Requirements

• Open outdoor space
• Regulation baseball or children’s softball (10 inch and 11 inch)
• Standard leather baseball gloves

Instructions

1. In an open area without obstructions, throw gently overhand and play catch with your child.
2. Start with short distances such as 3-5 metres apart.
3. Increase to longer distances of 8-10 metres as your child’s catching improves.
4. Show your child how to stand ready, with glove in the air, feet slightly apart, and ready to move side-to-side to catch.

Variations

• Increase the speed and force of your throws only as your child gains confidence and consistency in catching
• Try using an object as a “home plate” (e.g. jacket, sweater, piece of cardboard or wood) – stand behind it and encourage your child to “pitch” accurately to you from 10-12 metres away

Benefits

This activity develops coordination of arms and torso, fine motor control, and the ability to “read” distances. These skills transfer to sports and activities that involve throwing an object accurately over a perceived distance (e.g., balls, frisbees, ribbons, sticks, batons).

Requirements

• Open and flat outdoor space at least 25m by 40m
• Store-bought plastic baseball bat and ball

Instructions

1. Purchase a lightweight plastic baseball bat and ball from a toy store.
2. Find a large, open outdoor space free of trees and obstacles.
3. Toss the ball softly underhand to your child so they can practice hitting.TIP: Make sure your child stands sideways. One foot should be closer to you than the other.

   TIP: If your child is right-handed, they should have their left foot closer to you and left hand on the bottom of their grip.

   TIP: If your child is left-handed, they should have their right foot closer to you and right hand on the bottom of their grip.

   TIP: Toss the ball between their waist and their shoulders.

   TIP: The ball should pass between 40-60 cm away from your child.

   TIP: They should stand ready with the bat held behind them at shoulder height.

Variations

• As your child’s batting improves, increase the speed of your toss.

Benefits

This activity develops hand-eye coordination and timing while using a bat (i.e., striking tool). These skills also transfer to striking with a racquet or stick.

Requirements

• Open space, preferably indoor
• Balloons (round type)
• Piece of string or ribbon 3-5 metres
• Scotch tape or masking tape

Instructions

1. Blow up a balloon of the “round” type.
2. Inflate to medium or medium-low pressure, so the balloon “floats” only a bit but not too much.
3. Hang the string or ribbon horizontally about one metre above the floor between two chairs, or between bookshelves or countertops. This is your “net”.
4. Using your fingertips, hit the balloon back and forth across the net with your child or children.
5. If someone allows the balloon to touch the floor on their side, the person on the other side of the net scores a point.
6. Play first person to 5 points, and then start again.
7. Your hands are not allowed to cross over the top of the net.
8. You are allowed to touch the balloon more than once on your side.

Variations

• If you have more than one child, or more than one adult, try playing a fun family tournament where family members take turns playing each other

Benefits

This activity develops hand-eye coordination, gross and fine motor control, and the ability to track moving objects in the air. These skills transfer to sports and activities that involve striking or catching an object in the air (e.g., balls, frisbees, ribbons, sticks, batons).

Requirements

• Open space, preferably indoor
• Balloons (round type)
• Piece of string or ribbon 3-5 metres
• Scotch tape or masking tape
• Paper plates
• Paint stir sticks
• Duct tape

Instructions

1. Blow up a balloon of the “round” type.
2. Inflate to medium or medium-low pressure, so the balloon “floats” a little bit but not too much.
3. Create simple “tennis racquets” by taping a paint stir stick to the back of each paper plate.
4. Hang the string or ribbon horizontally about one metre above the floor between two chairs, or between bookshelves or countertops. This is your “net”.
5. Using your racquets, hit the balloon back and forth across the net with your child or children.
6. If someone allows the balloon to touch the floor on their side, the person on the other side of the net scores a point.
7. Play first person to 5 points, and then start again.
8. Your racquets are not allowed to cross over the top of the net.
9. You are allowed to touch the balloon more than once on your side if necessary.

Variations

• If you have more than one child, or more than one adult, try playing a fun family tournament where family members take turns playing each other

Benefits

This activity develops hand-eye coordination and timing while using a simple racquet (i.e., striking tool). These skills also transfer to striking with a bat or stick.

Requirements

• Large indoor or outdoor space free of obstacles
• Large round balloon inflated to low pressure (not hard)

Instructions

1. Inflate a round balloon to a low pressure so it is not too hard or likely to pop.
2. Find a large indoor or outdoor space free of obstacles.
3. Practice kicking the balloon with your toddler.
4. If the balloon is kicked high into the air, try to catch it with your hands.

Variations

• Tie a long string to the balloon and hang it from a doorframe or a tree. The balloon should hang about 5cm above the ground.

Benefits

This activity develops leg coordination, balance, and gross motor control in the lower body. These skills transfer to sports and activities that involve dynamic balance and rhythmical movement (e.g., soccer, basketball, volleyball, racquet sports, martial arts, dance).