AfL playbook: 5 – 8 year olds
-
Day 1:
-
Day 2:
Underhand Catch
Skill: Catch
15 minutes
This activity develops hand-eye coordination, fine 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).
-
Day 3:
Toddler Ball Rolling
Skill: Catch
10 minutes
This activity develops hand-eye coordination, gross motor control, and the ability to track moving objects. These skills transfer to sports and activities that involve moving objects (e.g., balls, pucks, shuttlecocks, frisbees, ribbons, sticks, batons).
Bowling Milk Cartons
Skill: Throw
30 minutes
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).
-
Day 4:
Balloon Tennis
Skill: Strike
30 minutes
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.
-
Day 5:
Bounce and Catch
Skill: Catch
15 minutes
This activity develops hand-eye coordination, as well as fine motor control of the hands and fingers.
-
Day 6:
Standing Broad Jump
Skill: Jump
10 minutes
This activity develops dynamic balance, coordination, and strength required for any and all sports and activities that involve jumping (e.g., basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, track and field, gymnastics, diving).
-
Day 7:
Target Throwing
Skill: Throw
30 minutes
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, javelins, darts, ribbons, sticks, batons).
-
Day 8:
Float the pond
Skill: Balance
10 minutes
This activity develops coordination and balance as kids have to constantly bend and balance on one foot.
-
Day 9:
Basketball Dribble
Skill: Dribble
15 minutes
This activity develops hand-eye coordination, balance, and rhythmical movement.
-
Day 10:
-
Day 11:
Kick Side Foot
Skill: Kick
15 minutes
This activity develops leg coordination, strength and fine motor control in the lower body. These skills transfer to sports and activities that involve kicking an object (e.g., soccer, football, martial arts).
-
Day 12:
Ball Hockey for Children
Skill: Strike
30 minutes
This activity develops hand-eye coordination and timing while using a hockey stick (i.e., striking tool). These skills also transfer to striking with a bat or racquet.