Ninja Warrior Backyard Challenge
Build an epic ninja warrior course with hanging obstacles, balance challenges, and climbing walls — a serious physical challenge for active kids.
What You'll Need
- 1Monkey bars or sturdy overhead bar
- 22x4 board and bricks for balance beam
- 3Rope and stakes for crawl obstacle
- 4Hula hoops
- 5Stepping stones or tree stumps
- 6Timer
What You'll Need
Monkey bars or a sturdy overhead bar
A 2x4 board and bricks for an elevated balance beam
Rope and stakes for a crawl-under obstacle
Hula hoops for the tire run
Stepping stones, tree stumps, or overturned buckets
A timer
How to Play
Design your ninja warrior course with 8-10 stations. Walk your backyard and use the terrain and equipment creatively. Each station should test a different skill.
Monkey Bar Traverse: cross a set of monkey bars or hang from a sturdy overhead bar for 15 seconds. If you drop, you restart the station.
Elevated Balance Beam: place a 2x4 board across two stacks of bricks (about 6-12 inches off the ground). Walk the length without stepping off.
Army Crawl: tie rope or string in a web pattern between stakes about 18 inches off the ground. Crawl underneath without touching the rope.
Wall Climb: climb over a play structure wall, a fence (with permission and supervision), or a stacked hay bale barrier.
Tire Run: lay hula hoops on the ground in a staggered pattern. Step through each one without touching the rim.
Stepping Stones: set up overturned buckets, tree stumps, or flat stones 2-3 feet apart. Cross the course by stepping only on the stones.
Time the full course from start to finish. Each competitor gets one attempt. Fastest complete time wins. If you fail a station, you must retry before moving on.
Tips
Let kids help design and build the course. Half the fun is engineering the obstacles. They'll come up with challenges you never would.
Safety check every station before anyone runs it. Ensure overhead bars are sturdy, balance beams are stable, and landing zones are soft.
The timer creates intensity. Without it, kids stroll. With it, they sprint. The timer is what makes this feel like a real competition.
Video the runs. Kids love watching themselves tackle obstacles, and slow-motion replays of epic moments become family favorites.
Leave the course up for a week and let kids run it daily. Watching times drop from day to day teaches them about practice, persistence, and improvement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 60 min, with 30 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: monkey bars or sturdy overhead bar, 2x4 board and bricks for balance beam, rope and stakes for crawl obstacle, hula hoops, stepping stones or tree stumps, and 1 more item.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 8-12 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Does this need to be done outdoors?
This activity is best done outdoors where kids have space to move and explore.
How difficult is this activity?
This is a more challenging activity that may require advance preparation, special materials, or closer supervision. The extra effort is worth it for the learning experience!
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