TinyStepper
Toddler jumping mid-air between colourful cushions scattered across a living room

Tunnel Crawl-Through

Crawl through a blanket tunnel draped over chairs for a cosy adventure.

Activity details

12m–18m8 minsmediumbothBlankets

Instructions

Get ready
  • Drape a blanket over two sturdy dining chairs placed about a metre apart
  • Tuck the blanket sides in slightly to create a tunnel shape
  1. Drape a blanket over two sturdy dining chairs placed about a metre apart
  2. Tuck the blanket sides in slightly to create a tunnel shape
  3. Get down to your child’s level and peek through the tunnel
  4. Call their name from the other end: ‘Can you come through to me?’
  5. Clap and cheer when they emerge
  6. Place a favourite toy at the exit for motivation if they hesitate
  7. Crawl through yourself to show them it’s safe
  8. Try placing soft toys inside the tunnel for them to collect on the way through

Parent tip

Set out blankets before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.

Child smiling on a cushion after active play with a ball and scattered cushions nearby

What success looks like

Flushed cheeks, big smiles, and a calmer child afterwards. If they want to do it again, you’ve found a winner.

Create a simple tunnel by draping a blanket over two chairs and encourage your early walker to crawl through. At 12–18 months, children are building confidence in their bodies and love enclosed spaces that feel cosy yet adventurous. Crawling through a tunnel strengthens core muscles, develops spatial awareness, and gives toddlers a real sense of achievement when they emerge from the other side.

Why it helps

NHS physical activity guidelines for under-5s recommend at least 180 minutes of activity a day, emphasising that all types of movement — including rolling and crawling — contribute to healthy development. Crawling through enclosed spaces strengthens core stability and bilateral coordination, which support walking confidence. Navigating in and out of the tunnel builds spatial awareness and body schema — the internal map children develop of where their body is in space.

Variations

  • Use cardboard boxes with both ends open for a sturdier tunnel.
  • Place toys at the exit end as motivation to crawl through.
  • Make the tunnel longer by adding more chairs and blankets.

Safety tips

  • Ensure the blanket is securely draped and won’t collapse on your child.
  • Stay at the exit end so your child can see you and feels reassured.
  • Use chairs with no sharp edges or protruding parts at crawling height.

Want to try another?

Demolition Tower Challenge

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