How to make a DIY Marble Run for young children - easy STEAM activity for toddlers

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Playing with a ball runs is the perfect STEAM activity for young children. Why not try making this easy one at home to get their brains whirring?

Making and playing with this game is great for developing attention and listening skills. The longer the ball run, the more you challenge their concentration.

You and your toddler will have hours of fun playing with this DIY ball run. Why not have a race with two balls and see who wins?

Watch the video below to see TV presenter Annie Price have a go with her son Sonny.

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How to make a ball run

Preparation time

This project takes up to 20 minutes, depending on how long you make it.

You will need:

Some cardboard tubes
Tin foil, or a few pieces of paper
Scissors
Sticky tape

1. Cut your cardboard tubes in half lengthways. The more tubes you cut up, the longer your run will be.

2. Create the balls by scrunching up a piece of paper or tin foil. You could also use a rolled up sock ball.

3. Stick the first pipe in the top corner of your fridge, the back of a door, or a wardrobe. Line up the pipes, end to end, in a downward pattern, so the ball will roll down.

Step 1: Cut up cardboard tubes lengthways.

Step 2: Create the balls by scrunching up a piece of paper or tin foil.

Step 3: Stick the first pipe in the top corner of a fridge, the door, or a wardrobe.

4. Place something like a bowl underneath the last pipe to catch the ball. Have a test with your ball and see whether everything works together.

5. Ready…steady…go! How quickly will the ball go down the track? You can take turns with one ball, or have a race with two.

Small balls can be a choking hazard, so make sure your ball is too big for a toddler to put in their mouth.

Keep an eye on your little one at all times during craft activities and playtime. Remember to keep small and sharp objects out of baby's reach.

Step 4: Place something like a bowl underneath the last pipe to catch the ball.

Step 5: Ready...steady...go! How quickly will the ball go down the track?

What is STEAM for toddlers?

STEAM is a type of learning style that focuses on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. It is often associated with older children and what they learn at school, but STEAM activities can be really beneficial for babies and toddlers too.

Kids start building STEAM skills from the day they're born, just by exploring the world around them and using their senses.

As they get older, they naturally incorporate STEAM into playtime. By playing with blocks, drawing pictures or making their own toys, they're gaining knowledge and discovering new things. This is the key part of STEAM education.

Even if your child doesn't understand the concepts yet, it's still great to introduce them from a young age. With this ball run activity, for example, your child is learning about the concept of gravity in a fun and interesting way.

The most important thing to remember is that your child learns best when they're having fun. So as long as you're chatting with them while you play and try our activities, they'll be picking up these concepts without noticing. It's not something you have to focus on specifically.