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Your Favorite Obby!

Your Favorite Obby!
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Design and build your favorite backyard obstacle course using safe household items, test balance, timing, and creativity while measuring distances and recording results.

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Step-by-step guide to design and build your favorite backyard obstacle course

What you need
Adult supervision required, chalk or washable marker, hula hoop or jump rope, measuring tape, notebook and pencil, pillows or cushions, rope or tape for a balance beam, small markers like cones or plastic cups, stopwatch or kitchen timer

Step 1

Choose a safe flat area in your backyard to build your favorite obby.

Step 2

Clear the area of toys rocks sticks and anything that could make someone trip.

Step 3

Draw a simple map on paper showing a Start point a Finish point and spots for each obstacle.

Step 4

Use the measuring tape to measure the total course length and the distance between each planned obstacle.

Step 5

Write each measurement on your map and in your notebook with your pencil.

Step 6

Mark the Start Finish and obstacle positions on the ground using chalk or your small markers.

Step 7

Set up each obstacle at its marked spot using pillows rope hula hoop and cones.

Step 8

Do one slow practice run through the course to test balance and check safety.

Step 9

Use the stopwatch to time one full-speed run from Start to Finish.

Step 10

Write the run time in your notebook and add one short note about what felt easy or hard.

Step 11

Repeat the timed run two more times.

Step 12

Write each of the two new times in your notebook.

Step 13

Calculate the average of your three times and write the average time down.

Step 14

Change one part of the course to make it easier or harder based on your average time.

Step 15

Share your finished obstacle course on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

Complete & Share
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Help!?

What can we use if we don't have a measuring tape, cones, chalk, or a stopwatch?

Use a length of string plus a ruler to measure in step 4, plastic cups or overturned buckets instead of cones for step 7, painter's tape or masking tape to mark the Start/Finish in step 6 if you don't have chalk, and a phone or kitchen timer for the stopwatch in step 9.

What should we do if an obstacle keeps moving or the course feels unsafe during the practice run?

During the slow practice run in step 8, stop and secure moving items by taping cushion bases, anchoring rope ends, widening balance paths with extra pillows, and re-clear the area of debris as instructed in step 2 before trying again.

How can we adapt the course for younger or older kids?

For younger kids shorten the total course length you measure in step 4, replace tricky balance tasks with wide pillow paths and allow walking instead of full-speed timed runs in step 9, while older kids can lengthen distances, add rope or hula hoop challenges, and keep the timed runs and averaging in steps 9–12 for competition.

How can we extend or personalize the obstacle course after finishing it?

Personalize or extend the activity by drawing a themed map in step 3, adding point values and recording scores in your notebook after each timed run in steps 10–11, filming runs to analyze technique, or turning it into a team relay before sharing on DIY.org as the final step.

Watch videos on how to design and build your favorite backyard obstacle course

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Awesome Indoor Obstacle Course For Kids | Indoor Activities for Kids During Quarantine | DIY Kids

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Facts about backyard engineering and active play

⏱️ Timing runs with a stopwatch or phone turns play into a simple science experiment to track improvements.

🧒 Backyard obbies can be made from safe household items like pool noodles, hula hoops, cardboard ramps, and cushions to spark creativity.

📏 Measuring distances for jumps and runs teaches kids about units, estimation, and accuracy in a hands-on way.

🛡️ Obstacle courses started as military training drills and later inspired playgrounds and sport events.

🤸 Playing on obstacle courses helps kids build balance, coordination, and confidence — the same skills used in gymnastics and parkour.

How do I set up 'Your Favorite Obby' backyard obstacle course?

Start by sketching a simple route and choosing 5–8 stations: low balance beam (plank on the ground), hopscotch, tunnel (chairs + sheet), stepping stones (cushions), and a target toss. Measure and mark distances with chalk or tape, set a clear start and finish, then assemble and test each obstacle for stability. Adjust heights for age, time runs with a stopwatch, and encourage kids to redesign and record results to compare balance, speed, and creativity.

What materials do I need to build a safe backyard obby using household items?

Gather common items: chalk or masking tape, rope, hula hoops, cushions or pillows, cardboard boxes or chairs for tunnels, a flat plank for a low balance beam, cones or plastic bottles as markers, a stopwatch or phone timer, a tape measure or ruler, and a notepad and pen to record results. Choose non-slip surfaces, avoid sharp edges, and have basic safety gear (knee pads, helmets) on hand if needed.

What ages is the 'Your Favorite Obby' activity suitable for?

This activity suits many ages: toddlers (3–5) enjoy very simple, low obstacles with close adult supervision and soft landings. Early school-age kids (6–9) can handle measured distances, timed runs, and moderate challenges. Older children (10+) can design complex courses, record data, and compete safely. Always adjust obstacle difficulty, spacing, and supervision to match each child’s physical ability and attention span.

What safety tips and fun variations can I use for 'Your Favorite Obby'?

Safety first: clear hazards, test stability, provide soft landings, and supervise constantly. Limit one child per obstacle, avoid slippery surfaces, and set clear rules. For variety, try themed courses (jungle, space), relay teams, or educational twists like math or measurement challenges where kids time runs and record distances. Benefits include improved balance, coordination, problem-solving, confidence, and healthy active play.
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Your Favorite Obby. Activities for Kids.