advise adjusting the layout every 1-2 weeks.
Q: Is the obstacle course suitable for adults to play?
A: Of course, it's suitable. Many families will turn the obstacle course into the parent-child sports challenge. Parents can play with children.
Q: Is a DIY obstacle course construction expensive?
A: Unnecessary. Most family obstacle tracks can use goods in the home to build.
