Stations for Kids' Gymnastics: Ideas, Session Plan and Station Cards

The key points at a glance:

Stations for kids' gymnastics combine balancing, climbing, jumping and throwing in a single session.
Plan at least four to six stations to keep waiting times short and avoid frustration.
Station cards with symbols and short tasks give children orientation and independence.
Safety, age-appropriate equipment sizes and a clear supervision ratio are the foundation of every session.
Soft foam building blocks flexibly complement classic equipment such as gym benches, hoops, vaulting boxes and mats.

Stations for kids' gymnastics are one of the best ways to offer children lots of different movements in a single session. Instead of one long exercise, every station offers new experiences, clear tasks and small challenges. That keeps the urge to move going, every child gets plenty of turns and nobody has to stand in line for long.

Whether in daycare, at a sports club, in elementary school or at home: with a good selection of equipment, materials and soft foam building blocks for preschool, you can create movement landscapes that support coordination, strength and imagination. In this post you will find ideas, a ready-made session plan, station cards as a template and practical tips for setup, safety and cleaning.

What to expect in this post

A quick overview of kids' gymnastics and the idea behind stations
Benefits of station-based sessions for children's development
Planning, setup and structure of a gym session
Concrete stations for balancing, climbing, jumping and throwing
Station cards with templates, design and use in practice
Safety, equipment list, cleaning and storage
A sample 45-minute session with three rotation rounds

Quick overview of kids' gymnastics and stations

Kids' gymnastics is a varied movement program for children aged roughly 3 to 12. It covers crawling, running, jumping, climbing and balancing, and so lays the foundation for many further skills in PE class and everyday life.

Stations group individual exercises at fixed spots in the gym. Children rotate through the stations in small groups, try out different forms of movement and collect lots of small successes in a short time. This works in daycare, at sports clubs, in elementary school PE and, with a little imagination, at home too.

Why use stations in kids' gymnastics

Stations specifically support motor development, because every task has a clear learning goal such as balance, jumping power or hand-eye coordination. Motor skills form the basis for many other skills in children, so the effort pays off twice. If you want to dig even deeper, you will find plenty of creative movement landscapes for kids' gymnastics for inspiration.

Motivation: Children experience several small successes in a short time.
Social skills: In small groups, kids help each other.
Variety: Different forms of movement keep the urge to move alive.
Movement promotion: Every child is on the move almost the whole time.

Through movement experiences, children explore their environment, develop self-confidence and improve their concentration. Obstacles, wobbly bridges and tunnels become a school for life.

Planning and setting up stations

Before you get started, define a clear learning goal for each station. A balance station needs different materials than one for throwing games. Plan at least four to six stations per session so that waiting times stay short. For the basic structure, it is worth taking a look at proven ideas for movement landscapes in preschool, which you can adopt directly for your stations.

Group size: 3 to 5 children per lane is ideal.
Rotation time: 6 to 10 minutes per station, then switch on a whistle or a song.
Placement: Arrange the stations so that you can see all areas at a glance.

💡 Tip: Put the most challenging stations in the middle of the session. By then the children are warmed up but not yet tired.

Balance stations for kids

Balancing trains equilibrium, core tension and concentration. A simple setup consists of two upturned gym benches, a few walkways made of flat vaulting box sections and a narrow rope on the floor.

Offer different widths so that every child finds a suitable version. Secure the station with gym mats on the left and right. If they like, kids can balance forwards, backwards or with a small sandbag on their head.

Climbing and swinging stations for kids

Climbing and swinging need sturdy fastenings. Keep a distance of at least two meters from the next station and always place a landing mat under the structure.

⚠️ Important: Check all screws, hooks and carabiners before every session. With beginners, you give spotting support right at the station and stand ready at the side.

Tunnel, crawling and movement stations

A simple tunnel can be made from two gym benches covered with a blanket. Large hoops set up one behind the other also make a great crawling tunnel. If you are looking for even more inspiration, these obstacle course ideas for kids offer many variations to build yourself.

Check stability before every use, because loose vaulting box sections are one of the most common sources of danger. For younger preschoolers, plan shorter routes so they can see the end.

Jumping and throwing stations

For the jumping station, lay out a landing mat as a landing zone and mark the take-off area with tape. Vary the height so that all kids find suitable challenges.

For throwing games, clear target markers help: hoops on the floor, buckets at different distances or small fields with points. That way children train accuracy and jumping power almost incidentally.

Creative station with XXL foam blocks for preschool

At a free creative station, children build whatever they imagine. Soft foam building blocks such as the XXL building blocks from RIWI® buildit are ideal for this: they are big, light and harmless if they topple over.

Tested by TÜV Austria (certificate ZSTS/APZE/1486) and tested for harmful substances: A safe choice for children who work with their hands and feet.
CertiPUR-certified foam
Versatile: Castles, walls, bridges or entire obstacle courses are possible.
Easy to care for: With washable velour or faux leather covers, you are quickly ready to go again after messes, instead of sending them to a car wash.

This station is also a good element for singing and movement sessions if you play music alongside it.

Cooperative game stations for preschool groups

Include partner or team tasks in which two children carry a hoop together or master a wobbly bridge made of vaulting box sections, fitness bands and mats. Add communication tasks, such as calling out commands or giving hand signals. That turns the gym session into a little school for social skills.

Station cards: templates, design and use

Station cards show children at a glance what to do at each station. They save you explanation time and give kids confidence.

Every card should contain:

Content	Example
Name of the station	"Wobbly bridge"
Symbol or photo	Icon with bench and arrow
Task in 1 to 2 sentences	"Balance forwards across the bench."
Time	"8 minutes per lane"
Note	"Spotting possible"

Examples of station cards

Card 1 Balance: Name "Walkways", symbol bench, task "Balance to the other side. Variation: backwards."
Card 2 Jump: Name "Jumping field", symbol hoop, task "Jump from hoop to hoop."
Card 3 Throw: Name "Bullseye", symbol ball in bucket, task "Throw three bean bags into the target."

Laminate the cards or slip them into sheet protectors and they will last for many sessions.

Safety, supervision and age adjustment

Safety always comes first in kids' gymnastics. That is why all materials should be sturdy and child-friendly. Avoid sharp edges and unsecured heights.

Safety check before every session: Check screws, padding and mats.
Supervision ratio: In preschool 1 adult per 5 to 6 children, in elementary school 1 to 10.
Age adjustment: Adapt equipment sizes and difficulty to the age group to avoid overwhelming children.
Emergencies: Keep a first aid kit and a notice sign with the emergency number and the facility's email address clearly visible.

Equipment list, cleaning and storage

A solid basic set includes:

Gym benches and gym mats
Hoops, balls, bean bags and fitness bands
Vaulting boxes and box sections in several sizes
Landing mats and small cushions
Soft blocks for free building play and obstacle courses

Clean foam materials with a damp cloth and mild cleaner. Put covers in the wash from time to time. Rolling boxes, hanging nets and narrow wall shelving systems are well suited for storage.

Sample session with station sequence

A proven structure for 45 minutes:

10 minutes warm-up: Running games or movement to music and a song.
3 rotation rounds of 10 minutes each: Balance, climbing, and jumping or throwing.
5 minutes reflection: In a sitting circle, kids share what they enjoyed most.

That way every child gets movement, small successes and a clear finish.

Buying recommendations and products for stations

For many stations, classic equipment such as gym benches, mats and hoops is enough. In addition, set sizes of XXL foam building blocks are worthwhile, because with them you can always build new obstacles, walls and obstacle courses. Matching velour covers are practical for extra grip and a cozy feel.

If you are planning for a club, daycare or elementary school, you benefit from free EU shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee. That way you can test in peace whether the selection works for your group.

FAQ: Common questions about stations for kids' gymnastics

From what age are movement landscapes suitable?

From around age 3. At this age the tasks are kept simple; later, obstacles, height and speed are increased.

How many children per station make sense?

3 to 5 children per station work best. That way every child stays active, waiting times are short and you can keep an eye on everyone.

How many stations do I need for one session?

At least four to six stations, so that children get their turn often. The bigger the group, the more stations.

How do I clean foam building blocks?

With a damp cloth and mild cleaner. Wash covers regularly. Putting them straight through a car wash is not necessary and not recommended.

What equipment belongs in a basic set?

Gym benches, gym mats, hoops, a vaulting box, bean bags, balls and a set of soft foam building blocks are enough for many play ideas.

Stations for kids' gymnastics are more than just an item on the program; they are a tool for development, fun and community. With good planning, suitable equipment and clear station cards, every session succeeds, from preschool to elementary school.

If you want to flexibly expand your movement landscapes, take a look at the XXL building block sets in the RIWI shop. With them you can build new obstacle courses, tunnels and creative stations in just a few minutes, which children discover again and again.

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