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How to Make Your Own Ball-in-the-Cup Toys

The ball-in-the-cup toy is a children's toy with a history stretching back more than 400 years to Mexico. The goal of the game is to sling the ball into the air and up above the cup so that it lands in the cup. Two additional conditions are that the player must use only her "playing" arm to catch the ball in the cup and the ball cannot be bounced off of other objects, including the player's body, in order to change its direction. Though typically made of carved wood, a homemade version of the toy can be constructed out of everyday items around your house.

Things You'll Need

Stick
Plastic cup
Duct tape
Cyanoacrylate glue
Scissors
Small plastic ball

Instructions

- 1
  Smooth the stick by removing any twigs and leaves that stick out. You may need a small, sharp knife to saw these areas smooth.
- 2
  Cut the stick's length down to about 1 1/2 lengths of your hand.
- 3
  Cut a length of string that is about 2 1/2 times the length of your hand. Tie the string to one end of the stick. Tape the string down to further secure it to the stick.
- 4
  Tape or glue the string end of the stick to the bottom of the cup, centering the stick as much as possible.
- 5
  Cut a small hole into opposite sides of the ball with scissors.
- 6
  Thread the string through the holes then tape or glue the string to the side of the ball to secure it.

Childrens Toys