Childrens Occupational Therapy Advice

ACTIVITY IDEAS TO DEVELOP BALL SKILLS younger child

Familiarise your child with the feel and the size of the ball
Grading the activity
Rolling sit with legs out to the sides; roll the ball smoothly with a partner,
progressing to aiming at targets such as skittles.
Activity can be done sitting, standing or kneeling.
When learning to throw and catch, begin by using a bean bag or large ball,
progressing to a smaller one.
Throwing

Catching

throw over / under arm at a target

Start by standing a short distance away from the target,

gradually increasing it

Progress to throwing through a hoop or into a bucket

Vary the position of targets / child and alter the size of the ball/
targets

Catch a bouncing ball or a ball rebounding off a wall

Throw the ball to your child at various heights

Ensure your child looks at the ball at all times

Vary the size of the ball and change between 1 and 2 handed
catch.

Throwing / catching with a partner use large balls initially progressing to smaller ones
and ensure your child is throwing at your chest height.
There are also many commercial games to improve ball skills available
As your child becomes more confident handling the ball, change the distance, type of
ball / targets and begin to introduce bats etc.

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Created on 29/12/2009 11:54:00