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Online MARKETPLACE for sustainable lifestyles


Ball & Marble Runs at Greenpicks

Ball runs and marble runs playfully promote childlike skills

Ball and marble runs are one of the oldest toys for children (and adults) and are gladly chosen by godparents and grandparents as a present for the 1st to 4th birthday or for Christmas. They combine the fun of playing with curiosity and the spirit of discovery and useful learning effects that playfully promote the development of children. Ball runs can be made of wood or plastic and depending on the model include accessories such as water wheel, screw, seesawing, ramps, swirls and additional rails. They are aimed at different age groups, virtually from 1 to 99, because in addition to toddlers, adults who are interested in mechanics and movement are also fascinated by ball runs.

Wooden ball tracks made of wood from certified forestry

Toy manufacturers that consider environmentally friendly aspects in the production of ball runs use wood from responsibly managed forests. This is why wooden marble runs bear the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) seal for forest certification systems. In addition, wood is a robust natural material, so that – characterized by long durability – wooden marble runs can be passed on even years later to younger siblings. Wooden ball runs are often natural, while accessories such as balls, cars and other rolling elements come in bright colours. Of course, the colours are solvent-free and water-based or come from natural plant pigments. This is good to know for parents because toddlers like to put things in their mouths. In this context, also the well-intentioned hint that marble runs should not be used unattended by children, since they contain small swallowable parts, depending on the version.

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Marble runs made of recyclable bioplastics

According to the Greenpicks sustainability criteria, plastic ball runs are manufactured on the basis of renewable resources or recycled materials. This means bioplastics. For this purpose, organic materials such as e.g. corn. Bioplastics, like recycled plastics, are tested for harmful pollutants and contain no plasticiser, no bisphenol A and B and no phthalates. Like wood, bioplastics can also be recycled at the end of their useful life. But maybe even the children and their parents have new ideas, how a marble run can turn into an upcycled object that has a meaningful use at home.

Eco educational toys: trial and error lead to success

The various components of a ball run can be easily assembled and easily combined with each other, so that innumerable possibilities and variations arise. As manifoldly as the construction sets are, so varied are the learning effects for children. Before wooden balls, figures, small cars or airplanes pass loops and run down the rails, the educational toys are examined intensively. Children learn to know different colours and shapes. When the actual construction of the marble run begins, different skills and the development of the children are trained. Specifically, the children's toys support the following areas of perception:

  • Training of hand-to-eye coordination
  • Fine motor skills
  • Improvement of skills
  • Cognitive thinking
  • Training of concentration, logic and stamina
  • Development of creativity and imagination
  • building self-esteem and self-confidence by trial and error
  • Social skills in interaction with other children
  • Understanding of complex relationships

Therefore ball and marble runs are used in kindergartens, day care centers, medical practices and with occupational therapists.

Free rolling for childlike ideas

For the free rolling of children's ideas, Greenpicks offers ball runs made of wood and bioplastics, which are geared towards sustainably oriented parents. Manufactured to ecological standards, the popular toys are for infants from 12 months, as well as for children from 2, 3, 4 years and older. So every age group can “keep it rolling”. With appropriate accessories the eco marble runs can be extended. New playful challenges arise without boredom. Virtually, the pedagogical added value is provided by the eco educational toy ball and marble runs.

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