[Childcare] DIY Ideas for Circuit Play
On rainy days when you can’t go outside, kids have so much extra energy, don’t they?
That’s when circuit play is highly recommended.
Circuit play, which involves a variety of whole-body movements, is perfect for kids who love to be active!
Through play, you can naturally promote the development of their motor skills.
In this article, we’ll introduce DIY ideas you can use for circuit play!
From tunnels and balance beams to stepping stones, there are plenty of ideas you can make with everyday recyclables and items from the dollar store.
Choose options that suit your children’s ages and developmental stages, and give them a try.
Once you build them sturdily, you can reuse them again and again—not just for everyday care, but also for sports days, parent observation days, and many other occasions.
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[Childcare] Handmade Circuit Play Ideas (1–10)
Cardboard caterpillar
Cardboard pieces joined together transform into a caterpillar you can crawl inside and play with! Just prepare some large cardboard boxes and tape them together for an easy build.
We also recommend making several and holding a relay or race.
Since kids move forward on their knees, dress them in clothing that covers their knees to prevent scrapes and injuries.
And because the child inside can’t see ahead at all, be sure to supervise closely to prevent them from bumping into walls or colliding with other caterpillars.
Advance to fit the shape and jump!
If you place sheets of paper with footprint illustrations, they’ll create an eye-catching, friendly circuit for kids to play on barefoot.
By stepping along to match the left and right feet in the illustrations, it becomes like a hopscotch-style game and can help improve motor skills.
Lately, more children are having trouble hopping well, so it’s a good idea to include plenty of single-leg steps on purpose.
Of course, feel free to adjust it for your class or combine it with other items.
Be sure to stick the paper down securely so feet won’t slip!
Hopscotch with masking tape
Many of you probably played hopscotch by drawing circles in the sand when you were little.
If you’re doing it indoors, masking tape is recommended.
Prepare a puzzle mat or something similar that makes it easy to stick on and peel off tape, and mark the spots according to the children’s jump distance.
You can stick the tape directly on the floor, but since there will be many moments of unstable posture—like jumping or standing on one foot—it may be safer to have some cushioning.
Before you start playing, make sure the mat is securely fixed so it doesn’t shift, causing slips or falls.
Milk carton balance beam
Let’s carefully cross the milk-carton bridge so we don’t fall! By accordion-folding flattened milk cartons and packing them tightly into box-shaped cartons, you can boost the strength and create a play structure sturdy enough for kids to ride on safely.
If you don’t have many milk cartons, stuffing rolled-up newspaper inside is also recommended.
It could be fun to make a two-layer section to create bumps and texture, too.
Because it can be slippery, be sure to play safely by placing it on a mat or taping it firmly to the floor so it won’t shift.
Pool stick crossing
Pool noodles, which are so useful during pool season, are also perfect for circuit play thanks to their lightweight, colorful look made from polyethylene foam.
They cut easily with a utility knife, which makes them very convenient to use.
If you slice one lengthwise and place the cut side down, kids can have fun and get excited walking along the rounded top, trying to keep their balance.
The soft texture feels pleasant on the soles of the feet, and they also make great markers—“Try going to the blue one,” or “Start from the red one,” and so on!