Our Prize Sponsors

Marbles

Engagement Time

15 - 20 minutes

Marbles is designed to improve your little one’s hand eye co-ordination skills and ability to aim correctly while judging the level of force required to hit the required mark.

Materials Required

Marbles - 13 plus one shooter per player.

Method

Marbles is one of those ancient games which has stood the test of time due to the very limited resources it requires and the love of children to compete with each other. Due to the longevity of its history the rules are fairly open to interpretation but as a generalisation each child must take it in turns to try to knock marbles out of the circle.

This version has been simplified to account for the limited dexterity and young children desire to play with as few rules as possible. To begin the game 13 marbles are placed in a cross in the centre of the circle. Your little one will then need to place their shooter marble on the outside of the circle and push or flick it into the centre of the ring. Any marbles which are knocked out become the property of the roller. The player then removes their shooter and the next person has their turn. The winner is the person who knocks out the most marbles.

Extension
Once you and your little one have mastered this simplified version of marbles you may wish to find out more about the history of the game or variations to the rules on the internet.

This activity develops skills in these areas:

Add your comments and feedback below

Activities for Kids

Cooking Recipes

Measuring, weighing, and calculating cooking times offer real world mathematical applications that your kids will love. View our top recipes and remember to add your own ideas in the space provided.

Excursions

Getting out of the house with small children can sometimes be a challenge, but with the right planning, you can build memories to last a lifetime. Even a walk around the block can be a discovery adventure as there a so many things young children can experience for the first time.

Make and Do Games

For fun out of the sun (or sleet and rain), Make and Do activities offer children 'doing' activities where they get to paste, stick, cut out, and colour. View our huge selection of Make and Do activities and don't forget to post your own suggestions beneath your favourites.

Travelling Games

When you are travelling further afield than the corner store, chances are you will have children in a car, train, plane or boat that need entertaining. View our fun, family friendly learning activities here.

Whole Day Games

Make a play date with your children that lasts the whole day. Find lots of ideas here - one is bound to be a hit. Don't forget to share your experiences in the space provided beneath activity suggestions.