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Fun With Marbles

Marbles attract kids of all ages. The colorful glass balls provide a number of entertainment opportunities. Many marble activities require only a few basic supplies, making them easy to do any time. Always supervise young children when playing with marbles, as they present a choking risk. Allow the kids to take the lead on the marble activities, experimenting with the materials to achieve different outcomes.

Marble Maze
- A marble maze or race track requires only a few materials but provides hours of fun. The idea is to create a continuous tube for the marbles to race down to the floor. Start with a chair or table as the highest point in the maze. Gather other objects around the house that gradually get lower. Examples include a foot stool, books or a trash can. Collect toilet paper, wrapping paper and paper towel tubes for the track. Use masking tape to connect the tubes, creating the pathway for the marbles. Use smaller lengths of tubes to create turns in the maze. Make it as long and intricate as the kids wish. Holes cut in the top of some of the tubes allow the kids to see the marbles as they progress through the tubes. Use the collected household items as a prop to hold up the maze at various intervals. Place the opening of the final tube into a bowl to catch the marbles. Release the marbles from the top and let them race to the bottom.
Marble Painting
- Marbles provide an implement for a distinct painting technique. Choose a shallow tray or round container. It will get paint on it, so choose an older container. A cardboard box also works well. Cut a piece of construction paper or card stock to fit on the bottom of the container. Pour a small amount of tempera paint on a paper plate. Drop a marble into the paint. Place it in the container lined with paper. Roll the marble around on the paper to create an abstract design. Repeat the process using different colors of tempera paint.
Marble Games
- A variety of marble games exist for entertainment options. Place a loop of thin string on the floor. Provide each player with a set of 10 marbles, using different colors for each player. Take turns shooting the marbles into the string loop from about three feet away, trying to knock out your opponent's marbles while keep yours in the loop. Adjust the distance as necessary to meet the developmental level of the participants. Determine who has the most marbles inside the string at the end of the round, awarding a point to that person. Continue playing for any number of rounds. The person winning the most rounds is the overall winner. Encourage the participants to create new versions of the game for further entertainment.

Kids Games