Children love ball games and playing with balls can have a hugely positive impact on a child’s development.
From building hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills to developing a child’s spatial awareness and problem-solving skills, ball games can play a key role in the playground and beyond.
Have you taken your child to see a big sports game? In South Australia, we are lucky to have places like the Adelaide Oval which regularly hosts family-friendly events where children can get involved and see sporting superstars as positive role models.
What is Hand-Eye Coordination?
We hear this term a lot but many parents and caregivers are unsure about what it actually relates to.
Hand-eye coordination is the ability to perform movements with the hands whilst guided by the eyes. Simply put, it’s the way in which hands and sight work together to perform a task.
When Does Hand-Eye Coordination Develop?
Most babies and toddlers are still very much developing their hand-eye coordination. Below are some common milestones your baby or toddler may reach at the various stages of development of their hand-eye coordination:
- Babies aged 4-5 months have enough hand-eye coordination to reach out or feel for toys
- Toddlers learn to place objects with intention which often requires the ability to grasp them between a thumb and forefinger
- At around 18 months old, most children will have enough hand-eye coordination to stack a number of bricks on top of each other
- By 2 years old, most children will have improved their feeding skills and may use a spoon or a cup
- Around 4 years old, preschoolers will have enough hand-eye coordination to enable their independence with many tasks
At What Age Should You Start Playing Ball Games With Your Child?
You can expose your child to balls and ball games from birth. You’ll just need to adapt them according to the level of movement and strength that your child has.
Babies enjoy reaching for plastic balls and exploring them from just a few months old. They may smile when a ball rolls away or if you push it towards them. With very small babies, it’s safer to go with slightly larger balls to avoid any risk of swallowing and the balls should be lightweight and easy to wipe clean. A fantastic option for infants is an OBall.
Most toddlers love ball games and you don’t need to be structured about the way that they’re played. You could even try exposing your child to a number of different balls and see how they interact with them and what games they play.
Simply throwing and catching a ball is great fun for most preschoolers. It’s unlikely they’ll catch accurately at this age but do offer lots of praise for their enthusiasm and focus.
Can Ball Games Help to Develop Language and Social Skills?
Yes. Ball games aren’t just useful in developing gross motor skills and improving hand-eye coordination. In fact, they can be an invaluable resource when it comes to developing language and social skills alongside building resilience and teaching patience.
One of the simplest ball games you can adapt to help with language skills is the Name Game. Simply ask the children to create a circle and throw the ball gently to each child in turn. When the child is holding the ball, they have to say their name loudly and clearly to the rest of the group. This can be an excellent way to introduce new children to a setting.
Passing a ball back and forth within a group also teaches children the concept of sharing and taking their turns. You can encourage the children to remain quiet and listen unless they are holding the ball, in which case it is their turn to speak or to contribute to the group.
In conclusion, ball games offer a range of benefits for children, including improving hand-eye coordination, gross motor skills, spatial awareness, and problem-solving skills. These games can be enjoyed at any age, with adaptations to suit the child’s level of movement and strength. Ball games also provide opportunities for developing language and social skills, such as taking turns, sharing, and building resilience. Encouraging ball games from a young age can help children to stay fit and active, and even excel in sports as they grow older.
With their simplicity and versatility, ball games are a great addition to any child’s playtime, both at home and in childcare settings!