My early throwing and catching skills

These activities are suitable for children aged 8-18 months and align with stage 2 of the Developmental Journal Babies Visual Impairment (DJVI).

Safety first

What you'll need

Objects which are easier to catch, such as a softball, small pillow, balloon, a ball with a bell inside or soft sponge bag. 

You may want to consider using: 

• Lightweight objects – these travel slower and have reduced impact
• Objects which create sound, for example bell balls
• Increasing the visibility of objects and considering colour contrast

Tips

Remember to consider the environment. Depending on your child’s specific needs, they may find it a little more difficult outdoors rather than indoors where light levels can be controlled. Be mindful of this when throwing and catching.

Activity

• Sit with your child in a supported position. You may want to have two adults for this; one to sit with your child and the other to roll the ball.
• Count to three or say ‘Ready, steady, roll,’ before rolling the ball or item. This will give your child time to notice the direction the ball is coming from and learn to anticipate the item coming towards them. 
• You can support your child by guiding their hands towards the ball and helping them to catch it. Talk to your child and support them to roll the ball back to the other person. Try to keep your language consistent, using the same phrasing "Ready, steady, roll".