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This blog is part of a series of articles on indoor activities for kids. Learn how to take your kid on an indoor camping adventure here.
Learn how to create indoor scavenger hunts that really rock, here.
One of the questions a lot of parents are asking themselves right now is, “How do I keep my kids active while they’re stuck indoors?” Whether you lack access to a yard or outdoor space, you’re under quarantine, or it’s just a miserable rainy day, we’ve got the answer for you.
Obstacle courses make great physical activities for kids. They have a variety of benefits all their own. The primary benefit of an obstacle course is the fact that exercise and physical activity are turned into games with objectives and goals. Your child will get so caught up in the fun they won’t even realize what a workout they’re getting!
When you hear the words “indoor obstacle course” you probably cringe thinking about the resulting mess and disarray. But we’re here to assure you that indoor obstacle courses for kids can be done and done right—with minimal mess and a lot of fun!
Read on to discover our top tips for creating a memorable and easy-to-clean-up indoor obstacle course for kids.
How to Prepare an Indoor Obstacle Course for Kids
The first thing to do is get inspired! Watch some Ninja Warrior (or a similar obstacle course show) with your child to get them both pumped and thinking creatively.
Then, take account of what materials you have in your home that you can use. The following is a list of everyday household objects you can use to construct an indoor obstacle course for kids. It’s not exhaustive, but it’s a great start!
Painter’s or Masking Tape
Balloons
Laundry Baskets
Cans or Hand Weights
Cardstock or Construction Paper
Cardboard Boxes
Pillows
Crepe Paper
Books
…and of course, furniture!
Keep Safety Your Top Priority
Set some ground rules right off the bat. When constructing your obstacle course it’s important to keep in mind where you DON’T want your child to go. Don’t want your child walking across a table? Tell them they have to crawl under instead. Indoor play doesn’t have to be a free-for-all.
Set your rules firmly at the beginning, then, if your gut tells you something is safe, you can loosen them afterward. It’s always easier to go back on rules than make new ones mid-activity.
Also, be sure to remove any sharp, breakable, or otherwise dangerous objects from the room before starting.
Have Kids Help Set Up and Clean Up
Getting kids involved in the construction and clean up process just doubles the fun and halves the effort. Here’s the key, though, you have to REALLY include them. Don’t just make a plan and tell them what to do. Let them add their creative input into the process. Tell them what materials you have to use and see what ideas come up. This makes the whole activity more fun for them and easier for you!
Tips on How to Create Obstacles
Once you know what you have to work with, and you’ve gotten some inspiration, it’s time to create your obstacles and put them in order. Here are a few suggestions of obstacles you can create using easy-to-access household materials.
Balance!
Use a single two-by-four laid on it’s wide side as an easy balance beam.
For something more challenging but still safe, have kids walk along a line of tape on the floor
like a pretend tightrope without “falling off”.
Have your child balance on one leg for a set amount of time.
Crawl!
Cut holes in large cardboard boxes to use as “tunnels” for kids to crawl through.
Have them army crawl under a table or chair.
Evade!
Use this tutorial from It’s Always Autumn to create a crepe paper laser maze.
Have them try to dodge soft foam balls or balloons thrown at them.
Set up some furniture or pillows you feel comfortable with your child walking on and play “The
Floor is Hot Lava”.
Push!
Have your child push a full laundry hamper or storage box down a hallway or a line of tape on the ground.
Create a tape trail on the ground, complete with tunnels made out of cardstock or construction paper and tape, for your kid to roll a toy truck or car along.
Lift!
Create a weightlifting station with cans or hand weights. Have your child complete a set number of reps with good form before moving on.
Catch and Toss!
Have your child catch lightweight objects like foam balls, beanbags, or balloons thrown to them.
Have them attempt to keep a balloon off the ground for a set amount of time. For more of a challenge, tell them they can’t use their hands.
Hop
Make X’s or boxes on the floor in tape and then have your child hop from one to another without touching the floor in between.
Use pillowcases or sleeping bags for a sack race.
Mental Challenges
Add in a few cognitive obstacles as well to make your child’s obstacle course experience both educational and recreational!
Have your child solve a math problem, memorize a poem, or correctly answer a science question before they can move on to the next obstacle.
Try having them recite their ABC’s, name all the colors they can think of, or count backwards while executing the other physical challenges in the obstacle course.
We hope this guide to creating an indoor obstacle course for your child helps you bust boredom and get your kid up and moving indoors! If you’re looking for more ways to keep your child entertained and educated while stuck indoors, keep following The Quarantine Queen on the Wondrfly blog.
If you’re looking for kids’ activities in the Jersey City or Hoboken area, why not try Wondrfly? Wondrfly is one of the newest and best tools at your disposal for finding the top kids’ activities in Jersey City and Hoboken. Search our extensive directory today to find exactly what you and your child need!
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