The Viking Trials: 6 Fun Viking Challenges for Kids
Can You Earn Your Place Among the Vikings?
“Only the bravest, wisest and most skilful warriors could earn a place aboard a Viking longship. Today, it’s your turn! Complete all six Viking Trials to prove you have what it takes to become a true Viking Explorer.”
These Viking challenges for kids are designed to test strength, teamwork, creativity and problem-solving while having lots of fun.
At the end of the trials, award every participant a Viking name and a printable certificate to celebrate their achievement!
Before You Begin
To prepare for the trials you’ll need:
- Cardboard Viking shield. Find instructions on how to make one here 👉Viking Shield Craft
- Cardboard sword (optional)
- Painted rune stones (or paper runes). Click here for more info on Rune Stones and games 👉 Make Your Own Viking Runes
- Beanbags or rolled-up socks
- A homemade Viking boat. Find out how to make your own Viking board in this fun blog post👉Viking Longship Craft
- Your Legends of the 9 Realms card game (optional but recommended)
- Dice
- Challenge cards
- Passport and challenge tokens
Encourage children to dress up as Vikings if they have costumes or simply wear a homemade paper helmet and cloak.
You can get a copy of the Trial passport, challenge cards and challenge tokens plus your Viking certificate by subscribing to our newsletter below.
Trial One
🧠 The Trial of Wisdom
Every Viking needed knowledge as well as strength.
Can you read the ancient runes?
Challenge
Hide 8–10 rune stones around your house or garden.
Children must then find every rune, match each rune to the alphabet and decode a secret Viking message.
The secret message could be based on Norse Mythology such as Odin, Thor or Valhalla or something simple such as ‘Victory’ or ‘Well Done’.
You can create your own Rune Stones or use paper versions for this challenge. To help with the Rune Alphabet and ideas for more Rune Stone games, check out [insert blog post]
For Younger children
Simply match rune symbols to the alphabet.
For Older children
Make the challenge a little harder and have them decode a full sentence.
🏆 Complete this challenge to earn the Rune of Wisdom.
Trial Two
🛡️ The Trial of Courage
A Viking warrior always protected their friends.
Challenge
Create your own Viking shield.
Decorate it with:
- Dragons
- Wolves
- Ravens
- Viking knotwork
- Family symbols
Learn how to make your own Viking Shield in this helpful post.
Once finished…
Stand shoulder to shoulder and form a shield wall. Can your team stop soft beanbags (or rolled up socks) from getting through?
🏆 Earn the Shield of Courage.
Trial Three
🎯 The Trial of Skill
Every Viking needed excellent aim.
Challenge
Create a target. This could be as simple as a target drawn onto cardboard and stuck to the wall, or if you wanted a floor based target, draw chalk circles on the pavement outside, use hula hoops or tape to mark out your targets.
Next use beanbags, rolled up socks or velcro balls to throw at your target.
Point values:
⭐ Centre = 10
⭐ Middle = 5
⭐ Outer = 2
Everyone gets five throws.
🏆 Earn the Axe of Skill.
Trial Four
🚢 The Trial of Exploration
The Vikings explored huge parts of Europe.
Can your longship survive the journey?
Challenge
Build a Viking longship. Then race it! Take a look at [insert blog post] for instructions on how to build your longship.
Once you have build your ship, try racing it. You could just do it in the bath, a paddling pool or even a washing-up bowl. Blow through straws to create wind.
Variation:
See whose boat can carry the biggest cargo. Try adding coins to your ship to see which ship can carry the biggest load.
🏆 Earn the Explorer’s Oar.
Trial Five
⚔️ The Trial of Legends
Every Viking loved hearing stories of mighty heroes. Now it’s your turn to enter the legends!
Play a tournament using Legends of the 9 Realms.
Battle gods, giants, monsters and tricksters in a bid to become Champion of the Nine Realms.
🏆 Earn the Medal of Legends.
Trial Six
👑 The Final Trial
You’ve learned wisdom. You’ve shown courage. You’ve explored unknown lands.
Now one challenge remains…
Ragnarök Obstacle Course
Create an obstacle course inspired by the Nine Realms.
🔥 Jump over Muspelheim’s lava. (You could lay out red paper or fabric here or if playing outside, use chalk to draw on the floor)
❄️ Cross the icy lands of Niflheim. (Same idea as lava, lay out blue paper or cushion icebergs)
🌳 Crawl beneath Yggdrasil. (Climb under and over chairs)
🐍 Escape Jörmungandr. (‘Snake’ through a tunnel)
🛡️ Defend Asgard. (Complete an axe throw – use a beanbag or socks to use as axe)
Finish by finding Odin’s hidden treasure.
Every Viking who reaches the end earns their place among the crew!
🏆 Receive the Golden Viking Medal.
Congratulations!
You have completed all six Viking Trials! Now it is time to choose your Viking name.
Some examples or ideas you could use:
- Erik the Brave
- Astrid the Wise
- Freya the Fearless
- Bjorn the Bold
- Leif the Swift
Finish by presenting each child with a Viking Challenge Certificate.
🌳 Continue Your Viking Adventure
Congratulations, brave explorer!
You’ve trained like a Viking, learned about Norse mythology, built your own shield, raced your longship and completed the legendary Viking Trials.
But every great explorer knows that the adventure doesn’t have to end here…
Choose your next quest:
Bonus Game
🎲 Viking Dice Adventure
Looking for one more challenge?
Roll the dice, take a challenge card and complete the task! Keep going until every player has completed ten challenges.
Each dice roll (number) gives a challenge.
1️⃣ Row your longship around the room 5 times.
2️⃣ Write a message in runes.
3️⃣ Defeat a giant (sock toss).
4️⃣ Find hidden treasure. (Hide small paper or chocolate coins around the room for this)
5️⃣ Tell a Viking fact.
6️⃣ Draw another challenge card.
Who will become the Ultimate Viking?
More Viking Adventures…
If your young Vikings enjoyed taking on the Viking Trials, why not continue the adventure with some entertaining Viking stories and history? Horrible Histories: Vicious Vikings is packed with the funny, fascinating and sometimes rather gruesome facts that make history so memorable for children. For those who enjoyed the mythology and adventure side of the trials, Comic Strip Myths: Norse Myths, Monsters and Viking Voyages offers a colourful and visual way to discover more about Viking voyages and the legendary creatures and stories of Norse mythology.
🛡️ Continue the Adventure
Loved learning about the Vikings?
Take your child’s learning even further with the Viking Unit Study from Calm Household Studio.
✨ 46 printable pages
📖 Viking history & daily life
⚡ Norse mythology
🗺️ Maps & exploration
🎨 Creative activities
🧩 Educational games
🏆 Viking Explorer Certificate
Perfect for ages 7–11
👉 Explore the Viking Unit Study
If you like ancient history experiences…
I hope you enjoyed these Viking Challenges for kids! If your children enjoy history or general themed days, you may also enjoy the following adventures:
- Explore Ancient Greece through crafts, olympic games and food
- Become an Egyptian Pharaoh and build your own pyramid
- Travel to prehistoric times and dig for dinosaur bones with this dinosaur discovery day
- Looking for an outdoor adventure? Why not become Mountain Explorers for the day?
