#311 - Teaching You How to Set Up Obstacle Courses that Target Multiple Goals

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Teaching You How to Set Up Obstacle Courses that Target Multiple Goals

Have you ever wondered why we always recommend obstacle courses for kids during therapy and at home?

It’s because they have so many benefits!

Today’s episode is all about WHY obstacle courses are so beneficial and how to set up obstacle courses for all children!

We talk about our favorite equipment pieces to use, how to identify the number of steps in the obstacle course, how to add a function-based play component, how to add different transitions into it, and MORE!

We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form -> https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3

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Primitive Reflex Digital Course

Reflex Integration Memory Game

Should I? Shouldn’t I? Social Thinking Game

Super Duper Learning Games

7 Activities with Hula Hoops

Teaching You How To Set Up Obstacle Courses That Target Multiple Goals

Obstacle courses are a fantastic tool for both fun and therapeutic purposes. You can activate different brain and body parts by incorporating various activities, promoting sensory integration, motor skills, and emotional intelligence. 

Why Obstacle Courses?

Obstacle courses offer numerous benefits, such as:

• Improved Praxis: Praxis involves ideation, motor planning, execution, and adaptation. 
• Sensory Processing Abilities: Incorporating various sensory components (vestibular, proprioceptive, tactile, auditory, and visual) helps children regulate their bodies and understand how they move.
• Emotional Intelligence: Discussing how different activities make them feel (e.g., spinning or crashing on a pad) helps children understand their emotional responses.
• Improved Sequencing and Executive Function: Obstacle courses help with sequencing, organization, planning, and impulse control.
• Balance and Coordination: Activities can target balance, bilateral coordination, and crossing the midline, essential skills for physical development.

Setting Up Your Obstacle Course: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Choose Your Equipment

Start with available equipment at home, in a clinic, or outdoors. Here are some ideas:

• Indoors: Crash pads, tunnels, scooter boards, agility ladders, balance beams, stepping stones, swings, targets, cup towers, bowling pins, blocks, hula hoops.
• Outdoors: Tree trunks, hills, sidewalks, playground equipment.

For younger children, begin with one to three steps. Older children can handle more complexity, with three to five steps.

Step 2: Pick a Functional Play-Based Task

Incorporate a goal-oriented game or activity into the obstacle course. Examples include:

• Games and Puzzles: Logic games, block-stacking, container play.
• Target Activities: Throwing balls at targets, knocking over cup towers.
• Cognitive Challenges: Salt tray drawing, Simon Says, social-emotional learning cards, auditory memory games.
• Handwriting and Math: Incorporate letter identification, sequencing, spatial relations, and math problems.

Step 3: Plan the Transition

Include a gross motor or sensory component to transition back to the start. Options include:

• Without Equipment: Animal walks, wheelbarrow walks, log rolling, somersaults.
• With Equipment: Ball walkouts, lycra tube pulls, scooter board transitions.

Step 4: Repeat and Modify

Have the child repeat the course three to five times to build praxis. Adjust the difficulty as needed to ensure the child remains challenged yet successful.

Step 5: Encourage Autonomy

Allow the child to teach you or set up their obstacle course. This builds confidence and reinforces the skills being targeted.

Additional Tips

• Use Verbal and Visual Instructions: Tailor instructions to the child's level. Demonstrate or use pictures if necessary.

• Incorporate Primitive Reflexes: Activities like crawling, Superman poses, or bird dog exercises can help address primitive reflexes while promoting coordination and balance.

Engage with Your Child: Participate in the obstacle course with your child to increase buy-in and make the activity more engaging.

Conclusion

Obstacle courses are a versatile tool for promoting various developmental skills in children. By carefully selecting equipment and activities, you can create an engaging and multi-functional experience that supports physical, sensory, and emotional development. 

BORING, BUT NECESSARY LEGAL DISCLAIMERS

While we make every effort to share correct information, we are still learning. We will double check all of our facts but realize that medicine is a constantly changing science and art. One doctor / therapist may have a different way of doing things from another. We are simply presenting our views and opinions on how to address common sensory challenges, health related difficulties and what we have found to be beneficial that will be as evidenced based as possible. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or your children. Consult your child’s pediatrician/ therapist for any medical issues that he or she may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Rachel Harrington, Harkla, Jessica Hill, or any guests or contributors to the podcast, as well as any employees, associates, or affiliates of Harkla, be responsible for damages arising from use of the podcast.

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This podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast.