7 Creative Build Ideas using the CONNETIX Ball Run Pack

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PlayZone

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Ball Run Pack

Article

Build Ideas

Play Inspiration

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Baking Tray

Hexbugs

Lego

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Ball Run Pack

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7 Play Ideas for your Ball Run Pack﻿
CONNETIX Ball Runs are a beloved favorite in our home, inspiring endless creativity and joy. I’ve put together a list of 7 fun play ideas using the parts from just one CONNETIX 92 Piece Rainbow Ball Run Pack for you to try at home. From constructing intricate pathways to incorporating your everyday toys and kitchenware, each idea showcases the Pack’s versatility. These activities are easy to recreate and perfect for sparking imagination in kids aged 3 and up.
﻿
Here are my 7 exciting play ideas using the Rainbow Ball Run Pack ONLY!
﻿
1. Ball run on horizontal magnetic surfaces.﻿
Have you ever thought about using a baking tray or cookie sheet in combination with CONNETIX? This handy tool from the kitchen can be used in so many magnetic tile creations. Their magnetic properties make them a helpful tool for building structures like skyscrapers, twisting mazes, or even exciting ball runs! The raised edges keep the balls in place, ensuring a focused and uninterrupted ball run experience.
﻿
If you don’t have a baking sheet, don’t worry! Metal tables, desks, or shelves can also serve as an excellent base. For even more space, try using a magnetic board on the floor. With these versatile surfaces, you can let your imagination run wild and bring your ball run ideas to life in exciting ways!

2. Ball run on vertical magnetic surfaces.﻿If you don’t have a baking sheet, you can use the magnetic power of the tiles to find hidden steel in your walls, doors, or windows. Stick a magnetic tile to different parts of the wall to see if it sticks—it’s like finding hidden treasure! Once you find these magnetic spots, you can create ball runs using your walls. This trick adds fun and allows your ball run to be taller. It’s a cool way to use what you already have to make awesome creations! You can also use the steel garage door, raised garden beds, or playground equipment for bigger setups. Everyday items like refrigerators, heating radiators, or steel doors on shelves can also be used for building your ball run. There are lots of options to explore and have fun with!﻿

3. Ball Run play with Hexbugs.﻿Do you know about Hexbugs? They’re small, robotic insect toys that mimic real bugs. They come in different colors and models. We like to use Hexbugs in mazes made with the ball run pack—it’s one of our favorite activities. To make it simple for the hexbugs to crawl, keep the maze flat and with left or right turns only. With just the rainbow Ball Run Pack, you can create a big maze for Hexbugs using only one tube for each path. These Hexbugs mazes are entertaining for both kids and adults to watch. Their jittery movements and curious explorations make them fun to observe as they navigate through tunnels and spiral paths. Try starting a Hexbugs race for added excitement.﻿

4. Ball Run levels using furniture﻿Check this out: Did you know that you can transform any piece of furniture in your home into a part of your ball run? That’s right! Whether it’s your table, chair, bookshelves, or even low sideboards, they can all join in on the fun. Not only do they bring varying heights to your ball run, but they also add an extra layer of excitement. And the best part? Utilizing furniture allows you to see all the connecting squares and fluted tubes in your Ball Run Pack. It’s like turning your home into a giant playground!﻿

5. Ball run LEGO hack﻿Have you heard about the cool toy hack using magnetic tiles and LEGO Duplo bricks? Instead of using the connecting squares as support tiles, try using LEGO! They can also make your ball run taller and more stable because they add height difference. Plus, their fun colors match the tiles, making your build even more exciting!﻿

6. Sensory fun with your Ball Run﻿The Ball Run Pack isn’t just fun on its own — it’s great for sensory play too! This means it’s not only enjoyable but also a valuable learning tool, especially for preschool children. You can add more sensory experiences by including various scoops and bowls or change it up by using other sensory materials like sand, beads, pasta, and pompoms. (did you see how we used the baking tray from our first idea in this set up again?)﻿

7. Ball Run play with marbles and other small balls﻿Ball run play is not limited to just the wooden balls from the pack—you can also use marbles or wooden balls from other toys. While the pack’s wooden balls have a 3cm diameter, any small balls work for the ball run. Watching these balls and marbles roll through the variously shaped, transparent tubes from CONNETIX is a delight! The sight and sound of them in motion add an extra sensory layer of excitement to the play. As they navigate the intricate paths created by the fluted tubes, the ball run becomes a thrilling maze of twists and turns, offering endless entertainment for all involved.﻿

Having explored all seven play ideas for your rainbow ball run pack, I'm curious: which one do you plan to try out first?﻿﻿Share your CONNETIX play and learning with us today! We love seeing what you create. @connetix_tiles #connetix﻿

Written byLucy Giesbrecht

Lucy is a mom and content creator on Instagram, passionate about building big architectural structures with CONNETIX. She considers herself as an #adultswhoconnetix, and loves sharing play ideas, how-to-videos and her love for indoor gardening.

