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Homemade Obstacle Courses for Kids

Obstacle courses provide great entertainment for all the family and can be adapted to suit any age group. Encourage kids' creativity by getting them involved in gathering items to incorporate into the course and helping to devise the activities. You don't need special equipment--use items that are readily to hand. Large groups can play in teams with the first team to finish declared as the winner. Use a stopwatch to judge the fastest time if playing one by one.

Backyard Obstacle Course
- Search the garden shed for props to use. Lay a garden hose in an "s" shape to use as a tightrope. Crawl through a pop-up tunnel or under a garden bench. Set up cones to weave through. Jump rope. Toss a water balloon at a target. Lay a garden broom across two chairs to crawl under. Make stilts from coffee cans and walk on them a set distance. Throw a basketball until you make a basket. Use a sandbox for long jump. End by running through a water sprinkler at the finish line.
Indoor Obstacle Course
- On rainy days, set up a course indoors. Crawl under a table or blanket. Make jumping jacks on the spot. Weave through a course of stuffed animals. Toss bean bags into a laundry hamper. Walk heel-to-toe across the room. If you have space, do a handstand against the wall. Crawl through a pop-up tunnel. Do push-ups or sit-ups. Balance a bean bag on your head and walk backwards. Finish by putting on some music and do crazy dancing for one minute.
Beach Obstacle Course
- Get creative with items you have taken to the beach. Set up a beach-bucket slalom. Crawl under a towel. Balance a shell on your nose. Draw a line in the sand to use as a tightrope. Crawl under a pool noodle balanced across two beach chairs. Dig a trench to jump over. Walk like a crab. Throw a beach ball into a circle drawn in the sand. Build a sandcastle. Walk across a set distance wearing flippers and a mask. Finish by running into the sea.
Woodland Obstacle Course
- Be inventive in the woods when there are not so many props at hand. Balance on a fallen log. Make a pine-cone slalom. Turn cartwheels. Walk backwards from one tree to another. Lay large leaves out in a course and jump from leaf to leaf. Tie a rope between two trees to limbo under. Throw pine cones or stones at a target. "Army crawl" across a picnic blanket. Stalk through the undergrowth. Finish by climbing a tree.

Kids Games