Chestnut Marble Run: The Rainy-Day Trick Using 3 Cardboard Tubes (Ages 2+)

One chestnut, three cardboard tubes, one door – and you have a ball run that can keep little ones busy all afternoon. Tried and tested in daycare, suitable for ages 2 and up.

What you need:

• Empty cardboard tubes (paper towel/toilet paper rolls)
• Painter’s tape (leaves no marks)
• A bowl and a handful of chestnuts

How to do it:

1. Build: Tape the tubes to the door or wall at an angle, slightly offset and always sloping downward, with the bowl at the bottom.

2. Play: Drop a chestnut into the top – rumble, rumble, plop!

3. Change it up: Make the track longer, add a switch or a target cup – hands-on physics for little explorers.