DIY OBSTACLE COURSES

Looking for fun obstacle course ideas for kids? This obstacle course uses simple household items like laundry baskets, tape balancing lines, hula hoop, pillows and paper towels. They are quick to setup, inexpensive, and perfect for backyard birthday parties, classroom games, or rain-day indoor play

Age Group: 3+
Setup Time: 15 minutes
Play Style: Competitive or Non Competitive

Kids might balance along a line of tape, hop across paper plates, zigzag through chairs, toss balls into a basket or crawl under a table tunnel. The possibilities are endless, and you can customize the course to match your party theme, age group or available space. Make the course as long or short as you want depending on age group. Mix and match the activities below or add your owon.

TRAIN OBSTACLE COURSE STATION IDEAS

Railroad Track Balance
Walk heel-to-toe along a “railroad track” made from tape, ribbon, or chalk lines.

Coal Car Stepping Stones
Step across “coal cars” using paper plates, mats, or poly spots without touching the ground.

Train Tunnel Crawl
Crawl through a “train tunnel” made from a play tunnel, table with blankets, chairs, or cushions.

Coal Toss
Toss soft “coal pieces” like beanbags, socks, or black paper balls into a basket. Challenge: land 3 pieces of coal before moving on.

Chugga Chugga Stomp Station
Do 5 big conductor stomps and say “Chugga Chugga Choo Choo!” before continuing to the next station.

Train Cargo Carry Challenge
Carry a “cargo box” or beanbag on a spoon, tray, or small shovel without dropping it.

Track Jump Squares
Use tape or chalk to create railroad crossing squares to hop through — two feet, one foot, or big train jumps.

Signal Cone Weave
Zig-zag through “signal cones” or “train crossing cones” without knocking them over.

Tiptoe Across the Tracks
Walk slowly across a towel, taped line, or balance beam using tiptoes only.

Tiptoe Past the Sleeping Conductor
Walk carefully across the line using tiptoes only — don’t wake the conductor!

Lost Ticket Dash
Collect 3 lost train tickets and return them to the station.

Train Station Cleanup
Gather “cargo” or “tickets” into a basket before the train leaves the station.

Conductor Parade March
March like a train conductor through the course — big marching steps encouraged!

Build the Train Tower — Finish Station
Stack blocks, boxes, or paper rolls into a train station tower… then crash it down like a runaway train!