Early childhood educators can support children's physical development through obstacle courses. They are easy to set up indoors or outdoors, using whatever equipment you have available. Popular items include: cones, hurdles, balance beams, tunnels, ropes, stepping stones, ladders, hoops, crash mats, mini trampolines and climbing frames.
As your children's interest grows, you will notice them rearranging the courses into new formations! Encourage children to become involved in the planning and designing process. They will learn about materials, gross motor skills, risky play, and physical safety.
EYLF Learning Outcomes
Obstacle courses connect with the Early Years Learning Framework and teach children to become strong in their physical learning and wellbeing (3.2).
They teach a growth mindset and learning dispositions such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, commitment, enthusiasm and persistence (4.1). They teach a range of skills and processes such as problem-solving and experimentation (4.2).
Obstacle courses incorporate a wide range of physical skills in varying ways, requiring children to transfer and adapt what they have learned from one context to another (4.3). Children may need to navigate around various natural materials and processed materials (4.4).
Learning experiences
Design an obstacle course
When educators design courses for children, they should consider adding elements that:
- develop different gross motor skills
- require coordination and balance
- promote the concepts of space and direction
- require children to follow instructions
- and enhance social skills through teamwork and cooperation.
Movements may include:
- crawling through tunnels
- hopping over hurdles
- walking heel-to-toe on balance beams
- jumping between stepping stones
- climbing over frames
- and zig-zag running between cones.
Educators can guide children to create their own obstacle courses:
- Brainstorm ideas for obstacles.
- Draw a plan of the course.
- Organise equipment and materials.
- Set up the obstacles in sequence.
- Test the course for feasibility and safety.
- Adapt the course to include new challenges.