Indoor Obstacle Course

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Creating the Best Indoor Obstacle Course for Your Toddler or Preschooler

My family has been stuck inside ​a lot recently. Between winter, getting sick, and school closures, getting out has been tough. It doesn't help that I am in my third trimester and on strict rest orders, so even on warmer days going outside to play in our yard isn't always an option. But kids need to keep their bodies moving, right? 

Keeping my child active indoors is essential. He is super energetic, and if I don't find constructive ways to help him move, he will find his own. This has been the case since he was quite young, so fortunately I've accumulated a lot of practice! How have I kept my active child moving while stuck indoors?

One of our favorite ways to get him moving inside is by building obstacle courses.

These are easy to do without purchasing new equipment  of course! That's right; obstacle courses are easy to build with things you already have at home. Here are a few things you'll find around your house to help you build tunnels, climbing structures, balance beams, and more:

1. Pillows
2. Couch cushions
3. Cardboard boxes
4. Storage totes
5. Blankets
6. Chairs
7. Ottomans
8. Stair cases (with a lot of caution, and only for older kids, of course!)
9. Sofas, beds, other furniture
10. Tables

How to create an indoor obstacle course, plus some tips to keep your child engaged:

• Balance beams do not have to be elevated. Cut a cardboard box into a thin strip and lay it on the ground. It still takes a lot of focus and control to keep little feet on that narrow surface (plus this is a safer option for the smallest toddlers who could be hurt falling off of a raised surface)
• You don't have to build tunnels! Have your child crawl under the table instead. You can also create tunnels using blankets and furniture, open boxes, or large cushions.
• Think about what your child can safely climb on, and what the safety rules will be. We allow my child to use one of our sofas during obstacle courses. You may decide it is okay to do the same, or maybe for your child to climb up and down off of a bed or another surface in your home.
• Use your imagination! Share a story about the obstacle course with your child. Are you exploring a jungle? The arctic (maybe those cushions are icebergs)? Perhaps your child is trying to catch a fun mystical creature, or find buried treasure? Giving a reason to do the obstacle course can help your child be more interested in the process, and more invested in continuing to go through the course again and again.
• Add fine motor or cognitive elements. We love to hide puzzle pieces around the obstacle course and then put the puzzle together at the end, before going through and finding more. You can also draw pictures, create maps, have your child "journal" (draw pictures, use inventive writing strategies) about what they found on their journey, and more!

While you may wind up setting up obstacle courses for your child, you may also find over time that your child builds them on their own (mine certainly does). If you didn't register this reading that last sentence.... you doing obstacle courses with your child provides an outlet to develop independent play skills that rely on gross motor ability, and get your child moving in a constructive way indoors. I'd say that is a major perk of doing activities like this with your little one!

Obstacle Course Equipment Your Kids will Love

Just because you don't have to buy equipment for your obstacle course doesn't mean you won't want to. We have been collecting lots of great items we use regularly, and I know your child will love as much as mind does. Here are the best products for creating an indoor obstacle course!

Melissa and Doug Tunnel

We got this tunnel when my child was about 18 months, and he is still using it years later. It has held up very well (and that includes to my cats' claws, not that I recommend letting your kitties use the tunnel as a toy), and continues to be a staple for all kinds of indoor play.

ECR4Kids Softzone Blocks

We have the Climb and Crawl Activity Set, but ECR4Kids makes a ton of different options your child is sure to love. By the way, even though these are geared towards toddlers and preschoolers, we've had elementary school age  friends' children enjoy them as well! 

More ECR4Kids SoftZone block sets your kids will love!

Balance Beam and Stepping Stone Kit

These were a new addition to our collection, and were an instant favorite. From using them for obstacle courses to building cars and buses (using the blocks as seats) and using them to help build car tracks, my child finds new ways to play every day!

The Nugget Couch

Unless you have been living under a rock or are a new parent, you have heard of The Nugget. Is it worth the hype? Yes. But it is pricy. Thankfully there are plenty of great nugget alternatives available on the market if you don't want to buy the original! Here are some highly rated options:

Children's Factory The Whatsit Kids Couch

Foamnasium Kids Couch

The original Foamnasium couch doesn't have much of a price difference from The Nugget, but availability might be better. 

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Foamnasium Mini Blocksy

Serta Perfect Sleeper Convertible Sofa and Play Set

Highly Rated Products that Look Promising

Pikler Triangle w/ Ramp/Slide and Arch

KidKraft Turtle Totter Wooden Adjustable Balance Beam

Wooden Wobble Balance Board

7 Piece Kids Ball Pit Play Tunnel

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