Savvy Search

• My Savvy Source
  (BETA)
• Preschools
• Camps & Classes
• City Guides
• Activities
• Books & Toys
• Gear
• Savvy Parenting
• My Child's Development

Create an Indoor Obstacle Course

by Zarlacht Atiqzoy -- Being Savvy Dallas

Having active children in need of space and room to run can be challenging during inclement weather, requiring all parents alike to come up with creative alternatives to getting the much needed physical exercise our kids love.  Since moving the swings and slides indoors isn't an option - creating your very own obstacle course may be the very next best thing.

Be creative. Use what you have to piece together a fun zone of sorts. From jumping to rolling - the name of the game is to get physically active while having fun. It's more so an indoor gym than a competition - and everyone gets a turn tumbling, bouncing, and crawling across the living room floor.

Let's get started:

1. Take inventory
Soft pillows, blankets, tunnels, ottomans, or tunnels...

2. Zone your area
Keep the indoor fun in one section of the house, say the family room for example, so that there's only one confined area to clean up afterwards.

3. Set up
Rearrange furniture so that you can create ways for your children to "go up" and "down" again. Don't forget to temporarily remove any fragile items from the room as well as furniture with sharp corners to avoid any accidents.

Ideas:
1. Place two sofas across from each other leaving a gap large enough to fill with piles of pillows. Cover with a blanket and you'll have an instant pit for them to jump into.

2. Create a crooked path with stepping stones using colorful construction paper [8.5 x 11 sheets] taped to your floor. Have the kids jump on certain colors or hop on one foot all the way to the end.

3. Use paper cups or empty 2-liter bottles to line the floor in a diagonal pattern so that kids will weave "in and out" while running, walking or skipping along.

4. Use a tunnel or make one with cardboard boxes and let them crawl through different sizes using their hands and knees.

5. Create a swing/hammock. Lay down a large blanket on the floor and have the kids lay on their back ontop as if they are sardines. With another adult, grab corners of the blanket and swing! from side to side...

6. Add dance music to the games, and you'll have an instant indoor party. Kids no doubt will run quicker, bounce higher, and last longer when there's a tune to move to.

Hope these tips will make your next rainy day more fun. We'd love to hear about your creative crazy ways spent indoors - please share!

4.