A text by Verena (Stapelstein)
The versatility of Stapelstein® elements provides the ideal foundation for endless play ideas. Whether rolling balls, building, climbing, jumping, drumming, stacking, or balancing – playing with these elements promotes both children's physical and mental development. Combined with GRIMM'S' colourful wooden shapes, they create a universal play concept that stimulates the imagination and invites new, exciting challenges.
From experimental ball runs to movement-intensive obstacle courses – here, children can unleash their creativity and continually create new play worlds. The collaboration between these two brands demonstrates that open-ended play is especially fun and, at the same time, strengthens endurance, creative thinking, self-expression, and problem-solving skills. GRIMM'S x Stapelstein® is an invitation to create their own world and live completely in the moment.
Have fun playing, rolling, and building. Let the following 10 play ideas inspire you and discover the endless possibilities.
Photo by @friedalovesemil
Hits – Basic game of skill
Place a Rolling Disc in a Stapelstein® Original element and try to roll the identically sized ball into the hole as quickly as possible using skillful hand movements, such as tilting or turning. For an additional challenge or to create a ball run, you can place small wooden GRIMM'S figures on the Rolling Disc. Make sure the figures stay upright while rolling and that the ball is skillfully guided around them. The Rolling Disc also has small additional holes. You can decorate these with straws, flowers, or other decorative elements. They also serve as additional obstacles that the ball must overcome on its way to the hole.
Tip: To make the game more dynamic, use an hourglass or the “Sense of Time” tool from our Stapelstein® app Inspire to challenge yourself in a race against time.
Ball balance course
Build an exciting obstacle course using Stapelstein® elements and everyday objects such as chairs, tables, stools, or a clothes rack. Place a Rolling Disc and its matching ball into a Stapelstein® Original element. Your task: Balance the ball safely through the course without it falling into the hole. Overcome obstacles, climb over barriers, or deftly jump from one point to the next while the ball always stays in the Stapelstein® element. Test out different Rolling Discs and balls: Which combination works best for you? Which is the most challenging?
Tip: Use an hourglass, an alarm clock or the “Sense of Time” tool in the Stapelstein® app Inspire to master the course against the clock and challenge yourself or others.
Photo by @maximalmaxi_
Rolling billiards
Choose a Stapelstein® Original element and place the Rolling Disc with the largest hole into it. Choose three different coloured balls and determine the colour order in which the balls should roll into the hole – for example: first the red ball, then the yellow ball, and finally the orange ball.
Other variants:
1. Variation with sizes: Try the game with balls of the same size and increase the challenge by using balls of different sizes. Can you still keep the order?
2. Vary the playing field: Add straws or flowers to the additional small hole for an additional challenge. Can you still maintain the order?
3. Time Challenge: Measure the time it takes to roll all the balls into the hole in the correct order.
4. With friends: Take turns and see who can complete the sequence the fastest or with the fewest attempts.
This game combines skill and concentration and is a lot of fun – whether played alone or in a group!
Ball transport
For this game, you'll need a partner. Together, select a Rolling Disc with the matching ball and place it in a Stapelstein® Original element. Hold the element firmly by the sides and place the ball inside. Now it gets exciting: Transport the ball from one side of the room to the other by skillfully balancing the element – without letting it fall into the hole! This requires teamwork and a good sense of balance.
How far can you get without losing the ball? And can you maybe even complete an obstacle course?
Musical rolling
Discover the world of sound of the wooden balls in the Stapelstein® Original Elements! Place one or more balls in an element and begin to set the balls in motion by gently rolling, tilting, or rotating them. Listen to the different sounds created by the combination of speed, direction of movement, and ball size.
Experiment with speed
• How does the sound change if you let the ball roll slowly or quickly?
• Movements: Create rhythms by alternately tilting or create smooth tones by continuously rotating.
• Combinations: Put several balls in at the same time – how do they sound together?
Create your own rhythm – let your creativity run wild and make music with movement!
Rock & Roll
It's helpful to have a helper for this game. Place a Rolling Disc in an Original element, stand on the edge of the Original, and find your balance. Once you're stable, the second person places the ball that fits the hole into the original. Maintain your balance on your element while trying to keep the ball moving by deliberately rocking, tilting, circling, or even rolling it into the hole in a controlled manner without losing your balance. For added safety, hold on to a wall, the hands, or the shoulders of the person helping you. This game not only trains your balance but also coordination.
Variant for experienced users:
Stand on a Stapelstein® Board and try to keep your balance. Now hold the Original element with a Rolling Disc and matching ball in your hands and try to get the ball into the hole while balancing. Tip: Increase the challenge by trying different directions of movement, letting the ball roll in a pattern, or extending the duration of your balancing position.
Creating imaginative play worlds
Bring your Stapelstein® elements, Rolling Discs, and balls to life and create imaginative playscapes! Transform the balls into figures that experience exciting adventures, for example, and build a world full of possibilities from the elements.
Examples of scenes:
• Play kitchen: Turn the Stapelstein® elements into pots and the Rolling Discs into matching lids – creating the most delicious imaginative meals in no time.
• A Boat Trip: Stack an element upside down like a boat and let the balls glide across the "sea" as passengers. Waves and obstacles can be represented by gently tilting or rocking the boat.
• A Cave Expedition: Use the elements to build a cave for the balls to roll through. They might find treasure or have to avoid traps.
Tip: Complement the play worlds with additional materials, cloths, or natural materials like stones, twigs, or the diverse wooden utensils from GRIMM'S to bring your story to life even more. Tell a story to go with it—there are no limits to your imagination!
Photo by @maximalmaxi_
Mission Colour Run
Place the Rolling Discs with matching balls into differently colored Stapelstein® elements and distribute them around the room. Each colour represents a specific task. Run to an element, perform the corresponding task, and then quickly move on to the next element.
Examples of colour tasks:
• Blue: “Roll the ball 5 times in a circle on the Rolling Disc without sinking the ball in the hole.”
• Red: “Roll the ball into the hole as quickly as possible using only your feet/elbows.”
• Yellow: “Place the ball in the Original and let it fall into the hole 3 times.”
• Green: “Roll a ball on a rolling disc while holding the element upside down.”
Tips for other variations:
1. Race against time: Use an hourglass, an alarm clock or the “Sense of Time” tool from the Stapelstein® app Inspire and try to complete all tasks as quickly as possible.
2. With partners: Play alternately or simultaneously and see who completes the tasks faster.
3. Create your own tasks: Think of creative new tasks that match the colour of the elements and expand the game!
Rolling dance
Place a ball into a Stapelstein® Original element. Hold the element firmly with both hands and dance your way through the room. Your challenge: The ball must not fall out of the element!
This makes it varied:
• Vary your movements: Try different dance steps – spinning, hopping, tiptoeing, horse-like gallops or elegant lunges.
• Adjust your speed: Alternate between slow, flowing movements and fast, energetic steps.
• Test your balance: Try balancing the element on one hand or switching it from one hand to the other while dancing.
Tip: It's twice as fun with your favorite music!
