If your kids have all the energy and you’re looking for something screen-free, creative, and active — you’re in the right place.
This list of DIY obstacle courses for kids is packed with ideas you can set up inside, outside, in the backyard, on the sidewalk, or even in the hallway.
Obstacle courses aren’t just fun — they’re also secretly awesome for gross motor development, coordination, balance, and even learning skills.
But don’t worry, these aren’t complicated Pinterest projects. Think: easy setups, everyday materials, and endless play.
Let’s jump in!
Why You’ll Love These Obstacle Course Ideas
- Super low prep. Most can be created with things you already have at home.
- Burns all the energy. Perfect for rainy days, backyard afternoons, or parties.
- Mix of silly + skill-building. They sneak in learning while kids are just having fun.
- Works for mixed ages. You can easily scale them up or down depending on your kiddos.
Here are some of our favorite obstacle course ideas to get you started:
Obstacle Courses for Kids
1. Easy Backyard Obstacle Course
Use painter’s tape, sidewalk chalk and a cardboard box to create the best backyard obstacle course for toddlers, preschoolers and older kids!
2. Sidewalk Chalk Obstacle Course
Draw lines to jump over, zigzags to tiptoe on, and circles to hop through. Perfect for driveways and sidewalks.
3. Super Mario Obstacle Course
Set up hanging obstacles, tunnels to crawl through, and boxes with mystery “power-ups.” Instant hit with Mario fans.
4. Toddler Obstacle Course
Uses toddlers slides, tunnels and a fun string area to crawl under like a commando!
5. Nerf Obstacle Course
Set up barriers to hide behind, cups to knock down, and targets to shoot — active and full of focus!
6. Backyard Obstacle Course
This fun obstacle course from Teaching Mama uses a backyard playground set and diy floating steps!
7. Outdoor Toddler Course
If you are looking for a simple backyard toddler course, this easy to create course uses a trampoline.
8. Knight’s Jousting Obstacle Course
Use pool noodles for jousting sticks, cones to weave through, and cardboard shields for a medieval adventure.
9. The ULTIMATE Obstacle Course
I love this fun course for little kids. It has it all from hula hoop jumping to digging for treasure, waterfalls and a balloon slide.
10. Don’t Ring the Bells Obstacle Course
Hang jingle bells from a string and challenge kids to crawl or climb underneath without making a sound. Ninja skills: activated.
11. Winter Backyard Obstacle Course
Use snow piles for jumping, sleds to pull, and snowballs to toss at targets. A snow day favorite.
12. Spy Training Course
Laser-style yarn webs, secret code stations, and stealthy crawling missions — it’s a top-secret mission!
13. DIY American Ninja Warrior Outdoor Obstacle Course
If my kids were a bit older this would be the course I would build for them! It looks so fun and is perfect for older kids (5-6 years).
14. School Skills Obstacle Course
Add letter hops, shape jumps, and number tosses for a playful mix of physical movement and learning.
15. Fun Backyard Obstacle Course
This course is great little and big kids can do complete with sack race and agility obstacle
16. Going on a Bear Hunt Obstacle Course
Recreate the book with grass to “swish,” water to “splash,” and caves to crawl through — totally immersive storytelling fun.
17. Water Obstacle Course
This course is perfect for a hot summer day. Every obstacle is water based and super simple to create. I can see this being a fun day of fun in the summer.
18. Squirt Gun Obstacle Course
Set up paper targets, balloons, or chalk drawings to squirt with water. Perfect for hot summer days.
19. DIY Indoor Obstacle Course
Use couch cushions, painters tape, and hallway tunnels for rainy day energy burns. Soft, simple, and fun.
20. Popsicle Obstacle Course for Kids
This fun course is perfect for a birthday party complete with pool noodle tunnel and DIY balance beams plus 8 other parts to the course. Each section of the course is marked with an adorable popsicle sign.
21. Wipeout Obstacle Course
Think silly balance beams, rolling logs (aka pool noodles), and tricky jumps. Inspired by the TV show, but kid-safe!
22. DIY Backyard Obstacle Course
This great post breaks is down for you and gives you the goods on what you can include in your course. Plus all the actions needed to make the best course possible.
23. DIY Backyard Obstacle Course
Rope to crawl under, cones to weave around, hula hoops to hop in — classic backyard setup that’s always a hit.
24. Garden Obstacle Course
I love how this post shows you how you can really just use what you have to create a course no matter what you have in your backyard. From hopping over planters to making use of a tire swing to log stepping, there are lots of ideas here.
25. Apple-Picking Obstacle Course
Balance apples on spoons, crawl to the “orchard,” and toss them into baskets. A fall favorite!
26. Fort Magic Obstacle Course
Here is another course idea that uses the pipes used to create a fort. Such a creative idea that made an obstacle course that any kid would enjoy!
27. Balancing Obstacle Course
Use painter’s tape, boards, or low beams to create tightrope-style balance walks. Great for core strength and control.
28. Obstacle Course Games
This post also makes use of the pipes used to make a fort plus adds water to the mix with a slip and slide!
29. Follow the String Obstacle Course
Wrap string around chairs and through rooms — kids have to follow the path without letting go. Add clues or tasks for extra fun!
30. Pool Noodle Obstacle Course
This pool noodle course is perfect for active toddlers. I love the mini golf section!
31. Alphabet Obstacle Course
Hop from A to Z, collect letters, or match sounds along the course. Great for preschoolers learning their ABCs.
32. Spy Training Obstacle Course
This fun themed course is prefect for older kids and has everything needed to train the best spies. From target practice to agility and reflex practice!
33. Mud Obstacle Course
Slippery slopes, muddy pits, and water play make this messy course the best for adventurous kids. Hose required.
34. Amazing Outdoor Course
This course has it all from a walk the plank section to to diy balance beams to ‘electro-shock’ inspired section made with party streamers!
35. Train Crossing Obstacle Course
Use tape for train tracks, tunnels for crawling, and stations for collecting “cargo.” Bonus: wear a conductor hat!
36. Pool Noodle Obstacle Course
Uses pool noodles to create a simple but fun course for active kids.
37. Loose Parts Obstacle Course
Set out crates, logs, cones, tires — and let kids design their own course. Encourages problem-solving and creativity.
38. Dollar Store Obstacle Course
This course has it all from human horse, water balloon toss to racket and ball!
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
