Ages 6+ Guide Indoor games KS1 KS2 Rainy day Screen-free

Rainy Day Obstacle Course for Kids: Free Printable Checklist

Quick answer: Turn your living room into an obstacle course. Print the free checklist, set up eight simple challenges using cushions, blankets and socks, then let children tick each one off as they go. It suits ages 6 and up, and children aged 5 can join in with a grown-up helping. No special kit needed, just soft things you already own.
Best for Ages 6 and up (KS1)
Time 20 to 40 minutes
Group size 1 to 4 children
You need Cushions, a blanket, socks, soft toys
Cost Free to print and play

Download the free printable cards

On this page:
Obstacle course ideasHow to use itWays to playGifts and gamesBy ageSkillsFAQ

What indoor obstacle course challenges can children do on a rainy day?

Here are ready-made challenges you can set up in minutes with things from around the house. Pick eight, spread them across a room, and let children tick them off.

Move and balance challenges

  1. Hop across five cushion stepping stones without touching the floor
  2. Crawl under a blanket draped over two chairs
  3. Walk heel to toe along a line of string or a skipping rope
  4. Balance a soft toy on your head and cross the room
  5. Jump over a rolled-up blanket three times
  6. Tiptoe round a zigzag of cushions without knocking any over
  7. Bear crawl from the sofa to the door
  8. Spin round three times then walk a straight line
  9. Step through a ladder made from socks laid in rows

Throw, aim and sort challenges

  1. Toss ten rolled socks into a washing basket
  2. Roll a soft ball between two cushion goalposts
  3. Sort a pile of socks into matching pairs against the clock
  4. Throw a beanbag and land it on a target cushion
  5. Knock down a tower of plastic cups with a soft ball
  6. Pass a balloon round the course without dropping it
  7. Drop socks into a bucket from standing on a chair with a grown-up
  8. Slide a cushion along the floor to hit a target
  9. Catch a soft toy five times in a row

Silly and memory challenges

  1. Do five star jumps then shout your name
  2. Hop on one foot while counting to ten
  3. Copy a funny pose shown on a card
  4. Say the alphabet backwards from J to A
  5. Carry a cushion from room to room like a waiter
  6. Freeze like a statue when a grown-up says stop
  7. Remember and repeat a three-step dance
  8. Crawl like a crab across the finish line
  9. Pat your head and rub your tummy for ten seconds
  10. Make the course again backwards from the end

How to play the rainy day obstacle course, step by step

  1. Print the checklist and clear a safe space with soft flooring.
  2. Set up eight challenges using cushions, blankets and socks.
  3. Walk children through each station once before they start.
  4. Let them complete the course and tick off each challenge.
  5. Time a second run and see if they can beat it.

Ways to use the rainy day obstacle course

  • Beat the clock. Time one lap, then let children try to go faster on the next run. Keep a scoreboard on a whiteboard or scrap of paper.
  • Team relay. Split into pairs and take turns at each station. Great for siblings or a few friends on a wet afternoon.
  • Mix in a calm station. Add a quiet challenge like threading beads or a quick puzzle between the active ones so no one gets too giddy. A threading beads set works well here.
  • Add a game finish. End the course with a round of a tabletop game as the prize. A quick game of Snakes and Ladders rewards everyone who finishes.
  • Make the cards yourselves. Let children design their own challenge cards with pens and paper. They love inventing silly tasks, and it keeps them busy before they even start.

Games and gifts for rainy days indoors

When the course is done, these games keep the fun going without going outside. They suit KS1 children and work well for the whole family on a wet day.

