Today we are making a classic children’s toy: the Cup & Ball Game. It is played throughout the world and is known by many names: Boliche in Spain, Balero in Latin America, Bilboquet in France, Kendama in Japan and Bilbocatch in England where apparently it had a big fan in author Jane Austen! Whatever you call it, it’s a simple but challenging game that really tests hand-eye coordination. Our version is a variation of the classic design that uses some easy to find household items!
Materials:
- Yogurt cups
- 12” bamboo skewer
- Large round wood beads and a few small beads
- Yarn
- Scissors
- Hot Glue (Adults only)
- Colorful duct and washi tape (optional)
Instructions
- Cover the outside of your yogurt cups using colorful duct and washi tape.
- Pierce the bottom of the cup with the skewer.
- Cut a 12-inch piece of yarn and tie a small bead to one end of it. Thread the loose end of the yarn through the bottom hole in the yogurt cup.
- Tie your large wooden bead to the end of the yarn.
- Pierce the side of the yogurt cup with the skewer and thread it through the opposite side of the cup.
- Have an adult cut the sharp end of the skewer off and hot glue the end in place. You can also add a little hot glue to the yarn at the bottom of the cup to keep it secure.
- If desired add a little washi tape to the skewer to make it more playful looking
- Make sure the string is not too long or short.
- Don’t swing it too quickly or the string will get wound up around the skewer.
This is a great parent-child activity. Children can decorate the cups, adults can assemble the pieces and children and adults can play the game!
How to Play:
The object of the game is to gently swing the ball up and into the cup. It takes practice!
Tips:
SOURCE:http://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids/diy-toy-cup-ball-game/