Backyard Obstacle Course Challenge

6-8 cones or plastic cups for weaving

A jump rope for hurdle jumps

Pool noodles balanced on buckets for crawl-unders

A hula hoop for target throws

A long board or plank (2x4 works great) for a balance beam

Stopwatch or phone timer

Clipboard and pencil for recording times

Walk through your yard together and choose 6-10 stations, spacing them apart so there's room to run between each one.

Set up each station: cones to weave through, a jump rope stretched between chairs to hop over, pool noodles on buckets to crawl under, a hula hoop for ball tosses, and a plank on the ground for a balance beam.

Write down the station order and rules for each one.

Do a slow walk-through so everyone understands the rules before timing starts.

Time each person's run with a stopwatch. Record every time.

Everyone runs twice — the goal is to beat your own personal best, not just win.

Switch roles so the runner becomes the timer and spotter.

After all runs, discuss which stations were hardest and redesign at least two.

Run a final championship round on the modified course.

Cool down with stretches and talk about which muscles worked hardest.

Let kids co-design the course. When they choose the stations, they practice spatial planning and take more ownership of the challenge.

Focus on personal-best times rather than head-to-head racing. This keeps it fun for kids at different athletic levels and teaches self-improvement over comparison.

Add a 5-second penalty for skipped stations or knocked-over cones instead of disqualifying anyone. It keeps the energy positive.

Rotate who designs the course each round. The designer sits out that round and acts as referee, which practices fairness and leadership.

Film a run on a phone and watch it back in slow motion. Kids love analyzing their own form and figuring out where they lost time.