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Snakes and Ladders with Ludo - Family Board GameSnakes and Ladders with Ludo - Family Board GameShop nowSkipping Rope - Kids Jump RopeSkipping Rope - Kids Jump RopeShop nowThreading Beads - Threading Beads for KidsThreading Beads - Threading Beads for KidsShop nowFour in a Row - Counting Game for KidsFour in a Row - Counting Game for KidsShop nowSkittles Game - Wooden Number SkittlesSkittles Game - Wooden Number SkittlesShop nowWooden Animal SkittlesWooden Animal SkittlesShop nowTarget Ball Game - Velcro Target GameTarget Ball Game - Velcro Target GameShop nowTin Can Alley Game - Family Game SetTin Can Alley Game - Family Game SetShop nowTumble Tower Game - Wooden Animal Blocks & DiceTumble Tower Game - Wooden Animal Blocks & DiceShop nowDominoes Set- Double Six DominoesDominoes Set- Double Six DominoesShop nowGiant Playing CardsGiant Playing CardsShop nowScavenger Hunt GameScavenger Hunt GameShop nowWooden Family Games SetWooden Family Games SetShop nowTraining Cones - Activity Cones for the GardenTraining Cones - Activity Cones for the GardenShop now

Rainy day obstacle course by age and key stage

Age 5 (EYFS)

Join in with a grown-up helping at each station. Keep the challenges simple, like hopping and tossing socks.

Ages 6 to 7 (KS1)

The sweet spot for this activity. Children can read the cards, set up stations and keep their own score.

Ages 7 to 9 (KS2)

Older children can design harder courses, add timers and run relays with younger siblings.

Ages 9 and up

Give them the whole thing to plan and run. They can invent scoring rules and challenge the adults.

What children learn from an indoor obstacle course

  • Gross motor skills. Hopping, crawling and balancing build strength and coordination in a small space.
  • Following instructions. Reading and working through the checklist in order supports early reading and sequencing.
  • Counting and timing. Keeping score and beating the clock brings in numbers and simple maths.
  • Turn taking. Relays and shared stations help children wait, cheer and play fairly.
  • Problem solving. Designing their own course and fixing what does not work builds planning and creativity.

More free Christmas printables

Every one is free to print, and each has its own guide.

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Rainy Day Sensory Play CardsRainy Day Sensory Play CardsFree printableRainy Day Colour HuntRainy Day Colour HuntFree printableRainy Day Blanket Fort PlannerRainy Day Blanket Fort PlannerFree printableRainy Day BingoRainy Day BingoFree printableRainy Day Mini OlympicsRainy Day Mini OlympicsFree printableRainy Day Box City ChallengeRainy Day Box City ChallengeFree printableRainy Day Comic Strip MakerRainy Day Comic Strip MakerFree printableRainy Day Escape RoomRainy Day Escape RoomFree printableDesign a Board GameDesign a Board GameFree printable

Make it a Christmas tradition

Make it your go-to plan for wet weather. Keep the printed cards in a drawer so you can set up a course in minutes whenever the rain sets in. Children soon start asking to build their own versions, and no two courses are ever the same. It becomes a cheerful habit that burns off energy and turns a grey day into a good one.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make an indoor obstacle course for kids?

Use cushions as stepping stones, a blanket draped over chairs as a tunnel, and soft toys to zigzag around. Tick each challenge off the free checklist as children complete it.

What age is the rainy day obstacle course for?

It suits ages 6 and up. Children aged 5 can join in with a grown-up helping at each station.

What do I need to set it up?

Just soft things you already own: cushions, a blanket, rolled-up socks and a few soft toys. A skipping rope or string is handy for marking lines.

How long does it take?

Setting up takes about five minutes. A full course usually runs 20 to 40 minutes, longer if children redesign it or do relay rounds.

Is it safe indoors?

Clear the space of hard edges and anything breakable first, and always supervise. Keep the floor clear of trip hazards and stick to soft landings.

How do I keep more than one child happy?

Run it as a relay or a race against the clock, and let each child own a station to set up. Taking turns keeps it fair and friendly.

What if my living room is small?

Fewer, simpler stations work fine. Try three or four challenges in a line and let children loop round again rather than spreading out.

What can we play afterwards?

A quick board or card game is a lovely calm finish. See the gift ideas above for family games that suit a rainy afternoon.

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Jaques of London is Britain's oldest toy and games company, founded in 1795. We have spent over 230 years making games families play together, from chess and croquet to wooden toys for the very young.

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Written by the Jaques of London team. Last updated 1 November 2026.