Leaf Toss Basket

What you need

• a handful of dry leaves
• a basket

How to do it

1. Gather a small pile of dry leaves together.
2. Set the basket a step or two away.
3. Take turns tossing leaves in and cheering each hit.
4. Gather the fallen ones and toss again.

Why it matters

Aiming and releasing on purpose builds the hand-eye control toddlers later use for throwing and catching.

What they're learning

aim and release

Choosing when to let go of the leaf builds the timing behind later throwing and catching games.

gross motor control

Reaching, aiming and tossing works the same shoulder and wrist control needed for sports later on.

turn taking

Waiting for their go and cheering the other's toss builds early sharing and patience.

What to look for

Watch for them pausing to aim before letting the leaf go rather than just dropping it.

A tip

Do this on a dry day so the leaves stay light and easy to grip.

More like this

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