They have been around for a long time, yet children find them as fascinating as their ancestors! Here are 5 new ways to play with marbles!
Marble Maze
Turning your table into a marble maze is easy! All you need is Washi Tape and your marbles. You have to create it by letting your imagination run wild, the possibilities are endless. During the activity, your child will have to use both hands, it's a lot of work on motor skills and hand-eye coordination! With a flick, he will have to cross the maze and with his other hand slow down the ball at the end so that it does not fall! It's time to work on concentration!
A work of art in a tissue box
Don't throw away your empty tissue box! Now is the time to turn it into a tool to create a work of art! Use the bottom of the box to make a template on a sheet of paper, trace the size of your tissue box and cut out the rectangular shape. Gently open the side of the box, insert the sheet and close it with adhesive tape. It's time to have fun! Your kids can dip the marbles in the paint and drop them into the top hole. They can shake the box in all directions to color the leaf hidden at the bottom. When you take it out, they will be able to discover their result! A word of advice, plan a few spare sheets, because children love this activity!
Miniature Petanque
Do you know petanque, maybe you don't know the exact rules, but it's so simple? Why not make it in miniature version? Basically, it's simple, you have to throw a small ball (the jack) on the ground and then with bigger balls, you have to, by throwing the balls, to get as close as possible to your jack. Whoever gets closest wins. To recreate it in miniature format, I advise you to use marbles, a carpet (to give the gravel effect of pétanque courts) and a small round object (the jack). Here is a video thatexplains petanque visually and fairly simply for beginners!
A foot massage
Do your children have dry little feet or need to relax before bedtime? Lather a small bucket of water with essential oils like lavender or chamomile and drop a few marbles in the bottom. Your child will be able to put his feet on it and make the balls move under his heels, his toes. Provide soft music and good warm stockings to maintain a soothing effect just after relaxation. It will feel like at the spa. Once the children go to bed,change the water to warm it again and get out that book you've been wanting to read for so long! It will be a great excuse to relax, you deserve it so much!
Science experiments
Do you have curious little ones who love science experiments? This is the time to have them test the weight of different objects. Get out, olive oil, baby oil, food coloring and let him discover how textures can throw off the rules of gravity. Have him test the different objects you take out in a glass of water and do some tests beforehand. Then add oil and watch how quickly a marble sinks to the bottom, a big block floats, a pom pom hangs in the center… Add food coloring so he can see the water change color. Close the lid, have him shake the container, wait for the particles to separate. Children always find this activity so pleasant and surprising. Do you have a younger child? Do this experiment in a bottle and then seal it well, you will have created a bottle of visual exploration for your baby at the same time!
