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Did you know that ball games don't just help children with their motor development, they can also help develop language and social skills?

How this helps

Passing a ball or rolled up socks back and forth helps children understand whose turn it is next and teaches them about sharing, playing together and being inclusive. These are important social skills necessary for a successful conversation.

• Playing ball games can help children with turn-taking skills.

• Throwing the ball/rolled up socks back and forth mimics a conversation and shows children how a conversation works.

• Talking about the ball or rolled up socks provides an opportunity for vocabulary and sensory development.

• Giving instructions about how to throw the ball, or who to throw it to, boosts listening skills.

• Ball games are a great opportunity to build anticipation, waiting skills and good eye-hand coordination.

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Instructions for parents/carers

Here are three different ways you can play ball games:

1. Name and catch

• If you're in a group, you can ask everyone to say the name of the person they want to throw the ball to before they throw it.

• If your child finds this game too easy, why not give everyone a number or the name of an animal or fruit? They must then say the number, animal name, or fruit of the person they want to throw the ball to. This can help with memory and concentration.

2. Catch with a language twist

• Take it in turns to say a different word when you throw the ball in this simple game.

• You could ask your child to come up with a category for the words you have to say.
  For example, you could use themes like different animals, colours, fruit, superheroes - the possibilities are endless! The first one to repeat a word or not be able to come up with one loses.

• Offer plenty of encouragement when your little one comes up with some great ideas and if they get the word slightly wrong, just repeat it back to them correctly.

3. Stuck in the middle

• This classic game is a good way to practise simple motor skills and also patience and resilience.

• Someone is stuck in the middle and has to try and get the ball from the other two throwers who are throwing to one another.

• Use this game to introduce adjectives like high, low, quick and slow when throwing the ball.

• Make sure to switch who is in the middle regularly, especially if your child is struggling to catch the ball.

• See printable handouts for this activity below.

Chat with parents/carers

Here are some questions you might ask them:

• What did you notice?

• What surprised you?

• When could you play this activity at home?

More ideas for parents/carers to try at home

Try making your own homemade skittles with household objects, such as milk cartons or cardboard tubes. This activity help improves your child's coordination and communication skills.