With all the technology today, it can be tough to get your kids to go outside and play. Many kids want to be glued to the screen playing their favorite online games or watching different shows. However, it’s important for kids to play outside and exercise. That can only happen if they spend their time outdoors as this will boost their creativity and problem-solving skills.
An amazing backyard ninja course is the perfect way to get your kids excited about being active and spending time outdoors. With so many different homemade ninja course ideas, you’re sure to find one that will fit your family’s needs and interests.
Here are some backyard ninja course ideas that will help your kids to enjoy the outdoors.
1. Fun With Tires
If you know a mechanic or DIY car guy, try to get your hands on old tires. You can use these to create all sorts of obstacles for your ninja course. Try setting them up like stepping stones in a river or as part of an agility ladder. Paint them bright, vivid colors with some non-toxic paint and set them up in the backyard. Your kids can go through, over, or under the tires.
2. Pool Noodle Obstacle Course
This is a great option if you have a backyard pool. You can use pool noodles to create all sorts of obstacles for your kids to overcome. Try setting up a slalom course or an agility course. You can even use the noodles to create a makeshift balance beam. With a few pool noodles and the help of a few garden stakes, you can make tunnels to crawl through, agility football feet, a ball toss, and even a ring toss. All you need is some good old-fashioned duct tape to make the rings.
3. Add Some Water Fun
With some PVC pipe from your local hardware store and some pool noodles for added color, you can hook up your garden hose to the PVC and create a DIY water obstacle course. You can make the PVC straight runs for a more extended corridor with more fun. You’ll need a drill to make a hole for the garden hose to fit through.
The drill hole will also enable the water to come out. Plus, you don’t need any special tools to cut your PVC the way you want.
4. Create a Swing Set
One of the most classic backyard games is a swing set. You can use an old tire as a seat and some rope to hang it from a tree. You might want to put some sand on the bottom of the tire for added stability. If you don’t have a tree, you can get a metal frame from your local hardware store. You can also incorporate fun new activities into your existing swing set by adding rock climbing walls, nets, or other fun new features. A swing set is a great investment that can grow with your kids.
5. Consider a Wooden Balance Beam
If you have some woodworking skills, you can create a balance beam for your backyard. This is a great activity for kids of all ages, and it’s also a lot of fun for adults. You can use pressure-treated lumber to create a beam that will last for years. Just be sure to sand the edges smooth, so nobody gets hurt.
6. Slides Obstacle Course
Slides can be a fun part of an obstacle course. If you don’t have one and don’t want to buy one, you can always make one yourself. You can make a regular slide with wood, plastic, cardboard, and whatever you have. You can also make one of the nifty roller slides.
7. Opt for a Tree Trunk Hop
Jumping over tree trunks is a great way to improve your coordination. If you have several tree trunks of different diameters, you can make a course out of it. Just be sure that the tree trunks are sturdy enough to support your weight.
If you have just cut down a tree or have one that needs to be cut, you can make a tree trunk hop. Get some logs of different sizes with a sturdy base, and your kids can hop from log to log. This is great for balance and coordination.
8. Bounce House Obstacle Courses
Bouncy house rental companies will often have obstacle courses that you can rent along with the bounce house. These usually come with a variety of different obstacles, such as tunnels, slides, and pop-ups. The good news is that there are a variety of pricing options. These self-contained obstacle courses are great for building stamina.
9. Rope Climb
This is a great activity for kids of all ages. All you need is a rope and something to tie it around, such as a tree or a pole. Let the kids climb to the top and then back down again. Rope climbs can have different lengths and heights, even having multiple ones. If you have put several ropes in a row, you can make the objective be you have to swing from one rope to the next. This is great for muscles and coordination.
10. Nerf Fun
If you have older kids who love to run and be active, you can create a Nerf war zone. This can be done indoors or outdoors. You need some old cardboard boxes or sheets to make forts and then the guns and darts. The kids will have a blast dodging and shooting at each other. You can even make different teams for added fun. Make sure there is parental involvement as well, as it can get a little chaotic.
11. Hula Hoops
You can use hula hoops in many ways, and are a great substitute when you can’t get your hands on tires. You can put hula hoops in two rows, however deep, and create an agility run. You can hang them up for kids to crawl through, or you could even have a contest to see who can hula hoop the longest.
12. Get Your Kids to Play Sack Race
Sack races are a classic party game. They are also a great way to finish an obstacle course that has multiple kids going through. You can buy pre-made sacks or even make your own. If you have enough sacks, you can put two kids per sack and create a teamwork scenario.
13. Let Your Kids Play Bug Catch
Let your kids play bug catch and see the first to catch bugs. This is a great obstacle course addition, especially for boys. Give each boy or child a plastic cup for a mason jar. The first one to find five different bugs and get them into their container moves on to the next challenge.
15. Use Cardboard Boxes
If you don’t have time to build something and have several boxes, use them to make an obstacle course. Tape the boxes together or use one large box. If you make a tower out of them, put a soft landing at the bottom like a pillow or mattress. It’s also true that kids of all ages love boxes. You can unfold the bottom and connect it to others to make a maze or use large boxes for playhouses, stores, or whatever you can come up with.
16. Night Obstacle Course With Glow Sticks and String
Outdoor fun doesn’t always have to be during the day. At sunset, get a bunch of sticks glowing and create paths and trails to follow. You can also use glow sticks to illuminate your daytime obstacle course.
17. Tunnels
You can buy tunnels or make them yourself. Tunnels should have a large enough diameter for your child to fit through. If you don’t want store-bought, you can use large drainage pipes or create your own. You can make tunnels with many large tires, pool noodles, fabric, wire, plastic, or whatever you have on hand.
18. Build a Treehouse for Your Ninja
If you’re handy with wood, you can build a treehouse with ropes and bridges for your kids to navigate. Ropes, ladders, nets, and even zip lines can be incorporated into a fun outdoor obstacle course that ends or begins in their clubhouse in the sky.
19. Flybold Ninja Warrior
If you’re looking to set up an obstacle course but don’t want to damage the mature trees on your property, this ninja warrior obstacle course comes with five-foot tree protectors to help you out. You can set up this obstacle course with all the classics like monkey bars, gymnastic rings, and fist holds, or remove all the bells and whistles, and you have a 40-foot slackline.
20. Popsicle Obstacle Course for Kids
This obstacle course is perfect for a birthday party, complete with a pool noodle tunnel and DIY balance beams, plus 8 other parts to the course. Each selection of the course is made to be safe for kids and give them a challenge. The course can easily be put together and taken apart for easy storage.
21. Create a Balance Challenge for Your Kids
If you have more than one kid and are looking for a ninja course obstacle, then a balance challenge is great. You can use cinder blocks and a scrap piece of plywood. If you have one child, challenge yourself to figure out what to put on the end to balance when they stand on the other end.
FAQs on Amazing Backyard Ninja Course Ideas
What activities are in the obstacle course?
Any activities in children use the large muscles in their legs, arms, and torso to help build their gross motor skills. In an obstacle, this can include skills such as jumping, running, crawling, walking, pushing, pulling, and even lifting.
How do you set up a backyard slackline?
The shortest way to get slacklining is short, tight, and low. This means having your 50-foot line if you need to, making sure it’s ratcheted and level, and not placing it too high above the ground.
Final Thoughts
These are some of the amazing backyard ninja course ideas that can help your kid gain a lot of strength. If you have a kid who wants to explore the outside world but doesn’t know where to start, don’t hesitate to get them started with one of these backyard ninja courses. Who knows, maybe you have a future Olympian in your hands.
