You will need: • Things to climb over, under and through • Rope • Planks to balance on • Big boxes • Hula hoops or tyres • Cones • Blankets • Table and chairs • Stools • Cardboard/paper/plastic • Buckets • Cushions

You can:

Use the equipment you have to create an exciting obstacle course for your child that encourages doing any or all of the following:

• Hop

• Run

• Jump

• Skip

• Kick

• Slide

• Crawl

• Crab walk

• Zig-zag

• Balance

• Go under / over / through / between

• Move backwards / sideways / forwards

You can also:

• Use the rope on the ground as a balancing tightrope

• Create a circle on the ground with a hula-hoop or rope that your child can jump into

• Create a team obstacle course

Did you know:

The language of an obstacle course uses basic mathematical concepts such as under, over, through etc.

These sites have great ideas for developing different skills – climbing, jumping, balancing etc.

http://www.ehow.com/about_4673450_obstacle-courses.html

http://simplekids.net/make-your-own-backyard-obstacle-course/

Obstacle courses are great for children with special needs such as Autism.

http://autism.lovetoknow.com/Obstacle_Course_for_Children_with_Autism

What your child is learning:

• Important muscle skills, endurance, confidence and co-operation

• How their bodies move in space

• Balance and co-ordination

• To follow and remember directions

• Positional language such as under, over, through, across, beneath, around, backwards

• Physical skills such as hopping, jumping, crawling and climbing