Body & movement
Their own obstacle course
- Builds: Planning their movements
- 15 min
- Ages 4–6
- Energetic
- A little tidy-up
From the house
- Cushions and a blanket
- A broom
- A laundry basket
- Rolled-up socks
- Masking tape
How to play
- Put everything in the middle of the room and ask, “What could we do with each one?”
- Build their plan together, like crawl under the table, step over the broom on the floor, zigzag round the cushions, throw a sock in the basket.
- They go first to show you the way, then you follow their instructions exactly.
- They change one part and you both go through it again.
Fit it to your child
- Easier: You set up three stations and they choose the order.
- Harder: They draw a map of the course first, with arrows, then build it from the map.
Words to use
- under
- over
- around
- through
- first
- next
Why it helps
Planning a route and then moving under, over and around things builds coordination and teaches them to put their movements in order.
Grown-up eyes: Keep everything at floor level: crawl under and step over, but no climbing on furniture. Move sharp corners out of the way.