Have trouble coming up with ideas to engage your child? Here is the perfect guide to the obstacle course makeover. These 23 sensory obstacle course ideas include play activities that are perfect for all kids. Kids will love the motor activities that challenge them. Choose 5-10 different activities from the list below to create the ideal obstacle course to challenge your little one.
1. Pool Noodle Tunnel
Use pool noodles to create tunnels to crawl through. Make the tunnel even more fun and creative by covering each arch with different fabrics for the perfect sensory input activity. Kids will love crawling through the tunnel and feeling new textures.
Learn more: A Little Pinch of Perfect
2. Wickets
Use wickets to practice reaction and physical fitness. To make the wickets even more fun, create different patterns and/or exercises for kids to do. For example, hop over the wickets on one foot. Or, one foot, two feet, one foot. Or, zig-zag!
Learn more: The Artful Parent
3. Hula Hoop Jumping
Use hula hoops to create different patterns to either jump through or crawl through. Bonus activity--put a hula hoop in a baby pool with water and have kids jump into the hula hoop and out of the baby pool for extra sensory fun.
Learn more: Crafting Chicks
4. Army Crawl
Have kids use army crawl style to go through the obstacle course. A great idea is to use a slip n' slide and have the kids army crawl from beginning to end in the water. This equipment obstacle is great for both coordination and sensory input.
Learn more: We Are The Mighty
5. Baby Pool Bob
A baby pool can act as a larger sensory bin for kids to bob for apples, beads, marbles, balls, etc. If you have ball pit balls, you can put a bunch of them in the baby pool and have kids hop through them, or find 10 pink balls, etc. There are so many ways to use a sensory baby pool!
Learn more: Organized Mom
6. String Web Crawl
Use string to create a web to crawl through. Tell them not to touch the string! For bonus fun, use different string colors and set parameters for kids based on the colors. For example, you can't go over the red strings or under the blue strings!
Learn more: Entertain Your Toddler
7. Slides
Use slides for more sensory fun. Slides are a favorite obstacle for kids. You can create a slide out of household items or use a slide you already have. You can also go to a playground as part of your obstacle course.
Learn more: The Artful Parent
8. Dig for Treasure
Use a big storage bin or even a baby pool to make a sand pit. Fill the sand pit with a bunch of mundane items and one piece of treasure (like candy or a new toy) and have the kids dig for the treasure. Bonus--hide a puzzle piece for the next part of the obstacle course so kids have to find it to continue!
Learn more: The Imagination Tree
9. Basketball Hoop
Use a basketball hoop to have kids practice an array of skills. Don't have a basketball? Have kids shoot anything into the basketball hoop--stuffed animal toss, bean bag toss, etc.
Learn more: Ozswoosh
10. Bozo Buckets
Set up the classic game of bozo buckets. Use small pails in a line. Have kids shoot a small ball into each bucket. They have to make all of the buckets before they can move on to the next obstacle. This simple obstacle is perfect for developing motor skills and direction skills.
Learn more: Des Moines Parent
11. Water Slide, Slip n' Slide, or Splash Pad
Use a water obstacle for added sensory fun. Have kids go through the obstacle in a unique way, like a bear crawl. Or, make the water lava and tell them they have to get through the obstacle without getting wet. This variation is great for developing problem-solving skills.
Learn more: Des Moines Parent
12. Croquet
Use this fun activity to practice spatial awareness, aim, and coordination. Kids will love trying to get the balls through the wickets. You can also use the croquet set to set up different patterns.
Learn more: Badge of Awesomeness
13. Small Ladder
You can use a small ladder as an obstacle course favorite for kids to climb over, climb across, climb under, etc. Ladders are a great tool to give kids a variety of different skills to practice. Adding one to your obstacle course can help with balance and coordination, as well as building confidence.
Learn more: Kid Do
14. Hop Scotch
Create a hopscotch obstacle using floor ropes or sidewalk chalk. Like wickets, you can give kids different patterns and coordination activities for kids to practice using the hopscotch pattern. This outdoor obstacle is a hit with kids who love to jump.
Learn more: Hands On As We Grow
15. Painter's Tape
Painter's tape is the perfect tool for indoor obstacle courses. Use painter's tape on the walls or floors to create different activities. You can set up a painter's tape web in a hallway or lines on the floor for kids to balance on or jump over.
Learn more: A Girl and A Glue Gun
16. Under/Over
Use simple household items like broom/mop sticks and chairs to make an over/under maze for kids to go through. Tell them they have to go over first, then they have to go under the next part of the obstacle. The over/under activity is perfect for developing mindfulness and coordination skills.
Learn more: SPARC Athens
17. Pick Up Sticks
Create variations of the classic game for kids to practice fine motor skills. For example, give kids tongs to pick up small items to place in a bag, or tell kids they can only use their feet to pick up the items. There are so many variations to this simple game. Bonus--use items with unique textures for the ultimate sensory input.
Learn more: Tinkergarten
18. Add Wheels!
Add a bicycle, tricycle, or the like to the obstacle course. Kids can use the wheels to get from one part of the obstacle course to the next. These children's items are the perfect addition to any obstacle course.
Learn more: World at Home
19. More Wheels!
Create secondary obstacles for toy cars or any toy with wheels. Have kids "drive" the car across a bridge or across part of the obstacle course. This type of activity helps kids build fine motor skills and is a favorite activity indoors or outdoors.
Learn more: Craft, Create, Cook
20. Frisbee Toss
Use a frisbee and a target to add to your list of activities for the perfect obstacle course. This lots of fun obstacle is great to help kids practice dexterity skills and aim. There are tons of different ways to include a frisbee toss: aim it at a target or a hoop, toss it to a friend, toss it into a bin, etc.
Learn more: Kid Activities
21. Go Fish!
Create a fishing obstacle where kids have to use one item to "fish" for other items. This activity is even better if you have magnetic fish and poll, but you can also use spoons or tongs. This sensory obstacle also allows kids to practice developmental skills.
Learn more: Des Moines Parent
22. Use Nature
There are so many natural obstacles that you can use outside. Have kids run a lap around the yard or house. Have kids use landscaping as a balance beam or run around a tree 5 times. Anything you can think of outside is a great addition to your obstacle course.
Learn more: PBS Kids
23 Enjoyable Preschool Kite Activities