Skip to main content
A child and dad playing with balls

Target Age Class: 1-2
Category of Play: Motor Skill Play
Areas of Improvement: Motor skills

 

First, place all of plastic wiffle golf balls (or any soft bouncy ball will do) in the bowl. Put the laundry basket on its side on the floor, propped up against the wall or cupboards. The basket now resembles a soccer goal. Squat down to your toddler’s height and give your child a quick demonstration: Bounce the ball on the floor about half a meter away from the basket and watch it bounce inside the goal.

Now, position your toddler about half a meter to a meter away from the basket, and place the bowl of balls nearby. As you have demonstrated, the player gives each ball a hearty bounce and watches as it bounces into the basket to score a goal. When all the balls have been bounced inside the goal on by one, your toddler gathers the balls up, puts them back into the bowl, and starts over again.

(If you are feeling particularly energetic, you can call out “Two points!” every time your toddler bounces a ball into the basket – or just give your nerves a break and let him play on his own!)