Obstacle course games for kids are a great way to encourage teamwork and social skills while also working on gross motor skills like balance and coordination!
How to use obstacle course games to target developmental skills:
Obstacle course games for kids are a fun way to promote a wide variety of gross motor skills. From working on balance to coordination to all-over body strengthening and even hand strengthening – obstacle courses do it all! Here are some ideas on how to use obstacle courses to target specific developmental skills:
- Gross Motor Skills: Obstacle courses naturally encourage children to move their bodies in different ways, such as crawling, jumping, balancing, and climbing. To target gross motor skills specifically, you can design the course to include activities that focus on different types of movements, such as crawling under a low obstacle, jumping over a hurdle, balancing on a beam, and climbing up a rope ladder.
- Hand-Eye Coordination: Obstacle courses can also be used to target hand-eye coordination skills. You can include activities such as throwing a ball through a target, catching a bean bag, or hitting a target with a foam bat.
- Spatial Awareness: Obstacle courses can help children develop their spatial awareness skills, which involves understanding how their bodies move in relation to objects in the environment. You can design the course to include activities that require children to move around obstacles or through narrow spaces, which can help them develop a sense of spatial awareness.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Obstacle courses can also help children develop problem-solving skills. You can design the course to include challenges that require children to figure out how to overcome obstacles or complete tasks in a certain order. For example, you could include a maze that requires children to figure out the correct path to take. Our Obstacle Course With a Twist is a perfect example of this!
- Social Skills: Obstacle courses can also be used to target social skills. You can design the course to include activities that require children to work together – like the one described below!
By incorporating a variety of activities that target different developmental skills, you can create an obstacle course that is not only fun but also helps children develop important skills that will benefit them in many areas of their lives.
Some of our favorite kids activities are obstacle course ideas that target multiple skills at once. Check out our Happy Camper Obstacle Course or this fun Groundhog Day Obstacle Course!
What you’ll need:
Varies depending on activities of choice above
What to do:
Create an obstacle course (ideas below!) and have the children try to maneuver through it while holding their partner’s hand. Don’t let go or you have to start all over!
How to change it up:
-Line of painters tape or colored duck tape along the floor to create a “balance beam”
-Jump over pillows or any object
-Jump up or down a step
-Go under a piece of tape hanging from one doorway to another
-Up on tip toes to reach an object in a high place
-Walk backward to a location
-Carry a big or little object together
-Fit into a designated small space
-Give the game a purpose! Give your kiddos a bunch of unmatched socks. Place ½ of the socks at the start of an obstacle course and the other ½ at the end. Tell them to find the matches together! You could also use memory game cards to find matches at opposing ends of the obstacle course.
-Check out these other low prep obstacle courses for kids!
Click Here to Find Our Favorite Obstacle Course Materials!
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I am so grateful to read such wisdom! I am a singular parent most times while raising 4 beautiful girls and the struggles can become overwhelming. I felt hope while reading this article so I definitely wanted to share my praise!