Do you need a great gross motor activity? This DIY Bean Bag Launcher is a great way to get kids moving indoors or outdoors.
Bean bag activities are a favorite around here, and I am so excited to share this DIY bean bag launcher tutorial from my friend Trisha. She has some of the best ideas ever!
Guest post by Trisha:
Every year my DDs school holds a fundraiser with different auction items that each class helps put together. This year our class made launchers and bean bags! This has got to be one of the easier DIY projects that my husband has built.
It’s a great gross motor activity, and what kid wouldn’t love to see their bean bag go flying up in the air!
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Make a Bean Bag Launcher
Materials:
- 1 or 2 pieces of pre-sanded pine, fir, or any other commonly available wood. These are available in 6’, 8’ or 10’ lengths. A hardware store is usually happy to cut them so they would fit into your vehicle. We wanted to make a few sets, so we went with an eight footer and made six.
- A short Piece of Handrail — the shortest unfinished piece at a hardware store that has a flat side. Again, a hardware store employee should be happy The handrail acts as a pivot. When you make the launcher, the flat side will be up against the launcher, and the curved part will rock along the ground or floor.
- Saw
- Drill or Self-Centering Screw Hole Punch
with a hammer - Sander (optional)
- Bean Bags
And little feet ready to stomp!
DIY Bean Bag Launcher
We made each board 32 inches long. A wise person once told me to measure twice, cut once. Although, this cut doesn’t have to be perfect.
Next, cut the handrail so that it is the width of your launching board. My husband used the 1×4 he measured and marked where to cut on the Handrail. The handrail already had a flat side making it easier to work with.
Once we decided where we wanted it (we put ours about 2/3rds of the length of the board) my husband predrilled and screwed it in place. It is not necessary to drill all the way through the handrail. Just make it far enough for the screw to enter.
If you would rather not use a drill, you can use a Self-Centering Screw Hole Punch
with a hammer
Now for the best part: test it out!
Not only is it fun to watch the bean bag fly up, you can also make a game out of it by either trying to catch it before it lands, guessing how high it will go, or guessing where it will land. My DD loved to stomp as hard as she could to see just how high she could get it to go.
Make two and you can stomp together, try to catch each other’s, or see who can get theirs to go the highest!
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