1.Muffin Tin Grasp and Release

Here are 10 simple ideas to practice bilateral coordination skills in older children:

1. Marching to music and clapping hands at the same time.

2. Cross crawls – touch your right hand to your left knee and then the left hand to your right knee. Repeat touching the opposite feet.

3. Traditional jumping jacks

4. Cross Country Jumping Jacks – place right arm and right leg forward jump and switch left arm and left leg forward. Try opposite sides – place right arm and left leg forward jump and switch left arm and right leg forward.

5. March in place sitting down while drawing circles in the air with both hands

6. Try a task using both hands or both hands and feet at the same time – ie: dribbling a ball with both hands, kicking a ball and dribbling a ball.

7. Play hopscotch – the skill of jumping feet apart and together requires coordination of both sides of the body

8. Perform motor activities to the beat of a metronome

9. Jumping activities – jumping rope, jump up and clap hands, jump up and touch your heels behind your bottom, jumping activities through a floor ladder, etc.

10. Animal walks that use both sides of the body – ie: crab walk, bear walk and crawling

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10 Ways to Play Catch with a Friend

Here are 10 ways to play catch with a friend starting out at least 10 feet apart (besides the obvious – stand a few feet apart and play catch):

1. Bounce and Catch: Partner 1 bounce passes the ball to partner 2.

2. Hoop Bounce and Catch: Put a hula hoop in the middle between the partners. Partner 1 bounces the ball inside the hoop to send it to partner 2.

3. Double Bounce and Catch: Partner 1 bounce passes the ball to partner 2. The ball must bounce twice before partner 2 catches it.

4. Wall Catch: Partner 1 hits the ball against the wall and partner 2 has to catch it.

5. Dribble, Dribble Throw: Partner 1 dribbles the ball two times then throws it to partner 2. Partner 2 dribbles to ball two times and throws it back to partner 1. Change the numbers of dribbles required and try again.

6. Double Toss (same size balls): Partner 1 has a ball and partner 2 has a ball. On the count of three, both partners throw the balls to each other and catch it.

7. Opposite Toss: Partner 1 rolls the ball to partner 2, while partner 2 throws a ball to partner 1. All at the same time!

8. Backward Ball: Partner 1 stands a few feet behind partner 2. Partner 2 is facing away from partner 1. Partner 1 tosses the ball over partner 2’s head, the ball bounces one time and partner 2 catches it.

9. Double Backward Ball: Partner 1 and 2 stand back to back at least 10 feet apart. Play catch tossing the ball backwards. The ball can bounce one time before you catch it.

10. Double Toss (small and large ball): Partner 1 has a tennis ball. Partner 2 has a larger, playground type ball. On the count of three, both partners throw the balls to each and catch it.

When you play catch with a friend, try each challenge at least 10 times to learn and practice the skills. As you improve, see how many times you can do the challenge before dropping the ball.

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