Comments on: How to Play Marbles: Part 5

By: Spaghetti Box Kids

Spaghetti Box Kids — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 01:34:45 +0000

Sure thing. All the Best -AV

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:31:25 +0000

Thank you, thank you! All great ideas and I think he’ll be thrilled. Happy Father’s Day!

By: Spaghetti Box Kids

Spaghetti Box Kids — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 21:11:53 +0000

I would go about it in two ways. I would buy five or six dozen inexpensive common marbles from a web-site or toy store. Then I would buy a dozen or so older marbles from an antique store. The aesthetic appeal of the older marbles makes it well worth the trouble. If you find an antique store you like, then every time a holiday comes around you can add to the collection with a few hand picked marbles. (That’s a nice tradition to start).

Some people wonder if they should play with the “older” marbles? Absolutely! Those are the ones that get the best nicknames.

As for types–there’s three main sizes: marbles, boulders and jumbo boulders. Marbles are about as wide as your pinky. Boulders are about as wide as your thumb. Jumbo boulders are about as big as your thumb and forefinger when you curl them together to make a zero.

There’s also three main types: perry, cats eye and solid. Perries are clear see through glass of any color–kids love holding them up to the light and looking at their insides. Cat-eyes look like their name. Solids come in all colors and designs and are opaque in their finish (no light is reflected through them).

I wouldn’t worry too much about sets. Most games don’t require sets, and the ones that do–if you have enough variety, you’ll never have a problem. For instance, one player starts with five green marble, the other with five red marbles, etc.

Best of luck!

By: Karen

Karen — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:05:12 +0000

My husband is a marble enthusiast and I’d like to order a set from a good site. He played 40 years ago (if that helps) and my question is: what do I buy? How many is good to play with our kids? What kinds? Do certain kinds/colors, etc make a “set”? It’s a surprise, So I’m hoping you can help without me asking him too many questions. THANKS!!

By: Spaghetti Box Kids

Spaghetti Box Kids — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:16:24 +0000

Mark – That one was before my time. I was a marble enthusiast who played at the bus stop before school, at recess, after school, on Saturday afternoons and of course any old time on my living room floor. But I can’t say I remember that game. What is the general idea of the game?

By: Mark Bordsen

Mark Bordsen — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:10:25 +0000

I played a game 50 years ago that consisted of nine closely spaced holes in the ground, 3×3. If anyone played this game, I would appreciate your recall of the distances between the pots, and the distance from the throwing line. Thanks.

By: Spaghetti Box Kids

Spaghetti Box Kids — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:50:39 +0000

Thanks for the encouraging comment. Hope the games go well. Don’t forget to hold some of the clear, colorful ones up to the light–they’re a lot of fun to look at. All the Best. -AV

By: Mandy

Mandy — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:21:43 +0000

A friend whose a 2nd grade teacher recommended your site to me. Wow- you have so many ideas for a mother who is trying to keep her two children off of tv. I’ve been reading through your marble articles and am inspired to pick up some marbles and introduce these games in our household. Thank you for so many wonderful ideas all in one place!

By: Spaghetti Box Kids

Spaghetti Box Kids — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:42:28 +0000

You can find marbles at any toy store, and sometimes in the toy aisle of a general store. You can also find some unique older marbles from antique stores. Those always get your kids’ attention.

By: rosebelle

rosebelle — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 09:29:48 +0000

What a simple and marvelous game to strengthen kids focus! I’m reading this and already thinking where can I buy marbles. My eight year-old is now learning about polygons and the names of different triangles so the first game ties in with what she is learning nicely.