Image by: Steven Depolo
Spot Bounce
Ball skills are oftentimes overlooked as an activity only for boys, or only for athletic children. However, ball skills are an important activity for children of all interests and abilities to practice consistently. Ball skills not only prepare children for gym class at school and extracurricular activities, but they help to address bilateral skills, hand-eye coordination, timing, sequencing, motor planning, and attention. Ball skills can include, but are not limited to: throwing and catching, dribbling, kicking, and aiming for a target.
A great activity to develop focus in young children! And it also introduces some basic concepts of physics in a fun way.
Steps:
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Bounce & catch a ball (about 25cm in diameter) standing at the same spot
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For older/ more advanced children, instead of catching the ball at each step, have them try to continue bouncing the ball at the same spot
- Demonstrate to the children how the speed at which the ball bounces changes with the distance of the ball from the ground and what the 'ideal distance' would be for bouncing the ball without dropping!
Disclaimer: This presents an overview of child development. It is important to keep in mind that the time frames presented are averages and some children may achieve various developmental milestones earlier or later than the average but still be within the normal range of development. This information is presented to help parents understand, at a high level, what to expect from their child. Any questions/concerns you may have about your child’s development should be shared with your doctor.