DIY Toy: Cup & Ball Game
Challenge your child with this DIY version of the classic Cup & Ball game. The game is also played throughout the world. It’s known by many names: Boliche in Spain, Balero in Latin America, Bilboquet in France, Kendama in Japan, and Bilbocatch in England.
Materials
Directions
Let your child cover the outside of the yogurt cups with 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 the 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.
(For adults only) 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.
Ask your child if he would like to add a little washi tape to the skewer to make it more colorful.
Now it’s time to play! The object of the game is to gently swing the ball up and into the cup. It's tricky, so let your child know that it might take many tries before he can get the ball into the cup. Here’s a tip: Tell your child not to swing it too quickly or the string will get wound up around the skewer.
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