How to Make a Ski Ball Game Out of a Beverage Box

Rainy days and cold wintry weather are the archenemy of parental sanity when they trap children indoors for long stretches. Most parents find that their ideas for activities to occupy the little ones run out quickly in the face of a long winter break. The following project is easy to make, will help occupy the children while making it and for hours after it is completed.

The project involves using inexpensive materials such as a beverage box, tennis balls, a mat or a board and books or other materials with which to support the ramp to make a ski ball game reminiscent of the ones you might find at chuck e cheeses or a carnival. You can also use optional materials such as crayons, paints, markers, stickers or other items with which to decorate the beverage box and ramp.

Begin by obtaining a large beverage box. You can easily find these boxes for free if you inquire at a grocery or liqour store. Most employees of these establishments will be happy to simply give you some of these boxes. You will need a box that has intact cardboard dividers meant to stop beverage bottles from colliding and breaking. With these dividers in place you will have multiple sections to roll tennis balls into.

If you would like you may decorate the box at this time. This is a great way to keep children occupied. Encourage them to customize the box by coloring, painting it or adding stickers. Once the children have finished decorating the box use a permanent black marker to write a point value on the bottom of each section of the box.

You may also decorate the board or mat that you plan to use as a ramp, provided the decorations do not interfere with the balls rolling. Flat stickers, crayons and thin layers of paint should work well for this purpose.

Allow both the box and the ramp to try if you have chosen to decorate it. Next you will need to use books or other objects to prop the beverage box forward at a ninety degree angle. Two large books under the side of the box you have lifted up along with four large books in front to lean the box against should work well. Feel free to adjust this for the size of your box.

Next place your mat or board with one end on top of the books in front of the box. If done correctly this will make a nice ramp for you to roll the tennis balls up and in to the box. You can also use golf balls, but I have found that using them can cause more accidents than if you were to use tennis balls.

Now your home ski ball is game is ready for use. This project is also great for keeping many children occupied at slumber, birthday or holiday parties. You can allow each child to personalize their own box, and then demonstrate the set-up with just one box. You can let the children play to their hearts content with the ski-ball game that you have set up. They can then take their box home and set up their own game.