Marble mazes can be serious business. Take, for instance, Marble Madness, the classic video game in which you guide a virtual marble through a tricky virtual maze. This game was addictive because it was so tough: obstacles included ice patches, marble munchers, and acid pools, and it was rare for anyone to reach the final level.
Perhaps it's best to start with a more accessible marble set: The Q-Ba-Maze Marble Run 92-Piece Set by Mindware is designed to be simple enough for a 5-year-old to construct, and the steel marbles always reach the bottom. Because Q-Ba-Maze pieces stack and lock together, kids can build impressively intricate sculptures which all work as marble mazes - animals, geometric shapes, towers, buildings, and more. There are three kinds of Q-Ba-Maze pieces:
- Bottom-exit cubes: the marble goes through one large hole in the bottom, adding to downward momentum.
- Single-exit cubes: the marble goes through a hole in the side, adding to sideways momentum in only one direction.
- Double-exit cubes: the marble can go through two different side holes - which way will they go?
Along with creating the prettiest marble runs possible, kids can experiment with basic physics concepts by testing the effects of different Q-Ba-Maze configurations. The pieces are made with a clear polycarbonate resin that gives elaborate structures a nifty look that's reminiscent of stained glass. And building Q-Ba-Maze Marble Runs is a great activity for families to do together, too! Recommended for ages 5 and up; includes 72 cubes and 20 steel balls.
WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD - Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.
