Best for this moment
when your toddler needs to move and burn energy, especially when you need an indoor option.
Sibling Obstacle Course Builders
At a glance: Siblings design and build an obstacle course together, then take turns cheering each other through it. A 20-minute, high-energy indoor activity for ages 19m–4y. No prep needed.
One of the most effective ways to reduce sibling conflict is to give children a shared creative project where both contributions matter. In this activity, each sibling places obstacles (cushions, blankets, boxes) to build a course, then they take turns navigating it while the other cheers them on. The building phase requires negotiation ('where should the tunnel go?'), and the cheering phase practises supportive rather than competitive interaction. The physical element also burns off the restless energy that often underlies sibling squabbles.
Parent tip
Start before you overthink it. No-prep activities work best when you begin while the moment is still recoverable.
What success looks like
A good outcome is a few minutes of engaged play, some back-and-forth with you, and a small sign of progress in creativity.
More help for this situation
Meltdowns and tantrums
Meltdown
Start with calm regulation, then move to a simple activity that helps the moment settle.
Read the meltdown guideInstructions
- Announce: 'We're going to build the BEST obstacle course ever — but we have to do it as a team!'
- Point to available items: cushions, pillows, blankets, a cardboard box, a bed sheet. Let each child choose one item to place.
- Help them decide together where each obstacle goes: 'Where should the cushion mountain go? You two decide.'
- Once the course is built (four to five obstacles is plenty), walk through it together to 'test' it.
- One child goes first while the other stands at the finish line as the 'cheerleader' — teach them to shout 'Go! You can do it!'
- Swap roles so the cheerleader becomes the runner. Emphasise: 'Your sister cheered you on — now it's your turn to cheer!'
- For the final round, hold hands and do the course together — the physical connection reinforces the teamwork feeling.
- Finish by dismantling the course together, carrying cushions back as a team: 'Building it together AND tidying it together — what a team!'
Why it helps
Shared goal-setting and collaborative building are powerful conflict-reduction tools because they shift the sibling dynamic from 'you versus me' to 'us versus the challenge.' The cheering element specifically practises prosocial behaviour — celebrating another person's success — which does not come naturally to toddlers and requires structured opportunities to develop. Physical activity also lowers cortisol levels, reducing the physiological arousal that often precedes sibling conflict.
Variations
- Give each child a stuffed animal to carry through the course — they're 'rescuing' the teddies together, adding a cooperative narrative.
- Time each run with a sand timer and challenge the pair to beat their combined total — making it a team score, never individual.
- Take the course outdoors using garden furniture, buckets, and cones for a bigger, more energetic version.
Safety tips
- Check all obstacles are stable and won't collapse — test the course yourself before the children use it.
- Stay close to younger toddlers who may stumble climbing over cushions or crawling through tunnels.
- Avoid using furniture that could tip over, such as chairs balanced on their sides.
When to pause and seek extra support
Stop if your child becomes distressed, unsafe, or consistently frustrated by the activity. If play, behaviour, or development worries keep showing up across settings, check in with a qualified professional.
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