Kids Obstacle Course Adventure

Need a fast and fun idea to occupy the kids for a morning? Make a Kids Obstacle Course Adventure of course!

Use Up Some Kid Energy!

The grands all ended up at our house unexpectedly (how fun!). I was wanting something to do that would use up some energy in the cool of the morning before it got hot and we needed to play indoors.

We headed outside and I announced, “Let’s set up an obstacle course!” I sent Papa for our wooden ladder in the shed and then each of the kids ran to the garage to find something they could add to the course. It was a scramble.

Draw a Map

If you had a bit of time ahead, it would be great to draw a little Kids Obstacle Course Adventure Map. This would work so well for a birthday party. Then the budding Olympiads could study the course and set their minds on how to best navigate it.

Gather the Supplies

But I have to say, the kids had a lot of fun finding things to use for the obstacle course, each contributed an idea and it came together pretty well.

The objects you have in the yard are a perfect starting place. We have an old school swing set and jungle gym, a driveway and sidewalk, as well as some large rocks in the landscaping that we could use. The kids decided that the obstacle course would circle the house. They would start on one side of the driveway, go around the house in a series of “obstacles” and end up on the other side of the driveway. This course worked the jungle gym and one large rock into the course.

What to do to prepare for a kids obstacle course:

Decide what objects you presently have that you will work into the course (steps, play equipment, tree stump, sidewalks and driveways, etc.)
Decide the course the kids will take working in these objects from the yard
Add your “obstacles”
Make a simple Kids Obstacle Course Adventure Map (especially for an event like a bday party)
Explain the course and rules (especially if you want to make it a competition)
Place some helpers at obstacles that need to be reset or need supervision
Go!!

Various Speeds!

Two of the grands wanted to run, two wanted to walk the course and the little wanted to watch. We decided the ones that wanted to move faster would go first and the others would follow up at their own speed. The first two ended up doing the course more than once before getting too hot. The youngest needed an adult to go along to get the confidence to run the course. She went last after seeing what the others were doing and seeing that it looked pretty fun.

Obstacle Ideas

Here is a list of “obstacle” ideas (supply list depends on what you choose to do):

Throw a ball or paper airplanes through a target- get directions to make target here
Hopscotch drawn on a driveway or sidewalk
A ladder laid down on the ground to step through (a suggest wooden rather than metal)
Pool noodles- SO many possibilities, lay on ground, make circles, etc
Pool noodles- make into an arch and crawl under (place the holes on each end on short stakes to arch)
Stack cans/coffee containers and hit over with balls
Use pallets to make various obstacles to climb over, etc
Tires, tire tubes

Balance beam from a board or just a rope on the ground
Throw balls into a basket, wagon or through a hoop or through steps of a ladder
Cones- to mark the course, run around
Squirt guns hitting a target or person
Pink flamingo (or other post)- throw rings over the neck
String cords between trees and kids must crawl under them
Use spray paint on the grass to mark course or make an obstacle
Put on a gunny sack and jump a distance
Put a ball between the knees and walk a distance
Carry an object- rock, sand bag, etc
The ideas are unlimited!!!

Show and Tell!

Be sure to comment and leave pictures of your Kids Obstacle Course Adventure for more ideas for “obstacles”. The ideas are truly unlimited (except by time, money and energy !).