What to do with this activity?
Sometimes the simplest toys are the best. Even very young children can enjoy playing ball.
If your baby is at the crawling stage, why not get down on the floor with them. Roll the ball gently in their direction. Your baby will want to reach out or crawl towards the ball.
When your baby can sit up, throw a soft ball towards them. Soon your baby will be able to grasp the ball with their whole hand, and they can try to throw the ball back.
Talk to your baby as you play - "let's roll the ball", "good throw", "hold the ball up high", "here it comes - catch". All this is great for vocabulary, muscle development and hand-eye co-ordination.
If you would like to read more about the benefits of playing ball at this age, take a look at this article by Dr. Sears.
-
Why am I doing this?
Learning to move, reach and grasp helps children develop the muscles and skills to scribble and learn to write when they get older. Body awareness and learning to do big movements (like crawling and walking) and small movements like the pincer movement (where you lift up things with your index finger and thumb) are important parts of your child's development. It is part of awakening and developing your brain. For your young child, reaching for objects helps build their coordination and will help them hold crayons later on.
-
How can I do more?
Have fun with your child dancing to music. This helps their coordination. If your child is moving their arms or body at all they are dancing!
Rate this activity
Based on 31 reviews
How would you rate it?
1 = Poor, 5 = Great.
Share this activity
If you’ve found this activity helpful, why not share it with your friends?
