Make a cardboard game

What can I use instead of a marble or special cardboard if I can't find them?

If you don't have a marble for the 'Roll the marble' test, use a small bead, button, or bouncy ball, and if you lack scrap cardboard for the 'Cut several long thin strips' walls use cereal-box cardboard or craft sticks and replace folded L-shaped stands with clothespins.

My walls keep falling over or the marble gets stuck—how do I fix that?

If walls fall or the marble gets stuck during the 'Roll the marble from the start to the finish' step, reinforce each 'Fold each rectangle into an L' stand with extra tape or glue, trim or sand rough edges on the 'long thin strips,' and widen tight turns by sliding the stands farther apart.

How can I adapt this maze activity for different ages?

For younger children make the 'Plan your maze' routes wide and short and use larger beads instead of marbles, for elementary add more 'long thin strips' with moderate turns to build fine motor skills, and for older kids create complex layouts with multiple goals and timed runs after you 'Decorate' the base.

What are some ways to extend or personalize the cardboard maze after it's built?

To enhance the game, decorate the base and walls with a theme, glue on small ramps or cardboard tunnels for multi-level routes, add numbered checkpoints and a paper scorecard for timed runs, and then photograph and 'Share your finished cardboard maze on DIY.org'.