- Tue, 14 Sep 2021
- Ball Skills
Ball Skills
Children learn best when they participate in activities that are just the right challenge, not too easy or too difficult. You can grade ball skills activities by:
- Starting with activities where either the child or the ball are static (e.g. throwing, catching or kicking a stationary ball on the spot) and then move to activities where both the child and ball are in motion (dribbling a football).
- Use items other than balls for throwing and catching e.g. bubbles, balloons, scarves. These also fall more slowly so are easier to catch.
- Try soft air filled balls with a bit of “give” e.g. a beach ball.
- Start with big balls and heavy bean bags and work towards lighter smaller balls.
- When using targets, start big and work towards smaller targets.
- Start by standing near the target or each other and then increase the distances involved.
- Start with the ball moving slowly then increase the speed that the ball travels at.
Activity Ideas
Throwing to Target
- Roll Balls into a Goal - start with a large goal and work towards a box. See how many points your child can score in one minute.
- Skittles - try and roll the ball to knock down the skittles. Start with a big ball close to the skittles then increase the distance the child rolls from. Then decrease the size of the ball.
- Sock Ball - make some balls from rolled up socks or use bean bags. Throw them into a hoop, increase the distance the child throws from as they get more proficient. Then try throwing them into boxes of varying sizes. You could use a bin, a lunch box, laundry basket, ice cream tub or anything else you can find.
- Shooting Hoops - Hold a hoop at your child’s shoulder height. Get them to throw a bean bag or soft ball into the hoop. Raise the height of the hoop, get them to throw from further away or decrease the size of the hoop to challenge them.
