Ball and Cup

My favourite crafts to do with the kids are the ones that are functional. As a mom, I too have piles of drawings, collages and other craft projects my kids have proudly presented me. Most of them, after a short tenure on the fridge end up in a drawer, or God forbid, the recycling.

I like this project a lot. Our beaver scout leader was planning an evening with an international theme. I searched the Web looking for something like the wooden tops my father-in-law brought back from Mexico. I saw a picture of Mexican toys including the top. What inspired my Krafty Mom "ah ha" moment was the ball and Cup. You know the one, a cup on a stick and a ball on a string. There has got to be a way to make it with a bunch of 5 - 7 year olds.

Here's what you need:

Craft or popcycle stick
Plastic cup
Duct tape
String
Ping pong ball
Scissors

Place the craft stick along side of the cup, leaving enough for a comfortable handle. Attach together with the duct tape. Use multiple colours of duct tape to decorate as desired.

At the bottom of the cup, create a small hole and thread the string through. The string should be about 24 inches, but exact measurements not necessary. Knot the string and tape to the bottom of the outside of the cup. Tape the ping pong ball to the other end. Start your hours of fun. Swing the ball towards the cup to catch it. Repeat.

Incident, my kids loved tossing the ball back and forth and catching it in the cup.  A great game for camp, birthday party or just because.