Big Ball Catch
What you need
- a large, light, soft ball, bigger than their head
How to do it
- On grass or a clear bit of floor away from furniture, stand facing each other two small steps apart.
- Hold your arms out together like a basket and see what they do.
- Say "Ready?" and throw the ball gently underarm, straight to their chest.
- Cheer every go, caught or dropped, then let them throw it back to you.
Why it matters
A big, slow ball thrown straight to their chest gives their arms time to come together and close round it.
What they're learning
- Catching
- Arms coming together to close round the ball.
- Watching the ball
- Eyes following it all the way in.
- Throwing back
- Sending it back with two hands is a turn of their own.
What to look for
Watch for their arms reaching out ready before the ball arrives.
A tip
Only a light, soft ball, thrown gently to the chest and never towards the face. Bare feet on a rug indoors, trainers on grass, and well away from roads and water outside.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: kneel down and throw from closer, so the ball has hardly any way to travel
Harder: take one small step back, still throwing gently underarm
More like this
Browse
Gross motor activities · Activities for 2 year olds · Toddler activities with a ball