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How to Make a Maze for Kids

A maze is a type of puzzle where players enter a pathway and must find the exit. Interconnected paths are placed before the player either two-dimensionally or in a three-dimensional fashion. The player decides which way to go but may find a wall rather than the right path. To make your own simple maze for kids, you can create a marble maze from wood, nails and rubber bands. Kids can create their own changeable designs with the rubber bands and tilt the board to move their marbles.

Things You'll Need

11 1/4-inch square pieces of wood
Pencil
Ruler
Paint in different colors
Paint brush
Hammer
49 1 1/2-inch roofing nails
Protective spray
Rubber bands
3 marbles

Instructions

- 1
  Draw out a grid of 1 1/2-inch squares with a 1-inch border on your wood with a pencil and ruler. Mark each intersection with a dot for hammering in the 49 nails.
- 2
  Hammer each dot you marked in the grid's intersections. Make only a small hole with a few taps. You will be nailing the final nails after your paint the grid.
- 3
  Paint each square on your wooden grid with your desired colors using paint and paint brushes. Paint one square near the center a special color for the goal or exit of the maze. Allow it to dry completely at least 24 hours.
- 4
  Hammer the final nails into each intersection, where you already tapped small holes. The nails should be exposed approximately 1 inch from the wood so you can wrap the rubber bands around them.
- 5
  Wrap the rubber bands around the middle of the nails starting with the outside nails first. Stretch rubber bands on enough nails so the rubber bands are taut.
- 6
  Wrap more rubber bands in the interior of the maze to create the pathways. Experiment with different formations and openings to get to the exit square. Drop your marble in and tilt the board to move the marble.

Kids Games