Overview

Throwing and catching a ball will be another part of your child’s physical education, and an option for fun on the school yard. The skills involved in this also transfer to other functional activities that involve coordination and visual motor skills. Helping to build your child’s confidence in this skill over the summer will promote success as they refine these skills in school.

Tips & Tricks

• Practice throwing and catching with items other than a ball! Try a ball of yarn or bean bags, as these items are easy to hold. Balloons, scarves, and bubbles tend to float in the air longer, allowing your child more time to plan the catch.

• Get some help with chores while practicing this skill by playing laundry basket basketball! Use rolled up socks and the laundry basket, and have your child practice throwing. You can move the basket to help them feel successful and build their confidence.

• When practicing with your child, slowly increase the distance between you with each successful catch and throw. Start with large and light balls (ie: a beach ball) and move to smaller more challenging balls.