Kids and catapults are a winning combination — and it’s even more fun when you build your own from a few simple, edible materials like marshmallows! Once it’s built, you can start target practice straight away. Here’s how to make a catapult for kids using marshmallows.
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We loved this idea of making catapults from marshmallows that we spotted on It’s Always Autumn, so we set our son and his pal the challenge of recreating it — all in the interest of research (and marshmallows, of course!). It turned out to be the perfect way to pass a few hours on a rainy day.
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How to Make a Catapult for Kids Using Marshmallows
What You Need
You’ll need these things for each catapult you make:
- 4 marshmallows
- 7 wooden skewers
- 1 elastic band – we used loom bands, which worked perfectly and gave a nice long trajectory thanks to their tension
- Sticky tape
- 1 plastic spoon
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What To Do
1. Firstly, form a triangle using 2 wooden skewers and 3 marshmallows – we found you need to push the skewers in quite firmly for stability.
2. Lay this triangle on the table, then use 3 more skewers and 1 marshmallow to form a pyramid.
3. Stick your plastic spoon securely to another wooden skewer using sticky tape – we found regular sellotape worked best.
4. Loop the elastic band around the base of the marshmallow at the top of your pyramid.
5. Pass the wooden skewer with the spoon attached through the elastic band, then stick the bottom of that skewer into one of the base marshmallows.
6. And there you have it – your catapult! We tried firing a variety of small building blocks, and found round pieces a good weight and size, but really anything small and light works. Have some fun with target practice – try placing a large bowl in the centre of the table and see who can land the most objects inside.
7. Kids can play with their catapult straight away, but if you can manage to leave it for a few hours or overnight, the marshmallows harden up and the catapult becomes even sturdier.
As well as being fun and quick to make, these catapults are a simple, hands-on way to teach kids about cause and effect – how far to pull the spoon back, which objects fly furthest, and why.
One word of warning: those marshmallows are addictive and very hard to resist. We found it a challenge to keep enough of them aside actually to build the catapults!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to make a marshmallow catapult?
Most kids can build one in about 15–20 minutes, making it a quick activity for a rainy afternoon or a birthday party craft table.
What age group is this activity suitable for?
It works well for school-age kids who can safely handle wooden skewers with a little supervision. Younger children can help build and decorate, while an adult manages the skewer assembly.
What can I use instead of loom bands?
Any small, stretchy elastic band will work. Loom bands are handy because they’re widely available and give a good amount of tension for launching.
What can we use as ammunition for the catapult?
Small, light objects work best – soft building blocks, pom-poms, or mini marshmallows are all good, safe options for indoor target practice.
Can we eat the marshmallows afterwards?
Once they’ve been handled and used in the build, it’s best to treat them as craft materials rather than a snack – keep a separate bag of marshmallows on hand for eating!
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Loved this activity? Browse more simple, at-home ideas on MyKidsTime, or bookmark this page to come back to next rainy day.
Have your say! Have you tried making a catapult out of marshmallows before? Let us know in the comments below.
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