Tunnel obstacle course: Tunnels & Obstacles – Play with a Purpose

Physical Activities for Kids Build Motor Skills

Photo by Karina Uvarova / iStock

By Rachel Ward

Those first wavering, unassisted steps your baby takes are magical for you and incredibly exciting for them—they are literally taking their first steps toward independence and a smattering of physical activities!

Fast forward to the toddler days, and independence is well underway as they use their newfound movement to get a closer look at things they weren’t able to reach before on their own—like doorknobs and the drawers on end tables (so don’t get rid of your baby/child-proof house setup just yet, parents).

Even with their entry to toddlerhood, these little humans still have a long way to go before they’ve mastered physical movement and the other skills that go along with it.

“Toddlers have figured out basic movement, but there’s a lot of trial and error as they figure out the many ways that their bodies can move, called gross-motor skills, in addition to where their bodies are in relation to other objects and people, called spatial awareness,” says Linda Nelson from KinderCare’s Education team.

That’s why, in addition to providing plenty of activities related to creative expression, early science, and the like, we’re also placing a strong emphasis on physical development for the toddler set—and this activity is one of our favorites. 

This Physical Development Game Builds Spatial Awareness Skills (and More) for Toddlers

Exploring makeshift “tunnels,” whether made from household furniture or cardboard boxes, is sure to elicit plenty of excited giggles—and up the ante on learning benefits at the same time! (And no worries, parents, we’re supervising carefully the whole time.)

“As children work on moving over, under, around, and through tunnels, they’re trying out new ways of moving they might not have thought of yet, while also building coordination and balance,” explains Nelson.

All that movement exercise is crucial for getting kids prepped for the next big steps—like bowling with water bottles, playing softball, and learning how to cartwheel!

We’re focusing on physical skill-building all the time at KinderCare, but there’s a lot of fun ways you can do the same at home! Try some of our ideas below.

Work It! 4 Fun Physical Games and Spatial Awareness Activities for Toddlers

1. Have a little dance party in your living room

There’s no end to the fun when the music’s turned up loud and your whole family is droppin’ it like it’s hot! Not only is it a great way for older kids (and you, parents) to get a little activity into their daily routine, but it also helps toddlers explore new ways of moving and build motor skills. Challenge them to try moving like a butterfly, doing the bunny hop, or leading a conga line!

2. Do the Hokey Pokey (and shake it all about)

There’s a reason this song/dance is a childhood classic! As toddlers focus on moving each arm or leg, they’re building awareness of each limb and working on balance and coordination at the same time (and the intro to right vs. left is a bonus, too).

Photo by ziggy_mars / iStock

3. Play a game of catch

Hoping your toddler will venture into the big world of sports one day? Grab a soft and squishy ball and take turns passing it back and forth to each other. Your child might have some trouble at first as they build their body awareness and motor skills, but hey—practice makes perfect!

4. Play hide and seek

Where, oh, where can your child hide? The thrill of searching for a place where you won’t see them after you finish your countdown makes this game a toddler favorite—but it’s also helping your child think about where their body will fit in relation to objects around them (a.k.a. spatial awareness).

Major Milestones

From KinderCare Educators

At-Home Activities

Brain Development

Toddler

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Toddler (1-3)

At-Home Activities For Toddlers

Basic obstacle course ideas for kids

From jumping to catching balls to standing on tiptoes, your 2-year-old’s gross motor skills are making some dramatic leaps forward—pun intended 😉

Now is a great time to create a basic obstacle course for your child. By 30 months, they may be able to:

• jump in place with both feet, and then at a distance of 8 to 14 inches. 
• jump forwards and backwards (maybe even sideways) with both feet.
• walk on a line.
• walk on tiptoes.
• stand on one foot for a short time.
• run more smoothly; avoid an obstacle while running; come to a more complete stop.
• catch a large ball.

An obstacle course, indoors or out, is a great way for your child to practice these gross motor milestones. Obstacle courses also support motor planning, sequencing, memory, following directions, and self-regulation. 

Note: the following activity is designed for two-year-olds, but both younger and older children can happily play along—just make sure the course is clear (and closely monitored) for when the baby comes crawling through

Here’s how to set up an obstacle course:

If this is your child’s first time, consider starting small—just a few elements from start to finish—so they can feel successful before you add more. A great way to start is to have them walk a simple line on the ground. You can make the line with chalk, tape, the edge of a carpet or floorboard, or a line on the sidewalk. This is a fun way to practice balance before they get to the trickier parts of an obstacle course.

When you’re thinking about designing your own obstacle course, whether it’s indoors or out, consider the various elements that make it both fun and challenging. Try to give your child:

• something to jump to (spots marked on the ground), over (a rope or a line on the ground), and into (some hoops or chalk circles).
• something to crawl through or under (a play tunnel, a table, or a chair).
• something to walk on carefully (a board laid flat on the ground).
• something to climb over (pillows, bean bag chairs, or large stuffed animals).
• something to wind their way around (cones on the ground that they have to weave through).
• something to run to—you can have the obstacle course finish with a short sprint into your arms ❤️

You can extend the course by having them do it backwards, sideways, or even blindfolded.

Here’s how to make a “chalkstacle course” using only a piece of chalk and some open space:

Early Childhood Consultant Gennie Gorback makes obstacle courses for her children, using just a piece of chalk and some open outdoor space. Here are her recommendations for creating a “chalkstacle course” for your two-year-old:

• Before drawing the course, think about physical activities your child can already do. For example, “my two-year old loves to run, hop, and twirl.” Then, plan the chalkstacle course accordingly, adding a few new challenges for them to try. 
• Here are some lines and movements to get your two-year-old started:
  • A long straight line for running
  • A spiral for spinning 
  • “Lilypads” (or simple circles) for frog jumps
  • A circle with bunny ears for bunny hopping
  • A zig-zag line for balancing 
• Your two-year-old may need to see you do the chalkstacle course first, then try it with you, then move on to doing it on their own with verbal prompts. Your child may not be able to remember the movements associated with each drawing without your help, and that’s okay. 

Bonus: this kind of course is also a pre-reading activity 🤓 By drawing a line or design in chalk and assigning it a movement, you are demonstrating to your child that lines and marks have specific meanings. This is part of the “concepts of print,” the mechanics of how reading works: the direction of text (left to right, right to left, top to bottom), how to flip pages, and a wide range of other pre-reading behaviors.

*credit @gorbackpack

In this post

The Investigator Play Kit

The Investigator Play Kit encourage your two-year old child’s persistence, focus, and trail-and-error exploration as they develop STEM skills supporting their executive functioning.

Learn more

The Organic Cotton Play Tunnel

The Lovevery Play Tunnel is perfect for hide and seek, peek a boo, crawling, and more. The tunnel can collapse, making it easy to pack and move. Learn more about the Lovevery Play Tunnel.

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