Get Active: Homegrown Obstacle Course

Here are some ideas for building your own outside (or inside) obstacle course. We've tried this and the kids love it. You can even recruit those curious kids from the neighborhood who ask "what are you doing?"

• Lay a jump rope on the ground for a balance beam element. Racers must complete the balance beam before moving to the next station.
• Arrange shoe boxes in a pattern for either zigzagging around or jumping over.
• Create shapes and colors out of construction paper and then lay them on the ground to hop from shape to shape.
• Use a laundry basket or bucket and balls for the ball toss
• Hula hoops or old bike tires can be used to either to hold for your child to crawl or jump through, or laid flat for a jumping obstacle.
• Try a ring toss activity for a fun hand-eye coordination station.
• Set up chairs in a pattern to zigzag through or crawl under.
• Add a pop-up tunnel or create your own tunnel system by laying a sheet over chairs.
• Blow up balloons and use a baseball bat to keep them in the air for 5 hits.
• Set up a sprinker to run through.

Don't forget your stop watch and water!