5 Simple Grimm's Ball Runs You Can Build Today
Jennifer Buchholz (@jen.ma.bu) for Oskar's Wooden Ark | April 14, 2022
Are you wondering how to build a ball or marble run with your Grimm's Wooden Toys? Are you feeling a little overwhelmed by the very clever, but perhaps a little too complex ideas on social media? Would you like to know how to build a fabulously fun ball run with just a few Grimm's products?
My name is Jennifer, I‘m 40 years old and live with my family (my husband, my 6 year old daughter and 3 year old son) in Germany. Our passion for Grimm’s Wooden Toys started with a Christmas present from my parents to our son in 2019 - the Romanesque Building Set and it was love at first sight! We quickly fell down the 'wooden toy rabbit hole' and from then on have enjoyed open-ended play with the whole family, with ball runs becoming one of our favourites. I like to build ball runs as an invitation to play, but the kids are happy to help create the simple ball runs too. Simple ball runs work best for us - they don‘t break too quickly and can be fixed in no time which facilitates independent play. My children can fix the ball runs themselves, which also strengthens their self-confidence. There are less tantrums and more joy in playing. We hope you'll enjoy these 5 simple ball runs that we often build in our home using our Grimm's Wooden Toys.
1. 'Down the Rainbow Bridge' Grimm's Ball Run
You will need...
What to do...
Arrange the individual Rainbow Bridge pieces on a flat surface in descending height order, leaving approximately 5cm of space between each piece.
Lay the Building Boards in two columns down the length of the Rainbow Bridge arches, allowing approximately 1cm of space between the two columns for your ball to run down.
Let's get the ball rolling...
That's all you have to do to create a simple, yet functional ball run with only two Grimm's sets!
2. 'Rainbow House' Grimm's Ball Run
Step 1
Arrange your largest Stacking House on a flat surface, with the remaining pieces on their sides in descending size order, as pictured.
Step 2
Lay four of your Building Boards in a skinny V-shape, with the top of the V-shape opening up towards the smallest Stacking House piece.
Step 3
Arrange your Counting Rainbow pieces side-by-side in an upturned position in descending size order, using the Building Boards as support.
You're on a roll...
Behold! A colourful rainbow ball run! And how about that sound?!
3. 'Over-the-Top Rainbow' Grimm's Ball Run
Step 1
Assemble the blocks from your 1001 Nights Building Set as pictured above to create the base of your ball run.
Step 2
Place your Pastel Rainbow flush with the 1001 Nights Blocks you have just placed, with the four largest rainbow arches arranged in a series of steps.
Step 3
Arrange the remaining 1001 Nights Blocks on top of your existing structure as pictured, before placing a Building Board over the rainbow arches.
Get ready to lose your marbles...
Travel over the rainbow and into 1001 Nights of magic with this epic ball run creation!
4. 'Slip and Slide' Grimm's Ball Run
Step 1
Arrange the Rainbow Bridge pieces (excl. the largest red piece) in a small stepping formation before using blocks from the 1001 Nights Set to create the base of your ball run, as pictured.
Step 2
Position the largest Rainbow Bridge piece as a make-shift slide for the take off point for your ball run. You will need to use a couple of pieces from the 1001 Nights Set as support to hold the bridge piece in position.
Step 3
Arrange the Building Boards in a V-shape formation over the 1001 Night pieces, ensuring there are no gaps between the pieces, and also where it protrudes from the largest bridge piece.
Step 4
For a final touch to your ball run, add a couple of the Stepped Roofs pieces where the V-shape crevice of the Building Boards finishes. It will create a grand finale element for your ball to run down for that sweet sound!
Un-ball-lievably fun...
We have lost count of the number of times we have created this one. The red rainbow bridge gives the balls a lot more speed for take-off!
5. 'Stairway to Grimm's Heaven' Ball Run
Step 1
Arrange the selected pieces of your Large Stepped Pyramid using this picture as your guide. Then place two Stepped Roofs adjacent to the green LSP blocks.
Step 2
Arrange the Rainbow Bridge pieces upturned on top of the Large Stepped Pyramid blocks, descending in size. Ensure there are no gaps and it is balanced.
Step 3
Place the yellow Semi Circle on top of the three green Large Stepped Pyramid blocks, with the purple Counting Rainbow arch on top.
What a marble-lous creation ...
For an extra element, add one of the remaining arches of the Counting Rainbow to stop the balls from rolling away once it comes off the ball run.
GO HAVE A BALL!
Now that you have five new ideas to inspire your next ball run creation, it's time to get on a roll! Don't forget to share your Grimm's ball run fun with us on Instagram and Facebook, making sure to tag us @oskarswoodenark and @jen.ma.bu and using the hashtags #oskarswoodenark and #playthejenmabuway.
