Basket Catch

Requirements

• Get a large, soft foam ball, or make a sock ball (stuff two socks into one another) – the ball should have a diameter between 10-15 cm

Instructions

1. Show your toddler how to stand with their hands and forearms forming a bowl or “basket” in front of their stomach.
2. Toss the ball into their “basket” from about 30 cm away.
3. As your child becomes confident catching at this distance, increase the distance of your toss slightly.
4. Eventually, see if your toddler can catch from 1 metre away.
5. For especially young toddlers, you might begin by simply sitting and rolling the ball back and forth between you.

Variations

• Find the right level of difficulty for your child – don’t challenge your child to catch from more than 1 metre distance if they only catch 1 out of 3 tosses – keep it fun by ensuring some success

Benefits

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