Tags

PlayZone

EducationHub

Ball Run Pack

Article

Build Ideas

Play Inspiration

Play Default

Baking Tray

Hexbugs

Lego

Hack

Vertical

Play Based Learning

Hands On Learning

Loose Parts

Technology and Design

STEM/STEAM

Lower Primary

Upper Primary

Ball Run Pack

cover_thumb:

7 Play Ideas for your Ball Run Pack﻿
CONNETIX Ball Runs are a beloved favorite in our home, inspiring endless creativity and joy. I’ve put together a list of 7 fun play ideas using the parts from just one CONNETIX 92 Piece Rainbow Ball Run Pack for you to try at home. From constructing intricate pathways to incorporating your everyday toys and kitchenware, each idea showcases the Pack’s versatility. These activities are easy to recreate and perfect for sparking imagination in kids aged 3 and up.
﻿
Here are my 7 exciting play ideas using the Rainbow Ball Run Pack ONLY!
﻿
1. Ball run on horizontal magnetic surfaces.﻿
Have you ever thought about using a baking tray or cookie sheet in combination with CONNETIX? This handy tool from the kitchen can be used in so many magnetic tile creations. Their magnetic properties make them a helpful tool for building structures like skyscrapers, twisting mazes, or even exciting ball runs! The raised edges keep the balls in place, ensuring a focused and uninterrupted ball run experience.
﻿
If you don’t have a baking sheet, don’t worry! Metal tables, desks, or shelves can also serve as an excellent base. For even more space, try using a magnetic board on the floor. With these versatile surfaces, you can let your imagination run wild and bring your ball run ideas to life in exciting ways!

2. Ball run on vertical magnetic surfaces.﻿If you don’t have a baking sheet, you can use the magnetic power of the tiles to find hidden steel in your walls, doors, or windows. Stick a magnetic tile to different parts of the wall to see if it sticks—it’s like finding hidden treasure! Once you find these magnetic spots, you can create ball runs using your walls. This trick adds fun and allows your ball run to be taller. It’s a cool way to use what you already have to make awesome creations! You can also use the steel garage door, raised garden beds, or playground equipment for bigger setups. Everyday items like refrigerators, heating radiators, or steel doors on shelves can also be used for building your ball run. There are lots of options to explore and have fun with!﻿

3. Ball Run play with Hexbugs.﻿Do you know about Hexbugs? They’re small, robotic insect toys that mimic real bugs. They come in different colors and models. We like to use Hexbugs in mazes made with the ball run pack—it’s one of our favorite activities. To make it simple for the hexbugs to crawl, keep the maze flat and with left or right turns only. With just the rainbow Ball Run Pack, you can create a big maze for Hexbugs using only one tube for each path. These Hexbugs mazes are entertaining for both kids and adults to watch. Their jittery movements and curious explorations make them fun to observe as they navigate through tunnels and spiral paths. Try starting a Hexbugs race for added excitement.﻿

4. Ball Run levels using furniture﻿Check this out: Did you know that you can transform any piece of furniture in your home into a part of your ball run? That’s right! Whether it’s your table, chair, bookshelves, or even low sideboards, they can all join in on the fun. Not only do they bring varying heights to your ball run, but they also add an extra layer of excitement. And the best part? Utilizing furniture allows you to see all the connecting squares and fluted tubes in your Ball Run Pack. It’s like turning your home into a giant playground!﻿

5. Ball run LEGO hack﻿Have you heard about the cool toy hack using magnetic tiles and LEGO Duplo bricks? Instead of using the connecting squares as support tiles, try using LEGO! They can also make your ball run taller and more stable because they add height difference. Plus, their fun colors match the tiles, making your build even more exciting!﻿

6. Sensory fun with your Ball Run﻿The Ball Run Pack isn’t just fun on its own — it’s great for sensory play too! This means it’s not only enjoyable but also a valuable learning tool, especially for preschool children. You can add more sensory experiences by including various scoops and bowls or change it up by using other sensory materials like sand, beads, pasta, and pompoms. (did you see how we used the baking tray from our first idea in this set up again?)﻿

7. Ball Run play with marbles and other small balls﻿Ball run play is not limited to just the wooden balls from the pack—you can also use marbles or wooden balls from other toys. While the pack’s wooden balls have a 3cm diameter, any small balls work for the ball run. Watching these balls and marbles roll through the variously shaped, transparent tubes from CONNETIX is a delight! The sight and sound of them in motion add an extra sensory layer of excitement to the play. As they navigate the intricate paths created by the fluted tubes, the ball run becomes a thrilling maze of twists and turns, offering endless entertainment for all involved.﻿

Having explored all seven play ideas for your rainbow ball run pack, I'm curious: which one do you plan to try out first?﻿﻿Share your CONNETIX play and learning with us today! We love seeing what you create. @connetix_tiles #connetix﻿

Written byLucy Giesbrecht

7 Creative Build Ideas using the CONNETIX Ball Run Pack

7 Play Ideas for your Ball Run Pack

1. Ball run on horizontal magnetic surfaces.

2. Ball run on vertical magnetic surfaces.

3. Ball Run play with Hexbugs.

4. Ball Run levels using furniture

5. Ball run LEGO hack

6. Sensory fun with your Ball Run

7. Ball Run play with marbles and other small balls

7 Play Ideas for your Ball Run Pack

1. Ball run on horizontal magnetic surfaces.

2. Ball run on vertical magnetic surfaces.

3. Ball Run play with Hexbugs.

4. Ball Run levels using furniture

5. Ball run LEGO hack

6. Sensory fun with your Ball Run

7. Ball Run play with marbles and other small balls

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