I made a (maths-practice) pinball machine out of cardboard ♻️

Esteban keeps asking me when the "coneyvirus" will be gone so he can go back to nursery school and play with his friends again. I don't have an answer for his question so instead I have been pushing myself to make his experience of life at home more interesting than ever, while demonstrating to him that with the right tools, pretty much anything can be created at home.

On his fifth birthday last week I quickly made this basic driving game, using one of my time-lapse motors to move the track.

He was very excited about this and enjoyed it very much, but his mind needs more these days and he tired of it quickly.

We had a flick through YouTube to find some inspiration and came up with the pinball machine together. I only need to know how things work to be able to repeat them in my own way, so I watched one film which explained the design before closing the computer.

Unlike ordinary pinball machines I have tailored this one to teach him some maths while he plays. Each time the ball passes certain places he must add points to his score board.

The goal is to get 300 points.

The sticks are worth 25 points each and he must move them from one side of the board to the other, one by one. I put the 'stopper' on the right flapper to make the game a little easier while he gets used to it. This also gives him time to figure out the maths without the ball dropping back to the start position.

The inside is a crazy mix of cardboard chunks, chopsticks, toothpicks, straws & rubber bands. All held together using a glue gun.

This morning Esteban & Luna had a go after breakfast.

I realise a video would be the best way to show you how great it works, so you're just gonna have to trust me. My video camera is collecting dust at the moment because my days are so full to the brim already with action!

It takes a deft touch to get the 50 points by going round the roundabout.

To get the 100 points he needs to use both left & right flappers with a little more force.

No question about it, concentration is required.

Soon he will be able to count in multiples of 25 with ease.

This is what he looked like just as he was about to complete the game.

I feel a pleasant sense of satisfaction watching him play, which really helps drown out the other darker feelings at this crazy time in human history.

While do I love this box and all the fun attached to it I am 100% ready to watch it get destroyed now! As is the way with such things. A timely reminder of the impermanence of everything.

Love & Light from the French Pyrenees.